Cocaine is a potent stimulant drug produced from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. The two most common forms of cocaine are a powder that is most often snorted through the nose and a rock crystal (called crack cocaine) that is heated to produce vapors that are then inhaled into the lungs. Cocaine raises dopamine levels in the brain, producing increased alertness and energy with feelings ranging from pleasure to intense euphoria. 1 The drug also elevates blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration, and use at high doses or over long periods of time can lead to serious health complications, overdose, and death. Cocaine is also highly addictive, and its use often leads to both psychological and physical dependence.
Cocaine addiction is a major issue across the country, including here in the Hoosier state. Unfortunately, despite cocaine being an illicit substance, there is no shortage of the drug. Powdered cocaine is readily available throughout the state; just last year, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police recovered 88 kilos of cocaine (valued at $2.1 million) from a semi-tractor trailer in Indianapolis. 2 Crack cocaine is also available throughout the state, although this form of cocaine is predominantly found within the urban areas of Indiana like Bloomington, Gary, Fort Wayne, Terre Haute, and Indianapolis. 3
Due to its wide availability, it comes as no surprise that the level of cocaine use and addiction in the state of Indiana is relatively high. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 2% of Indiana residents have used cocaine in the past year. Cocaine use was highest among young adults, aged 18 to 25, with almost 7% reporting use in the past year. 4 Unfortunately, cocaine use is also prevalent among the younger population of Indiana, with 1 in 25 Indiana high school students (grades 9-12) reporting the use of cocaine at least once in their lifetime, 5 and 1% of Indiana 12th graders reporting current cocaine use. 6
Cocaine addiction detox is the process of purging toxins from the body and brain after the use of cocaine is stopped. Withdrawal from cocaine often causes intense emotional and physical discomfort. As such, it is highly recommended to undergo detox from cocaine in a safe environment under the care and monitoring of trained medical professionals. This level of care can typically only be provided by professional cocaine detox centers such as Landmark Recovery of Indianapolis.
The detoxing from cocaine varies for each individual and the withdrawal symptoms one experiences depends on many factors such as amount of drug taken, duration of abuse, and severity of addiction. Cocaine is a fast-acting drug that produces a short-lived euphoric high, and most people will experience a “crash” that occurs as quickly as a few hours of stopping use. At this point you likely begin experiencing symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. Most symptoms of withdrawal will taper off within about 7-10 days, although cravings can be very intense and may persist for several months. During this period, incidences of relapse are high especially among users attempting to self-detox rather than seeking professional help from a certified cocaine detox center in Indianapolis. Some of the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal that may occur during this detox period include: 7
Severe depression and dysphoria, a condition characterized by a profound sense of unhappiness and suffering, are the most dangerous symptoms that may be experienced during cocaine withdrawal. These conditions can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions, and for this reason all patients undergoing cocaine detox should be closely monitored during their detoxification, in a professional detox center, for signs of suicidality and treated for depression when deemed appropriate.
Unlike other drugs, there are currently no FDA-approved medications that specifically treat cocaine addiction. However, there are many prescription medications that can be useful in offsetting some of the symptoms that may be experienced while detoxing from cocaine. Some of these medications include:
Are you ready to make the commitment and face your cocaine addiction? If so, please know that we are here to help you overcome your addiction and guide along the path to recovery. Call us at 317-449-8029
to speak with one of our Landmark Recovery admissions specialists in Indianapolis to learn more about our medically supervised cocaine detox program.
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1) Nestler EJ. The neurobiology of cocaine addiction. Science and Practice Perspectives. 2005;3(1):4-10.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18552739/2) The Indianapolis Star. (2019). Indianapolis police net semi full of $2.1 million in cocaine, 2 arrests in traffic stop.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/12/indianapolis-crime-police-stop-semi-loaded-cocaine-worth-2-1-million-dollars/2298713001/3) National Drug Intelligence Center. (2002). Indiana Drug Threat Assessment Update.
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs1/1011/cocaine.htm4) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2017-2018 State-Specific Tables, Table 40. Indiana.
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2017-2018-nsduh-state-specific-tables5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance —United States, 2015.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2015/ss6506_updated.pdf6) Indiana University, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Institute for Research on Addictive Behavior. (2018). Indiana Youth Survey – 2018.
https://inys.indiana.edu/docs/survey/indianaYouthSurvey_2018.pdf7) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Treatment Improvement Protocol 45: Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment.
https://store.samhsa.gov/product/TIP-45-Detoxification-and-Substance-Abuse-Treatment/SMA15-41318) Siniscalchi A, Bonci A, Biagio Mercuri N, et al. The Role of Topiramate in the Management of Cocaine Addiction: a Possible Therapeutic Option. Current Neuropharmacology. 2015;13(6):815-818.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4759320/9) Kampman KM, Dackis C, Lynch KG, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of amantadine, propranolol, and their combination for the treatment of cocaine dependence in patients with severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2006;85(2):129-137.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16697124/10) Kampman KM, Volpicelli JR, Alterman AI, Cornish J, O'Brien CP. Amantadine in the treatment of cocaine-dependent patients with severe withdrawal symptoms. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 2000;157(12):2052-2054.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11097979/11) Jobes ML, Ghitza UE, Epstein DH, Phillips KA, Heishman SJ, Preston KL. Clonidine blocks stress-induced craving in cocaine users. Psychopharmacology. 2011;218(1):83-88.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21399902/12) Anderson AL, Reid MS, Li SH, et al. Modafinil for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2009;104(1-2):133-139.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2818032/13) Haile CN, De La Garza R, Mahoney JJ, Nielsen DA, Kosten TR, Newton TF. The impact of disulfiram treatment on the reinforcing effects of cocaine: a randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e47702.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3493584/14) Shoptaw S, Yang X, Rotheram-Fuller EJ, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled trial of baclofen for cocaine dependence: preliminary effects for individuals with chronic patterns of cocaine use. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2003;64(12):1440-1448.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14728105/