Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Addiction Intervention and Treatment in Texas
Cocaine and crack cocaine addiction intervention and treatment in Texas includes programs and services to help cocaine addicts and their families manage this dangerous addiction. Cocaine addiction is a devastating problem that affects young adults and adults. Unfortunately, prolonged cocaine use leads to crack cocaine addiction causing a more severe form of drug addiction. Treating cocaine or crack cocaine addiction involves multiple steps. Most drug rehab centers in Texas assess or evaluate the addict to determine what treatment approaches are needed. The first step in treating cocaine addiction involves a drug detox.
Typically, standard drug detox programs in Texas are equipped to treat cocaine or crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms. The next phase of drug rehab involves attending a residential or outpatient drug rehab center. Residential drug rehab centers offer long-term and short-term programs. Most cocaine or crack cocaine addicts benefit from lengthier drug rehabilitation within an inpatient setting. It is also important to consider and follow through with aftercare support like 12-step meetings, peer support groups, or sober living homes. Overall, drug rehabilitation should be well-rounded, meeting the needs of the person receiving treatment.
What is Cocaine and Crack Cocaine, and How Are They Used?
Cocaine and crack cocaine are powerfully addictive stimulant drugs made from leaves of the coca plant native to South America. Illegal cocaine looks like a fine white crystal powder. Drug dealers often mix the drug with cornstarch, talcum powder, or flour to increase profits. Illicit cocaine is also mixed with stimulant amphetamines and synthetic opioids. Powder cocaine is snorted through the nose, or it is rubbed into the gums. Powder cocaine can also be dissolved and injected into the bloodstream.
Additionally, some people inject a combination of cocaine and heroin. Crack cocaine is smoked because powder cocaine has been processed to make rock crystal or a freebase form of cocaine. The crystal is heated to produce vapors that are inhaled into the lungs. The term crack cocaine refers to the sound of the rock as it is heated. Some people also smoke crack cocaine by sprinkling it on marijuana or tobacco. Cocaine users are usually binge drug users and take the drug repeatedly within a short time. As the drug use progresses, they increase the dose to maintain the effects.
What are Common Street Names for Cocaine and Crack Cocaine
Common street names for cocaine include Blow, Coca, Coke, Crack, Flake, Snow, and Soda Cot. Cocaine is derived from coca leaves grown in Bolivia, Peru, and Columbia. The manufacturing process takes place in remote jungle labs where the raw product undergoes a chemical transformation. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Columbia produces 90% of the cocaine powder that reaches the United States. Most of the cocaine entering the United States comes through Mexico. Cocaine is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. The drug has a high potential for abuse and has an accepted medical use for treatment.
What Causes Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Drug Addiction?
Cocaine addiction is a common problem in Texas. According to the University of Texas at Austin, methamphetamine and cocaine problems continue to increase. Drug rehab centers in Texas routinely treat young adults and adults addicted to cocaine or crack cocaine. When cocaine is used, it increases dopamine levels in the brain circuits related to the control of movement and reward. Typically, within the brain, cocaine recycles back into the cell that released it. However, cocaine prevents dopamine from being recycled, causing a large amount to build up, stopping communication between nerve cells. The increased amount of dopamine in the brain reinforces drug-taking behavior.
Additionally, the drug user becomes physically and psychologically dependent on the drug requiring more cocaine to maintain the same effects. The short-term effects of cocaine include extreme happiness and energy, mental alertness, irritability, and paranoia. The effects of cocaine appear immediately, especially when the drug is smoked or injected. The high from snorting cocaine may last 15 to 30 minutes, and the high from smoking cocaine lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine use also causes constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, nausea, raised body temperature, fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors, and restlessness. Drug rehab centers in Texas are equipped to manage all severity of cocaine addiction.
Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Addiction Treatment and Detox in Texas
Cocaine and crack cocaine addiction treatment and detox in Texas include multiple therapies and counseling options through residential and outpatient drug rehab centers. The first step in treating cocaine addiction is drug detox to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The mind and body develop a dependence on cocaine. Common withdrawal symptoms include depression, fatigue, increased appetite, unpleasant dreams, insomnia, and slowed thinking. Standard drug detox programs in Texas are equipped to manage cocaine or crack cocaine withdrawal.
The next phase of drug rehabilitation involves attending a residential or outpatient drug rehab center. Behavioral therapy is a common approach used to treat cocaine addiction. Common behavioral therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management or motivational incentives, therapeutic communities, and 12-step facilitation. Some drug rehab centers in Texas incorporate holistic treatment or experiential therapy. Finally, it is important to follow through with aftercare support. Recovery options for cocaine or crack cocaine addiction include peer support groups, 12-step meetings, and sober living homes.
Family Intervention for Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Addiction in Texas
Family intervention services in Texas involve hiring a professional interventionist to help a family plan and execute a drug addiction intervention. Most people addicted to cocaine or crack cocaine are unwilling to admit they have an addiction or are willing to accept help. Family intervention motivates the addict to seek treatment and commit to a drug rehab center. With the help of a professional interventionist, friends and family come together to confront the addict.
During a family intervention, the addict is shown how their cocaine addiction has impacted their life and the lives of their family. The interventionist helps the family set clear boundaries and consequences if the addict refuses to accept drug rehab. A properly planned family intervention is effective, yet a poorly planned intervention does worsen the situation making the drug-addicted family member feel attacked.
Sources-
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Cocaine-2020.pdf
NIDA. “Cocaine DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 8 Apr. 2021, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
https://socialwork.utexas.edu/research/institutes/ari/