Cocaine abuse continues to affect millions of people every day. Fortunately, there are programs available that can assist people misusing cocaine and are at risk of serious medical complications and psychological disorders.
The Right Step runs fully-accredited addiction treatment centers that work with those struggling with an addiction to cocaine, heroin, meth, or other toxic substances. To talk about our cocaine addiction treatment program and how it can benefit you or a loved one, call 17135283709 today.
Recognizing Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that produces heightened awareness, energy, and euphoria. It also significantly increases heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature and cravings for more cocaine. It also produces several psychological effects, including paranoia, depression, and anxiety disorders, and has some severely negative physical health complications as well.
If you’re concerned that a friend or loved one is abusing cocaine and needs help, here are some of the ways that you can recognize cocaine abuse:
- Physical signs – The physical signs of cocaine abuse include dilated pupils, runny nose or frequent nose bleeds, weight loss, increased energy, restlessness, and fatigue after use. They may also begin grinding or clinching their teeth while using cocaine.
- Behavioral signs – Behavioral signs include changes in their social circle and who they spend time with. They’ll act more secretively and lie about what they’re doing. They’ll also begin to neglect responsibilities at work or school and have financial problems due to the high costs of buying more cocaine.
- Psychological signs – In addition to euphoria, other mental health indicators of cocaine abuse include mood swings, paranoia, anxiety, irritability, aggression, and depression
- Other signs – You may find drug paraphernalia around the home that includes tools for snorting cocaine, a white powdery residue, discarded small plastic bags, glass pipes, burnt spoons, syringes, or burnt foil.
The Right Step treats cocaine abuse through a comprehensive treatment program that includes behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
The time it takes for cocaine to leave your system depends on several factors. These include the length of abuse and amounts taken, your metabolism, and your overall health. A detox program can help you during this time and make reaching your sober goals possible with fewer risks of relapse.
There are several methods for determining how long cocaine stays in your system. Cocaine can metabolize fairly quickly, but different methods can detect cocaine abuse:
- Urine test – Can detect cocaine for 1–4 days for normal use and up to 10 days for heavy misuse
- Blood test – This method can detect cocaine in the blood for up to 12 hours—benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine, can be detected for up to 48 hours
- Saliva – This test can detect cocaine for 1–2 days
- Hair test – This method can detect cocaine for up to 90 days or longer
How long does cocaine stay in your system? Here is a breakdown of a timeline of how long cocaine stays in your system.
The First 72 hours
When you stop abusing cocaine, you’ll experience several symptoms that increase in intensity over the next 72 hours. Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense fatigue
- Hypersomnia
- Depression
- Increased appetite
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Strong cravings for more cocaine
This is known as “the crash stage,” and clients are at a high risk of relapse during this time.
Two to Three Weeks and Beyond
Over the next few weeks, your withdrawal symptoms will dissipate but can linger for several months. These will include intense fatigue, hypersomnia, depression, increased appetite, irritability, anxiety, and intense cravings for more cocaine. This occurs due to a depletion of dopamine and energy levels as your body attempts to return to normal.
Medication-assisted treatment is very beneficial in reducing these symptoms and can help keep you on your sober path.
Schedule a Consultation at The Right Step for Cocaine Addiction Treatment
The Right Step’s treatment programs include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, holistic therapy, and medication to create a whole-person recovery experience. If you or a loved one is abusing cocaine, fill out our online form or call 17135283709 today to schedule a consultation at one of our convenient locations.
