Cocaine Detoxification

Cocaine detox can be a frightening prospect for most people.  At Paradise Recovery, we make the cocaine detoxification process as comfortable as possible. We take the worry out of cocaine detox! One of the ways we do this is by providing a medically-based cocaine detox that is done through a “best-practice” approach.  “Best Practice” means that the detox utilizes both accepted and cutting edge treatment options that have been shown to be helpful through scientific study.  Because the detox is medical, meaning you have medications to help you through the process, in addition to the support of our recovery staff, your body does not need to go through many of the withdrawal symptoms that you may have experienced in the past.  Please beware of the many eccentric programs out there that claim to have the best and “rapid” cocaine detox based on their program specific protocols and medications that have not been proven and could actually be harmful to you.

Also remember that cocaine detoxification is just the beginning of your recovery process.  Detoxification is not going to bring you recovery.  In order to achieve recovery, you need a robust recovery-focused program that looks at the addictive disease process as well as the underlying issues that may have precipitated the addiction.  Detox is only a start but an extremely important start indeed!

Cocaine Detox Physiology

The brain is a complex organization of neurons and other cells.  Cocaine affects neurons in the so-called pleasure area of the brain.  Its affects are on a specific neurotransmitter called dopamine. 

Nerve cells tend to be elongated cells.  When one cell ends, another cell begins.  The very small space that exists between the end of one cell and the beginning of the next is called a synapse.  When a nerve cell is “fired” it must communicate the information that it has received to the next cell.  It must somehow get that information passed through the synapse, or the small space between it and the next cell.  The way that it does this is by releasing small proteins called neurotransmitters into the synapse.  The next cell then picks up on the signal given by those neurotransmitters and is able to carry the information forward.

Cocaine has its effects on the first cell leading to the synapse.  When that cell in the pleasure area of the brain fires, it releases dopamine into the synapse.  Normally, after the dopamine is released, it is soon re-absorbed by the cell that released it (this cell is called the pre-synaptic cell).  However, when cocaine is introduced to the system, it blocks the re-absorption or re-uptake of the dopamine back into the pre-synaptic cell.  Therefore, more and more dopamine builds up in the synapse.  It is thought that this increase in dopamine in the synapse, with the resulting information it carries on to the next cell is what causes the pleasurable feelings associated with cocaine use.  However, the brain begins to adapt to the long-term and frequent use of cocaine.  The pre-synaptic cell may sense that there is too much dopamine in the synapse and it may decrease the production of dopamine in order to compensate.  Thus, when you stop the use of cocaine, or in between uses, your synapses are left with very little dopamine.  The result is the opposite of the pleasurable sensations which were had with an over-accumulation of dopamine: depression, severe fatigue, irritability, moodiness, and severe cravings.  These symptoms only get worse with longer and more frequent cocaine use.  It becomes a vicious cycle of needing to use cocaine more and more frequently in order to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.  But the more you use, the worse the withdrawal symptoms become.

In addition to the use of cocaine and its damaging effects on the person’s functioning, chronic cocaine use can cause psychiatric problems which are the result of the imbalance of neurotransmitters from the cocaine.  One of the most common psychiatric problems associated with chronic cocaine use is depression.  There are people who can also become psychotic, or hear voices and become paranoid.  These psychiatric issues may need to be treated at the same time as the cocaine detox takes place.

Because of the complexity of cocaine detox and the treatment of concurring psychiatric disorders, it is obvious that the expertise of a trained professional physician who has experience in this area is needed.  This is exactly what Paradise Recovery offers. 

In-house Cocaine Detoxification

Unlike most treatment programs, Paradise Recovery is able to provide you with cocaine detox right in our treatment program.  You will most likely be in our poolside detox suite while you are undergoing cocaine detoxification.  The detox suite has its own private full bathroom and has a laundry area.  The room faces the pool and the ocean, so you are able to listen to the gentle ocean waves as you drift off to sleep at night.  What does all of this mean to you?  It means that your cocaine detox is done right in our very comfortable home with our support staff and terrific meals, instead of in a hospital room.  Our cocaine detox uses clinically proven medications that are monitored and prescribed in a proven manner by your personal psychiatrist.  The amount and type of medication that you will receive is personally tailored to you and your cocaine detoxification needs to ensure maximum comfort.  You will also be receiving acupuncture during your cocaine detoxification process, which has been clinically proven to reduce certain withdrawal symptoms, adding to your comfort.  The supportive staff around you, combined with the addition of a new, healthy diet (as prescribed by your dietician), vitamin supplementation, certain movement therapies, acupuncture, normalization of sleep cycles, individual therapy and specific medications will make the cocaine detox as comfortable as possible.  Any co-occurring psychiatric issues will also be evaluated and addressed to ensure that you are able to make continued progress.

It is impossible to enter the recovery process without a clear mind to absorb the therapy and interventions designed to move you from the addictive way of proceeding to a clean and sober lifestyle. It is an important but difficult undertaking, which requires help from professional and para-professional staff. Once the physical detox is complete, then you can more clearly engage with staff and peers to begin to meet your recovery goals.  It is the first step toward a lasting recovery!