Cocaine detox in Los Angeles – Alta Centers Detox

Alta Centers is Los Angeles Addiction Center and Inpatient Drug Rehab providing Cocaine Addiction Treatment and Cocaine Detox and Cocaine Rehab. Learn more about cocaine detox.

How Long Does It Take To Detox From Cocaine?

What is Cocaine Detox?

Cocaine has been used for thousands of years in varying forms for its effects as a stimulant. People used to chew and ingest the leaves of the coca plant, which is the source of cocaine. However, people now generally inject or smoke the substance. Cocaine has been shown to be very dangerous to our health, and research has even proved that the addictive substance can alter our brain chemistry if used repeatedly.¹

Despite its dangers, there are still many people who struggle with cocaine usage. Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, meaning that it has a high risk of abuse but can still be administered by doctors for medical uses, including as an anesthetic.  This is one way that people might be introduced to the drug, whereas others are exposed to it by peers, family, or through school.

Cocaine Side Effects

Cocaine can have many physical, mental, and emotional effects on the body. These can affect someone’s daily life and may also increase with a rise in usage. Some of these side effects include:²

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Erratic or violent behavior
• Restlessness
• Anxiety or panic
• Vertigo
• Tremors
• Headaches
• Irritability

What is Cocaine Withdrawal?

The symptoms of detoxing from cocaine will look different for everyone depending on genetics, length and frequency of usage, and external factors, among other considerations. Medical detox may be necessary for cocaine addiction for those who find themselves unable to stop using or thinking about the substance, along with if it negatively impacts daily life.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Generally, cocaine withdrawal and detox symptoms often include:³

• Fatigue
• Bodily pain
• Increase in appetite
• Suicidal thoughts
• Agitation or aggressive tendencies
• Tremors or shaking
• Cravings
• Depression or anxiety
• Vomiting
• Heart problems
• Nausea
• Headaches or migraines

The intensity of these symptoms, along with how long they last, also vary from person to person. The physical symptoms generally resolve themselves within the first week or two, but the mental symptoms – including depression, anxiety, or mood changes – may take months to fully heal. Mental health effects are also often treated with psychotherapy and medication, especially if the patient already had a co-occurring mental health condition.

Getting Help at a Detox Center

While undergoing cocaine detox and withdrawal at a medical facility is already recommended to help with withdrawal symptoms, it’s also a smart idea to attend one as they can provide treatment for these mental health symptoms. Many detox centers offer medication-assisted therapy along with therapists and other inpatient treatment methods to help patients undertake cocaine detox.

To figure out how to clean your system from cocaine, you may partake in a cocaine cleanse or utilize cocaine detox home remedies. While these are definitely beneficial for those who cannot afford the time or money it takes to attend a detox center, it’s important to be mindful of how these may prove dangerous, as they’re not the same as receiving assistance from a medically-licensed detox center.

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Cocaine?

For those who have a cocaine substance abuse disorder, there are often many factors that affect how long it takes someone to detox from the substance. If someone has been using cocaine for a long period of time, it will generally take longer for their body to detox itself of the substance than someone who has been using it for a shorter period.

If you or a loved one used cocaine more frequently, the detox process will take longer as well. Other considerations to note are if you or a loved one take other substances, have a co-occurring mental health issue, or are exposed to cocaine regularly in your environment. For most patients, the detox process takes anywhere from five to seven days, but it can sometimes take up to two or three weeks.

What Does Detox Feel Like?

If you or a loved one are thinking of detoxing from cocaine, it’s important to note that you should do so under medical supervision, as the process can have dangerous side effects. In order to mitigate these as much as possible, medical detox centers like Alta Centers are available for safe and supportive detox procedures.

You may start to experience detox withdrawal symptoms as soon as eight to twelve hours after your last dosage. These are generally the most difficult for the body to manage for the first few days, and then start to lessen in their intensity. The most intense phase is called the crash phase, and then as symptoms dissipate, it often moves to the craving phase. Finally, after symptoms have generally resolved themselves, the extinction phase occurs, which is where most of the mental health side effects happen.

What Treatments Are Available After Detox?

Cocaine detox looks different for everyone, meaning that the treatment process often varies on an individual basis. However, almost all withdrawal programs for cocaine start with medically-supervised detox in order to rid the body of the substance entirely before beginning other treatments. After that, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and individual or group therapies are often offered to help prevent relapse and provide continued support.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is often available for those who need more intense care after the detox and withdrawal process. This treatment consists of staying at a detox center for anywhere from a few days to a few months in order to receive care. This is often better for those who need a break from the environment at home or need help for other co-occurring disorders as well.⁴

Outpatient Treatment

This treatment is less intense than inpatient, and it consists of the patient coming in for a few hours each day and going home at the end of the day. This works best for those who have less severe addictions or who need to maintain jobs or take care of children or loved ones, among other responsibilities.

Individual or Group Therapies

Individual therapy means meeting with a therapist one-on-one in order to talk through addiction issues, among other mental health problems that could be affecting the patient. Group therapy is also offered in many detox centers, and involves one or two therapists meeting with many patients in order to talk through the same things. Group therapies or support groups also allow members to provide support for each other and discuss what may be bothering them.

Get Help for Cocaine Addiction at Alta Centers Los Angeles Drug Rehab

If you or a loved one need help managing your cocaine substance abuse disorder, contact Alta Centers today. We can provide supportive and beneficial cocaine recovery tactics, along with helping patients who are coming off cocaine in order to manage withdrawal symptoms. We will be there with you or your loved one every step of the way during cocaine withdrawal and detox.

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/
research-reports/cocaine/what-cocaine
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/
research-reports/cocaine/what-are-short-term-effects-cocaine-use