Tips for Avoiding Caffeine After Cocaine Addiction Treatment
It is often important to avoid caffeine after being treated for cocaine addiction, specifically because the compound causes many of the same effects that cocaine does (albeit on a much milder scale). Below are several tips to help you avoid caffeine during recovery from cocaine abuse.
Call 800-934-3781(Who Answers?) now to find treatment centers that will cater to your needs.
Know the Facts
It can be extremely hard to avoid relapse as a cocaine user, even after addiction treatment. According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, the cravings for the drug can be incredibly severe, and “objects and people in the addicted person’s life can become a conditioned trigger for craving and relapse,” staying that way for months and even years.
It is important to know your triggers but also to realize that the use of any stimulant substances can cause cravings for cocaine too. Among these substances is caffeine.
Drink Water
Replace coffee or soda with water to avoid cocaine cravings.
While out at a restaurant, it can be tempting to reach for a soda or coffee, but doing so could cause effects, however mild, that may remind you of being on cocaine. This can be extremely dangerous and lead to severe cravings for the drug, so the best thing to reach for instead of these beverages is water.
Take a water bottle with you when you go out, and always order water at a restaurant. Drinking water is also much healthier and can save you money in the long run.
Take Power Naps
It can be hard to get through the day without a caffeine boost, especially if you are accustomed to the substance. But making time for short power naps can be helpful, and it will allow you to truly reduce your need for this substance.
In addition, fatigue and sleep problems are some of the issues you are likely to deal with during cocaine withdrawal, according to the National Library of Medicine, and it is important to always ensure that you are getting a healthy amount of rest.
Swap Caffeine for Better Choices
If you were accustomed to drinking soda, try drinking flavored soda water or something else bubbly that doesn’t contain caffeine or a lot of sugar. If you enjoyed coffee, consider switching to black herbal tea. These swaps can make the transition easier for you and you can still enjoy something similar to the beverages you used to prefer.
Consider the Alternative
Knowing that relapse is a strong possibility if you go for that cup of coffee instead of a drink that doesn’t contain caffeine is a strong motivator. Make sure you remind yourself of the truth: that caffeine simply isn’t worth it to put your recovery in jeopardy.
Seek Addiction Treatment Now
If you haven’t attended professional addiction treatment for cocaine abuse, it is absolutely necessary that you do so to have the strongest recovery possible. Call 800-934-3781(Who Answers?) now to learn about your rehab options and to find the safest, most reliable treatment facilities.