While many people who are addicted to cocaine want to quit taking the drug, it can be difficult for them to reconcile spending the money that rehab would take in order to do so. Of course, part of this concern stems from the nature of the addicted mind; once you are addicted to something, it becomes easier and easier to come up with excuses for not seeking treatment. There have been success stories of people coming off of cocaine at home, however these are the exception, rather than the rule. The rule is that detoxing from cocaine can be very dangerous, and the side effects are difficult to manage on your own. The safest, most certain route to sobriety is to detox in a medically supervised environment and to receive professional treatment to make sure that not only is the addiction itself treated—but also the underlying psychological issues that led to the addiction.
Why Is Quitting Cocaine Dangerous?
Make no mistake; while there are dangers associated with coming off of cocaine, it is much more dangerous to continue using. The reason that cocaine is one of the more dangerous drugs to detox from is that, as a stimulant, it affects a set of very important neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Normally, the body recycles these chemicals over time, turning them into other chemicals; cocaine prevents your body from taking these chemicals back up, causing them to build up in the brain over time, which causes the pleasant feelings associated with the cocaine high. The downside to this is that over time, as you use cocaine more and more, your body stops producing these neurotransmitters, which can lead to serious side effects when you detox.
When you quit cocaine at home, the severity of some of the side effects can be very serious indeed—and if you are not being supervised by medical personnel, these side effects can lead to health complications or even in some cases death. The most common side effects include anxiety, panic attacks, depression, chronic headaches, and hallucinations; less common but more serious side effects can include tremors or even seizures, as well as racing heart. Even the less severe symptoms of withdrawal are frequently uncomfortable enough to drive addicts back into using—which is why most doctors do not recommend trying to quit at home.
How Can You Quit Cocaine Safely?
If you are interested in quitting cocaine, the safest method is through a detox and rehabilitation facility. Detox facilities are run and staffed with medical professionals who can not only monitor your symptoms to make sure that you do not experience serious side effects, but who can also prescribe and treat any symptoms of withdrawal so that they are less difficult to bear. While there are no specific medications that are used to treat cocaine abuse, there are some medications that doctors can prescribe during the detoxification period, including anticonvulsant drugs to prevent or treat tremors and seizures as well as to reduce feelings of agitation. Other medications may include prescriptions to assist in achieving restful sleep at night, and to promote the release of GABA, a neurotransmitter involved in relaxation. Even if there are no severe symptoms, doctors may be able to provide you with proper dosages of non-prescription medicines to treat side effects like headaches.
Another major benefit to getting clean in a detox and rehab facility is that you can receive excellent psychological care to examine the long-term mental health issues that lead to addiction. There are a number of different treatment styles and methods, so there are possibilities for every belief system as well as every type of patient. It’s important to remember that you are suffering from a disease—that treatment is very important. Simply quitting taking cocaine is not the cure; it is at best a band-aid. Treating your addiction is the most important step towards leading a healthy life in recovery.
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