How Dangerous is Treatment for Cocaine Abuse?

According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, “Treatment of stimulant abuse requires a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s psychological, medical, forensic and drug use history,” as well as a complete physical examination. Then the individual can begin to receive help for their drug abuse and addiction. But just how dangerous is treatment for cocaine abuse, and is it safer to attend treatment than to go through withdrawal and recovery on one’s own?

Attending Treatment is Necessary

It is always safer to attend treatment for any kind of drug abuse. Going through withdrawal and recovery alone is much more likely to lead to relapse than going through a professional treatment program, and those who do not attend a program like this often regret it in the long run. One will definitely be much safer and more likely to recover from their cocaine abuse safely and successfully if they attend a professional treatment program than if they choose not to.

The Dangers of Cocaine Abuse Treatment

Be that as it may, cocaine abuse treatment can be difficult and concerning––but definitely not more so than going through recovery alone. Below are some of the problems that can occur during cocaine abuse treatment and what one should be concerned about as a patient.

When an individual first enters treatment, it is likely they may be experiencing stimulant-induced psychosis caused by the large doses of the cocaine they were abusing. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “The individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations” during this time, and sedation with benzodiazepines is often necessary. This is in order to keep the individual safe and to ensure they are not able to hurt themselves or others.
Depression can be a serious issue during cocaine abuse treatment, and safeguards should be put
Depression is common when being treated for cocaine abuse, making it important for the patient to be supervised.

into place to ensure that the individual will not be able to act on the possible suicidal thoughts they may encounter. If the individual is attending an inpatient program, this can be the safest option, but if they are in outpatient care, they may want to stay with a friend or family member for at least the first few months of treatment.
Cravings can resurface and be incredibly severe long after the individual has stopped using cocaine. It is important for the person to be prepared for this possibility and to have attended behavioral therapy sessions that taught them how to see their addiction differently, how to recognize and avoid triggers, and how to cope with cravings, stressful situations, and other issues that could lead to relapse.