There are several behavioral treatments that are viewed as effective for cocaine treatment; this includes residential and outpatient treatment approaches. For many drug problems (including cocaine), behavioral therapies are often the only available, effective treatment. Once the patient has been stabilized, she can receive treatment in an inpatient or outpatient program. The recovery process starts with learning how to sever old habits, ties with cocaine-using friends, and recognize the things that increase the desire to use cocaine. Another approach used is cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the patient learns coping skills, which can be used as a short-term, single-minded approach to help individuals addicted to cocaine become cocaine-free and become free of other substances as well.
Cocaine abuse often leads to the abusers becoming experts at self-deception; always creating more and more reasons why they should use more cocaine. Notably, many cocaine users experience intense guilt and shame for using the drug. This can also be said for all addicted individuals, as they often feel ashamed for using drugs because it conflicts with their values and morals. Cocaine is an expensive drug, and abusers and addicts spend thousands of dollars on their affair with cocaine, with many lying and stealing to get their hands on it–this reality can be hard for many of them to face. This guilt becomes so difficult to deal with that cocaine abusers often use it as a major reason to use more cocaine.
The resulting high they receive is a short trip away from the powerful guilt and shame associated with cocaine addiction. To face these painful issues takes time and trust, one that an experienced counselor, another recovering addict or a trusted clergy can help with. There are many good treatment programs that have these individuals on staff. Another alternative is to locate a therapeutic community, or a residential program that has planned lengths of stay from 6-12 months and treatment services for those suffering from an addiction to cocaine.
Therapeutic communities are frequently comprehensive–they are also concerned with the re-socialization of the individual to society, and their services can involve on-site vocational rehabilitation plus other supportive services. Therapeutic communities are usually used to treat patients with more chronic problems, such as underlying mental health issues and criminal involvement. There are also 12-step programs that offer invaluable support to individuals suffering from cocaine abuse; this setting allows member to accept their problems by learning from each other, from their own experiences, and by helping other recovering addicts to realize that life after cocaine does exists. Some of these programs are Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Alcoholics Anonymous.
12-step programs also teaches the individual how to take responsibility for her own behavior, and how to make amends with others, and how to self-forgive. The first step of Cocaine Anonymous cites, “We are powerless over cocaine and our lives have become unmanageable.” A successful recovery program strongly encourages that you attend 12-step meetings daily for the first 90 days of being clean. Individuals who are successful in staying abstinent from cocaine attend many 12-step meetings for support and to display their accountability. They are often very open in admitting that there is a part of them that still looks for a reason to use cocaine. 12-step meetings remind these individuals daily of their powerlessness over drugs, but that they can be free from cocaine abuse.