Cocaine Drug Addiction Rehab Treatment Centers & Programs

Greengate Intensive > Serving Flagstaff, Sedona, Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix, Tucson & clients from all over the United States.

Cocaine – Party Drug No More

Derived from the coca plant, cocaine has been around in many forms throughout the centuries. Chewed by natives in South America, the coca leaf was said to have brought increased energy and feelings of well-being to the user. Later, in the 1860’s, coca leaves were synthesized in Germany, paving the way for a variety of medical uses, as well as an additive to Coca Cola soft drinks. Sigmund Feud was said to be addicted to cocaine. And, as cocaine’s addictive qualities were recognized, its removal from the market was aggressive.

If you are addicted to Cocaine, you need to consider a cocaine rehab or cocaine treatment program to help you cope through withdrawals and deal with your addiction.

How does cocaine affect the body?

The brain has a protective layer called the “blood brain barrier.” Chemicals that cross this barrier are said to be psychoactive, as they affect the brain. Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It causes an increase in heart rate, temperature and pulse. It constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils and suppresses appetite. As it crosses the blood brain barrier, it increases the levels of various neurotransmitters – chemical messengers responsible for mood and many other brain functions. Most notably, cocaine appears to affect the level of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is said to be the neurotransmitter most responsible for feelings of pleasure. Cocaine prevents the brain from releasing dopamine, thus creating intense feelings of pleasure for the user. This is thought to be a critical part of the addictive process.

Cocaine comes in multiple forms – powdered, undissolved freebase, and crack, a lower purity than freebase. Cocaine in its powered form can be snorted or injected. Freebase and crack are smoked.

Many times addicts will mix drugs, creating a very hazardous physical situation. Cocaine combined with alcohol can create a chemical called cocaethylene, which is quite deadly. Cocaine and heroin combine to make a speedball.

A 2007 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 35.9 million Americans ages 12 and up have tried cocaine.  Currently, it is estimated that 2.1 million Americans use powered cocaine, while 610,000 Americans actively smoke crack.

Cocaine treatment involves a reduction of cravings, behavioral therapies designed to teach the addict how to live drug-free, family therapy to help reintegrate the addict into the family, and nutritional counseling to help the addict recover physical health. Neurofeedback is particularly helpful for cocaine treatment as it decreases cravings, and addresses damage to the frontal lobe, an area that is affected from snorting cocaine. Many cocaine addicts develop problems with obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors, a direct effect of frontal lobe injury. This is critical, as the frontal lobe is the area of the brain responsible for executive functioning and decision making.

While it was previously thought that cocaine was not a dangerous or addictive drug, this thinking has changed. Cocaine treatment at Green Gate Intensive uses current practices and innovative therapies to provide comprehensive treatment for the cocaine addict.

Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Mesa, Glendale, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Yuma, Ahwatukee, Sun City, Queen Creek, Maricopa, Apache Junction, Cave Creek, Care Free and More!