5 Tips for Quitting Cocaine for Good
Cocaine produces a powerful high by increasing dopamine, the naturally occurring chemical that induces pleasure in the brain. As the cocaine stimulates the central nervous system, it causes euphoria, energy, alertness, and mood elevations which users enjoy and find difficult to quit. These feelings are short lived, however, and when the high diminishes, despair, destruction, and cravings for more are left in the wake.
Quitting Cocaine
Support groups can be a big help in cocaine addiction recovery.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs.” Cocaine addiction is one of the hardest addictions to overcome and relapse potential is high long after the person has stopped using. It takes more than willpower to quit cocaine and most people cannot do this on their own.
5 Tips for Quitting Cocaine for Good
1. Treatment for cocaine addiction is always advisable when there is an inability to refrain from cocaine use. Detox, counseling, and behavioral therapies work together to stabilize the addict physically and emotionally so they can cope with their addiction, learn ways to abstain from drug use, prevent relapse, and have access to resources that will encourage a productive life.
2. Mental health stability is a key element to remaining free from cocaine. The stress of coping with hardships including financial loss, arrests, family separations, or job loss can cause mental health problems that will continue until these issues are resolved. Users should take advantage of counseling services and agencies that can provide referrals and resources to programs where they can find housing, jobs, financial assistance, and the services they need for themselves and their families.
3. Abstinence from cocaine becomes easier as time goes by without using it. Eventually the intense cravings will go away and the “triggers” that, while addicted, compels and addict to use will become less noticeable. Abstinence should be applied to all other psychoactive drugs as well, including alcohol, opiates, and prescription medications that may cause a loss of inhibition.
4. 12-Step Meetings are a great way to learn from others who are also struggling with addiction. The programs help to remain focused on recovery and serve as reminders of negative consequences of cocaine use. These programs have a vast amount of resource information available and can provide ongoing support beyond formal treatment programs.
5. Building a positive network reinforces the addict’s ability to remain abstinent and rebuilding broken relationships with family and friends can restore the motivations necessary to remain on the recovery path. With ongoing support and encouragement, the addict can regain their self esteem, confidence, integrity, and self control.