Detox

Detoxification is the first of several stages of effective drug treatment. In its simplest definition, it is a period of time during which the toxic elements of the abused drug are released from the body. While the term “detox” is often used to describe the entire process of drug treatment, this stage doesn’t address any of the psychological, social or behavioral problems that accompany addiction.

There is a logic to this: it’s difficult to engage physically, mentally or emotionally in learning new behaviors (or unlearning old ones) while the body is still under the effects of a mind-altering drug.
With many frequently abused drugs, the chemical components stay in the body’s tissues and organs for significant periods of time. In these cases, detoxing lasts from a few days to weeks, while the body adjusts to the absence of what are, essentially, poisons.

In the case of cocaine, because it is water soluble, it passes through the body very rapidly (which you probably learned if you ever had to take a drug test during your coke-using experience).

The detoxification process for cocaine is more mental than physical. Why? The psychological aspect of “craving” (the cornerstone of any addiction) is stronger than the body’s physical need for the cocaine itself. Most cocaine addicts will experience these cravings, as well as varying degrees of depression, during the initial phase of detox. Depending on the severity of the addiction (and on a case-by-case basis), treatment professionals may place the recovering addict in a medically supervised detox facility for the first few days.
Detoxing “cold turkey” can actually be a shock to the body, and may cause severe medical consequences, including death. Under medical supervision, detox is safe, and the unpleasant physical side effects (shaking, sweating, irritability and agitation) can be mediated with medication, if necessary.

Kicking cocaine isn’t easy. But living the life of a cokehead isn’t easy, either. We can help you get through the toughest part—detox—and help you find a treatment program that will support you in putting your addiction behind you, once and for all.