Treatment of cocaine addiction

Cocaine is different from other drugs in that it does not cause physical addiction or crisis.

Cocaine creates an illusion of increased strength in humans and makes them feel stronger, smarter, and safer. A man on cocaine drinks more and feels greater sexual power. That is why some men snort a couple of lines when out with their friends. However, the problem arises when occasional cocaine consumption grows into years of addiction, which may also result in impotence.

Already after first consumption, cocaine causes changes such as growth in tolerance and increased reactivity.

Cocaine quickly loses its effects, but once tried, it creates a strong desire to feel its effects for as long as possible.

However, subsequent doses do not cause the desired effects, and the effects decrease. One loses control over own behavior, spends enormous amounts of money, and slowly reaches the edge of physical and psychological devastation. As he approaches binge, the man is getting closer to fall and reaches the crash, the state of the cocaine hangover. After that, his body and mind seek rest, but the disturbed balance in the body prevents him from sleeping.

Because of this, there is great psycho-physical tiredness, nervousness, loss of concentration, all of which is associated with a threat, a dangerous situation, and a feeling that something terrible will happen.

Later phases are characterized by lunatic ideas of stalking. People become paranoid, checking rooms, looking through the window for fear that the police will arrest them, locking the door and looking for cameras and microphones as they are convinced that someone is eavesdropping on them.

This period of paranoia is followed by depression, apathy, and the feeling of meaninglessness. Food becomes tasteless, and socialization with friends unnecessary, work performance declines, and hobbies are ignored because the desire and energy for any activities are lost.

Cocaine becomes the only one that makes the man happy and the only motivation to go out with friends and consume drugs again. However, 2-3 days after the effects of cocaine wear off, it is all the more difficult than before.

Cocaine cycle

This is how one of the cocaine cycles looks like: 1-2 days of continuous use followed by the so-called crash, after which cravings, depression and return to cocaine take place. With time, the consequences get worse, medical, social, and financial problems arise, and paranoia, insomnia, and nervousness become permanent.

Finally, a man sees that the use of cocaine impedes normal life, but he still fails to quit cocaine continually returning to it.

Facts about cocaine

• Famous doctor Sigmund Freud treated his friend who was a morphine addict using cocaine, but the treatment results were devastating. In the end, he became addicted, experienced a nervous breakdown, and killed himself.
• Cocaine sold in Europe can also contain amphetamine, ephedrine, strychnine, lidocaine, and mephedrone. Sometimes it has powder from mercury fluorescent lamps.
• Some people advise substituting marijuana, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other sedatives for cocaine. Apparently, this will reduce anxiety and improve sleep, and the “best” choice to substitute cocaine is heroin. Unfortunately, some people offer it “on discount.” This is how people become addicted to heroin.

Cocaine effects on health

Constant use of cocaine results in very unpleasant conditions, e.g., nervousness, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, paranoia, lunatic ideas of being stalked, hallucinations, and hearing impairment. There are serious medical complications, most commonly cardiac problems (arrhythmias and myocardial infarction), respiratory problems (chest pain, respiratory failure), neurological problems (stroke, headache) and stomach problems (stomach pain, nausea). In addition to these problems, behavioral disorders, increased urges for movement and talking, inability to sit, increased sensitivity to noise, state of confusion, and rapid mental fatigue and impotence occur.

Frequent use of cocaine leads to heart diseases. It primarily causes a change in heart rhythm, rapid breathing, high blood pressure, and high body temperature. There are physical symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, blurred vision, fever, cramps, and coma. Addicts have the habit of combining cocaine with other psychoactive substances to reduce its stimulating effect, most commonly with alcohol.

Both substances change the state of consciousness and the ability to reason and influence the reaction time, and therefore, one should not drive in such a condition, as this can be extremely dangerous. Studies show that the combination of cocaine and alcohol leads to the formation of cocaethylene and its effects are longer and more toxic than that of each of these psychoactive substances separately. It is important to know that a mixture of cocaine and alcohol can result in death.

The combination of cocaine and heroin is called speedball, and the role of heroin is to reduce unpleasant symptoms that result from cocaine use. Speedball is very dangerous as it can lead to cardiac or respiratory arrest.

There are different ways to use cocaine, and all have negative consequences. Snorting leads to losing the sense of smell, nose bleeding, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, irritation of the nasal mucous membrane, and all this can cause chronic inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane.

If cocaine is taken orally, intestinal gangrene may occur accompanied by reduced blood flow.

Allergies to cocaine, as well as to various mixtures found in it, can also develop. Sometimes this can lead to death. Also, cocaine reduces appetite resulting in weight loss.

Treatment of cocaine addiction at Dr Vorobjev hospital

Biochemical compensation is the backbone of treatment, and during this phase, biochemical and neurochemical deficits and imbalances in the body and brain resulting from cocaine use are repaired. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are also an essential part of the treatment as well as s special diet that is introduced after comprehensive laboratory tests.

During the treatment period, we encourage family members to join the program and support the addict.

When addiction strikes a family, it always disturbs the relationships in it and leads to changes in functioning, so for this reason, we encourage the family to engage in treatment as its success largely depends on family support.

Phases in the treatment of cocaine addiction

1. Diagnostics – the initial and significant phase of treatment during which the physical and psychological state of the patient is assessed. The standard diagnostic examination for physical condition assessment includes urine test, tests for hepatitis B and C, HIV infection, general blood analysis, biochemical blood testing, ECG, and an internist examination. The standard diagnostic examination for assessing the psychological condition involves psychodiagnostics (psychological tests are used to determine the level of addiction, the consequences of the use of substances on mental health, to detect the signs of psychological disorders, the presence of depression, the degree of motivation for healing). Having made the diagnosis, the team of doctors examines the findings and develops treatment strategy and plan. If there are risk factors or some chronic illness, additional tests are carried out, and therapy is prescribed. It is possible to do MRT, EEG, ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy, medicine, and drug concentration analysis, cardiac examination, neurological examination, endocrinological examination … These are all additional tests that are not included in the package price.
2. The beginning of treatment refers to the treatment by infusion and Neuro-Jet device. The infusion consists of multivitamins, minerals, and amino acid complexes, all of which stimulate metabolism, improve appetite, and slowly reinstil strength in the addict needed to continue treatment. Treatments in our hospital are intense and highly effective. Neuro-Jet device enables the emission of electric waves that are completely painless and regulate the production of endorphin and dopamine, and eliminate symptoms of crisis.
3. Treatment of psychological addiction – Using aversive procedures, pharmacohypnosis, Prometa, psychotherapy, Ibogaine according to the doctor’s assessment.
4. Psychotherapy – These methods are used to treat psychological addiction and help the patient build a defense mechanism against cocaine and the desire to consume it. It is mostly done individually and, if necessary, in a group.
5. Aversive therapy helps to create a physical aversion to the drug.
6. Physiotherapy, which gives excellent results, is available for patients during the entire treatment. It is necessary to restore the body to be able to go through many procedures that are necessary for the recovery process. Physiotherapy helps to relieve stress and accelerates blood flow and treatment effect.

7. After all the treatments, the patient’s condition and the progress made during the treatment is assessed, and the condition before and after staying in our hospital is analyzed.
8. Outpatient treatment involves monthly follow-ups that are included in the treatment program for one year, and in that period, doctors analyze the patient’s condition and, if necessary, adjust the therapy. Patients can ask all that they are interested in and share their opinion with the doctor. If patients are out of the country and cannot come to regular follow-ups, there is a possibility to be reached out by phone or mail.

In case of a need, we also offer transport of patients from the airport or the station to the hospital and back. We help foreign patients receive a visa if they need it, and if they have company, they too can stay in the hospital.

Our professional staff is available to patients 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Our doctors are certified anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists with 10 to 25 years of experience. Your safety and security is our priority, the facility is under video surveillance, and the hired security guard takes care of it.