Cocaine addiction is a complex disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Many cocaine users eventually want to quit but find it challenging to stop using the drug completely. A common question asked is – can you quit cocaine cold turkey? Let’s examine this topic in detail.
Overview of Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug derived from coca leaves It causes a short-term euphoric high, along with increased energy and sociability. However, it also has many negative effects on both physical and mental health
Prolonged cocaine use leads to addiction in some individuals Addiction causes intense cravings, loss of control over usage, and continued use despite negative consequences Quitting cocaine after addiction has developed is difficult due to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and high likelihood of relapse.
Professional treatment provides the best chance for overcoming cocaine addiction long-term. However, some opt to attempt quitting on their own through cold turkey cocaine cessation.
What Does It Mean to Quit Cold Turkey?
Quitting cold turkey simply means to immediately stop using cocaine completely, without gradually tapering down dosage over time. This abrupt cessation approach attempts to end cocaine usage in one step.
Cold turkey cocaine withdrawal occurs because the body has become dependent on cocaine. When cocaine is removed, the body goes into withdrawal as it struggles to rebalance itself chemically.
Withdrawal Symptoms When Quitting Cocaine Cold Turkey
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms from cold turkey cessation typically begin within 24 hours after last use. They tend to peak in intensity at 2-4 days and improve within 1-2 weeks. However, some symptoms like cravings and depression may persist for months.
Common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Strong drug cravings
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Vivid dreams or nightmares
- Agitation or restlessness
- Generalized anxiety
- Slowed movements or thoughts
- Inability to experience pleasure
More severe cold turkey cocaine withdrawal symptoms can also sometimes occur:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Seizures (especially if co-using alcohol)
Is Quitting Cocaine Cold Turkey Dangerous?
While quitting cocaine use cold turkey is possible, it carries risks of complications. Attempting it without medical supervision could lead to potentially dangerous health consequences.
Some key risks of unsupervised cold turkey cocaine withdrawal include:
- High likelihood of overdose if relapse occurs, due to reduced tolerance
- Life-threatening seizures, hypertension, or heart issues
- Severe depression with self-harm risk
- Lack of treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders
- Minimal coping skills to handle intense cravings and maintain abstinence
Medically-supervised detox minimizes these risks through medical monitoring, prescription of anti-seizure and anti-anxiety medications, and round-the-clock supportive care.
Does Cold Turkey Cocaine Cessation Typically Succeed Long-Term?
For most individuals addicted to cocaine, attempting to quit cold turkey does not lead to sustained abstinence from the drug. High likelihood of relapse is the norm without comprehensive treatment after detox.
Up to 80% of people relapse within 6 months of cold turkey attempts due to issues like:
- Inability to cope with cocaine cravings
- Lack of lifestyle changes or addiction education
- Failure to address co-occurring mental health issues
- Exposure to familiar people/places that trigger relapse
Formal addiction treatment addresses these factors to enhance long-term success and recovery.
Professional Treatment Provides the Best Chance for Recovery
Quitting cocaine after addiction has taken hold can be extremely difficult without professional help. Structured treatment programs significantly improve long-term recovery outcomes.
Key benefits of professional cocaine addiction treatment include:
- Medically-supervised detox and 24/7 monitoring
- Prescription medications to ease withdrawal symptoms
- Individual and group behavioral therapies
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders like anxiety or depression
- Development of relapse prevention skills
- Ongoing aftercare and community support programs
Recovering from cocaine addiction is a process that continues long after detox. Comprehensive treatment paired with robust aftercare offers the best possibility for sustained abstinence.
While it is possible to quit cocaine cold turkey, attempting it alone comes with considerable risks and low odds of long-term success. Enrolling in a professional cocaine addiction treatment program after detox provides the greatest likelihood of achieving stable recovery. Overcoming cocaine addiction requires determination to make lasting lifestyle changes, along with extensive behavioral and emotional support.
Cocaine withdrawal Menu Cocaine withdrawal Menu
Cocaine withdrawal occurs when someone who has used a lot of cocaine cuts down or quits taking the drug. Symptoms of withdrawal can occur even if the user is not completely off cocaine and still has some of the drug in their blood.
Withdrawal from cocaine; Substance use – cocaine withdrawal; Substance abuse – cocaine withdrawal; Drug abuse – cocaine withdrawal; Detox – cocaine
Cocaine produces a sense of euphoria (extreme mood elevation) by causing the brain to release higher than normal amounts of some chemicals. But, cocaines effects on other parts of the body can be very serious, or even deadly.
When cocaine use is stopped or when a binge ends, a crash follows almost right away. The cocaine user has a strong craving for more cocaine during a crash. Other symptoms include fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, and sometimes agitation or extreme suspicion or paranoia.
Cocaine withdrawal often has no visible physical symptoms, such as the vomiting and shaking that accompany withdrawal from heroin or alcohol.
Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal may include:
- Agitation and restless behavior
- Depressed mood
- Fatigue
- General feeling of discomfort
- Increased appetite
- Vivid and unpleasant dreams
- Slowing of activity (psychomotor retardation)
The craving and depression can last for months after stopping long-term heavy use. Withdrawal symptoms may also be associated with suicidal thoughts in some people.
During withdrawal, there can be powerful, intense cravings for cocaine. The “high” associated with ongoing use may become less and less pleasant. It can produce fear and extreme suspicion rather than euphoria. Even so, the cravings may remain powerful.
A physical examination and history of cocaine use are often all that is needed to diagnose this condition. However, medical testing will likely be done. It may include:
- Blood tests
- Cardiac enzymes (to look for evidence of heart damage or heart attack)
- Chest x-ray
- ECG (electrocardiogram, to measure electrical activity in the heart)
- Toxicology (poison and drug) screening
- Urinalysis
Symptoms of withdrawal usually disappear over time. If symptoms are severe, a live-in treatment program may be recommended. There, medicines may be used to treat the symptoms. Counseling may help end the addiction. And, the persons health and safety can be monitored during recovery.
More information and support for people with cocaine withdrawal symptoms and their families can be found at:
- Partnership for Drug-Free-Kids — drugfree.org
- LifeRing — lifering.org
- SMART Recovery — www.smartrecovery.org
A workplace employee assistance program (EAP) is also a good resource.
Cocaine addiction is difficult to treat, and relapse can occur. Treatment should start with the least restrictive option. Outpatient care is as effective as inpatient care for most people.
Withdrawal from cocaine may not be as unstable as withdrawal from alcohol. However, the withdrawal from any chronic substance use can be very serious. There is a risk of suicide or overdose.
People who have cocaine withdrawal will often use alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, or anti-anxiety medicines to treat their symptoms. Long-term use of these drugs is not recommended because it simply shifts addiction from one substance to another. Under proper medical supervision, however, short-term use of these medicines may be helpful in recovery.
Presently, there are no medicines to reduce craving, but research is ongoing.
Complications of cocaine withdrawal include:
- Depression
- Craving and overdose
- Suicide