If a loved one or friend is struggling with an addiction to cocaine, then it can be extremely hard knowing where to turn to, or how to help.
Cocaine can be a highly addictive substance that causes great harm to your mind and your body.
It can also have a serious impact on an individual’s personality and behaviour, making it even harder for loved ones and friends to get them the help they desperately need.
Addiction is a disease, and once someone becomes addicted to cocaine it can become extremely difficult to stop.
If you’re worried about a friend or loved one becoming addicted to cocaine, it’s important to know what to look out for in order for you to know how you can help.
There is a wide range of treatment options available to those who need help with an addiction to cocaine.
The first step in helping someone with cocaine addiction is to recognise the psychological and physical symptoms of that addiction.
This is highly important so that you know if and when someone is struggling.
If you think someone is struggling with an addiction to cocaine, then the below symptoms are what to look out for.
If you spot any of the above symptoms in a loved one or family member, then there are a few things that you can do in order to help them and get them to a place of recovery.
Below is a list of advice and tips that you can easily do in order to help someone who is struggling with an addiction to cocaine.
One of the first things you can do to help a loved one who’s struggling with an addiction is to learn as much as you possibly can about cocaine, addiction and what it’s like for them.
By being able to recognise and understand the symptoms of cocaine addiction, you’ll be able to learn when and how you can help them.
You might also be able to stop and intercept any triggers that might make their addiction worse.
If you’re concerned that your friend or loved one is struggling with an addiction to cocaine, it is important that you don’t shy away from their troubles.
By being forthcoming and openly talking about their addiction, they will feel like they are able to speak with you honestly about their issues, struggles and addiction.
If it’s the first time ever that you’ve thought about bringing their addiction up in conversation, then you should pick a quiet, private and safe place that they will feel comfortable talking in.
You should also use reassuring and comforting language so that they don’t feel like you’re attacking them.
By being the first to bring it up, your loved one or friend will also know how much you care and want to help.
When you’re ready to sit down with your loved one and discuss their addiction, make sure that you ask the right questions.
It’s important that you ask the type of questions that make it clear that you care about their health, and that you are not trying to judge them.
Take a compassionate, caring and understanding tone, and ask open-ended questions.
An example of the type of questions to ask are:
If you think your loved one is struggling with an addiction to cocaine, then it’s important that you get them professional help.
Addiction is a disease, and people who suffer from addiction need professional help in order to overcome it.
They will most likely need to attend inpatient or outpatient rehab, and receive therapy and medical help from doctors.
You can do so by:
Alternatively, you can give Rehab 4 Addiction a call and speak to our trusted team today for advice, help and support.
Very importantly, you need to make sure that you are supported too. Helping a loved one overcome an addiction and get the help they need can be tiring and overwhelming.
It’s important that you look after yourself and prioritise your health, as well as theirs.
You should make sure that you are eating and sleeping well, as well as exercising enough.
Make sure that you’re talking about your efforts to help your loved one with other loved ones, so that they can support you too.
Make sure that you don’t come across as judgemental or accusatory.
Although you might struggle to understand why they continue to abuse cocaine, the only way you will be able to help them is if they trust you.
When talking to them, use open-ended questions and a kind, caring and sympathetic tone.
Additionally, it is really important that you do not enable their addiction in any way.
However, when you care about someone it can be extremely hard to avoid this. Even when you don’t intend to, it’s very easy to enable negative and triggering behaviours.
For example, making excuses for them, helping them out financially or defending them and their addiction are all classed as enabling behaviours.
If your loved one or friend is struggling with an addiction, then it’s important that you understand the effects of cocaine.
Cocaine makes people feel a temporary sense of euphoria, and then a very low drop in energy.
This feeling of euphoria is defined as a ‘high’ and this drop in energy is often commonly referred to as a comedown.
If cocaine is consumed and abused over time, then your brain and body start to rely on the drug in order to feel this level of ‘high’ again or even just function day to day.
This is defined as a dependency and has a major impact on your mental health.
Once an individual is addicted to cocaine in this way, it can create the below long and short term effects:
It is also believed that cocaine addiction and use has three distinct phases, defined as a ‘crash’ followed by a ‘withdrawal’ and finally an ‘extinction.’
The ‘crash’ is followed by heavy cocaine abuse and causes individuals to feel irritable, anxious, confused, tired and hungry.
The second phase is defined as a ‘withdrawal.’ This creates a craving for the drug, an inability to concentrate, continued tiredness and irritability.
The third phase is defined as ‘extinction.’ This takes the form of intense, all-consuming cravings.
If you or someone you know and love is struggling with an addiction to cocaine, then it’s important that you get professional help as soon as possible.
You can do this by visiting your local GP for some advice and support, who will also be able to recommend the next steps.
You can also speak to our friendly and professional team at Rehab 4 Addiction, who are able to guide and support you on your recovery journey, as well as suggest the very best rehab centres and treatment options in your area.
By speaking to our team at Rehab 4 Addiction, you will gain advice and support about detoxification programmes, learning the benefits of attending a detoxification programme in a professional setting, such as a cocaine rehab centre.
By attending a private rehab centre, you will be placed in the very best place in your area for your needs and will skip any long waiting lists commonly associated with attending NHS funded rehab.
If you’re looking for advice and support for a friend, or feel like you need advice for yourself, then feel free to contact our team today on 0800 140 4690 or by visiting us online at www.rehab4addiction.co.uk
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181074/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline.
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