The National Institutes of Health claims that about 4.8 million people use cocaine in the United States. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that quickly leads to addiction. But how long does cocaine stay in your system and what is recovery like? Learn more by calling Insight Recovery Center at 828.826.1376 to participate in a cocaine addiction treatment program.
What Is Cocaine Addiction?
Cocaine is a stimulant made from the coca plant. It comes in white powder form as well as in a crystalized version. It can be snorted, smoked, or injected. Cocaine addiction refers to the compulsive need to use the drug despite its negative consequences. Cocaine causes a surge of dopamine in the brain, leading to feelings of euphoria and making you crave the drug, many times after just one use. Some of the most common signs of cocaine abuse include:
- Increased agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Disinhibition
- Involuntary movements
- Fast speech
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
Some risk factors can make you more likely to develop a cocaine addiction, including having a family history of substance abuse, having mental health conditions, experiencing trauma, and more.
One of the most dangerous aspects of cocaine abuse is how quickly your body can build a tolerance to the drug. Your brain will stop responding as powerfully to your normal dose of cocaine, instead demanding more of it and putting you at risk of an overdose.
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
So how long does cocaine stay in your system? Cocaine has a half-life of about an hour, meaning it takes an hour for your body to eliminate half of the cocaine you have taken. The process can take longer for people who have used the drug for a long time. Cocaine can be detected in your blood, urine, and saliva for two to three days after your last use and in your hair for almost a year.
Treating Cocaine Abuse
Getting help from professionals for cocaine addiction is vital because of the serious dangers of trying to go through the recovery process alone. The detoxification process can be difficult, causing withdrawal symptoms like:
- Inability to feel pleasure
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Cravings
To avoid relapsing, you want to have access to therapists and medical staff.
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) can offer a strong level of care without requiring that you stay overnight at a facility. This can be an effective treatment option for those who have responsibilities they cannot abandon for the length of an inpatient program.
At a treatment program, you will delve into the cause of the addiction in therapy sessions that rely on behavioral therapies. You will also have access to group therapy sessions to hear about the experiences others have had with addiction and to start building your support system.
Because cocaine addiction can affect your whole family, family therapy can be a crucial tool to help you and your loved ones rebuild trust.
After completing a treatment program like an IOP, you can turn to aftercare programs to help you maintain your sobriety. Not only will you get a chance to continue working with therapists, but you will also get case management help, life skills training, and many other services.
Get Help for Cocaine Abuse at Insight Recovery Center
If you have a cocaine use disorder, the right course of action is to turn to a treatment program that can offer the support you need. At Insight Recovery Center, we provide intensive outpatient programs as well as aftercare programs to help you break free from the cycle of addiction.
Call Insight Recovery Center today at 828.826.1376 or reach out online for more information.