Crack Cocaine Treatment: Help for Crack Cocaine Abuse

Crack cocaine addiction can happen after only trying crack once or twice, and once crack cocaine abuse has gone on for weeks, months or even years, crack addiction treatment becomes more challenging. The earlier one seeks crack cocaine treatment, the more likely the treatment will be successful and the less damage will have been done on the body and mind by the crack cocaine abuse. The goal of all crack cocaine treatment is to get the crack user off of crack, provide them with new life skills and prevent future relapse.

Crack Cocaine Treatment: Detox from Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine effects can be deadly and include seizure, heart attack and stroke. Luckily, while crack cocaine detox may be uncomfortable, it is not typically life-threatening.

Detox is the first step in crack cocaine treatment. It is the period after the last dose of crack cocaine. During this initial period, the addict may feel dramatic cravings to use crack cocaine and so detoxing in a cocaine rehab center can be helpful in cases of crack cocaine abuse. The detox part of crack cocaine treatment, including cocaine withdrawal, is generally overseen by medical professionals.

Crack Cocaine Treatment: Complications in Crack Cocaine Treatment

Crack cocaine abuse is often accompanied by other substance abuse issues and mental illness. An important part of crack addiction treatment is screening for these other disorders. During crack cocaine treatment all alcohol and drug-use must be stopped, and other addictions may complicate the detox process.

Mental illnesses may become noticeable during crack cocaine treatment after the detox phase. Mental illnesses commonly occurring with crack cocaine abuse include:

• Depression, possibly suicidal
• Anxiety disorders
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Crack Cocaine Treatment: Commonly Use Crack Addiction Treatments

No medication is FDA approved for use in crack cocaine treatment; behavioral therapies are most successful for crack addiction treatment. Crack addiction treatments can be found through centers specifically for drug addiction rehabilitation, hospitals or in community organizations. Crack cocaine treatment can be found in inpatient or outpatient settings.

Commonly used crack addiction treatments include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy - short-term therapy aiming to change the unhealthy thoughts and actions involved in crack cocaine abuse.
• Motivational therapy - cultivates negative feelings around crack cocaine abuse and encourages changes in the behaviors around crack cocaine abuse.
• Group therapy - allows crack addicts to meet others going through the same process for learning and support. Possibly a 12-step group like Narcotics Anonymous.
• Interpersonal therapy - investigates the initial cause of the crack cocaine abuse
• Education - education about crack cocaine addiction, personal triggers and skills to handle stress.

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