How to Help Someone with Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant drug and the second most commonly used drug after cannabis. People from all walks of life are vulnerable to cocaine addiction. If you’re worried someone close to you may be dependent, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about cocaine use and the rehab options available before you encourage your loved one to seek help for their drug use. Keep reading to learn how to help someone with cocaine addiction.

An older woman comforting a younger woman on a bench, symbolizing support for someone struggling with cocaine addiction

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Step 1: Understand Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction is a serious issue. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were 27,569 cocaine-related deaths in the United States in 2022, an increase of 73.5% compared to the figures for 2019. Many of these deaths involved cocaine users who took the drug in combination with illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

Contrary to popular belief, cocaine addiction doesn’t necessarily mean taking the drug every day. It’s possible to develop cocaine dependency even if you’re only using it recreationally. Common symptoms of cocaine addiction include:

Mood swings
Altered sleep patterns
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Paranoia
Anxiety

Cocaine users are at risk of experiencing a number of health issues, including heart attacks, strokes and seizures. Cocaine can also affect a user’s mental health, causing feelings of depression or paranoia. These feelings can put a strain on the person’s relationship with their friends and family members.

When an individual uses cocaine repeatedly, it causes physical changes to their brain. In the short term, the drug interferes with dopamine uptake and increases the presence of cortisol in the brain. Over a longer time period, the drug causes excess stimulation to the basal ganglia, making it harder for the person to feel pleasure from normal activities.

The drug also affects the prefrontal cortex and the extended amygdala, impairing a person’s decision-making abilities and making them more sensitive to negative emotions. The combination of these effects drives the individual to want to take more cocaine to relieve their distress and discomfort.

Quitting cocaine isn’t easy, and if someone does try to go cold turkey, they may experience severe withdrawal symptoms.

Step 2: Learn to Recognize the Signs of Cocaine Addiction

It’s not always easy to tell that someone is a cocaine user. However, the following are common signs of substance abuse:

Loss of interest in a person’s usual activities
Mood swings
Frequent sniffing
Weight loss
Secrecy
Irritability
Anxiety

The most common way to take cocaine is to inhale it, and this can leave traces of white powder around the nose or mouth. Frequent users may develop rashes or sores around the nose.

Note that cocaine isn’t always snorted. It’s also available in an injectable form, and crack cocaine is smoked using a pipe.

Group intervention for someone struggling with cocaine addiction

Step 3: Learn How to Approach Someone Struggling With Cocaine Addiction

If you notice some warning signs that a person is struggling with cocaine addiction, encourage them to seek professional support. Understanding cocaine addiction intervention strategies can help make the conversation more productive.

Choosing the Right Time and Place

Gather some friends and family members and talk to the individual in a quiet and safe environment. Choose a time when they’re sober and likely to be receptive to the intervention.

Be Compassionate, Not Judgmental

Don’t label your loved one as an addict. Be calm and empathetic, and focus on your concern for their well-being.

Listen More Than You Talk

Give the person time to talk, and listen to what they have to say. Your role is to support your loved one and help them overcome addiction.

Avoid Enabling Behavior

Set clear boundaries so you don’t enable future cocaine use. For example, don’t provide financial support, access to a vehicle or a job to a loved one if they aren’t getting treatment for their substance abuse.

Give the person some treatment options and set consequences for failure to follow through. It can be difficult for loved ones to set boundaries like this, but it can help prevent relapse in the long term if a person knows continued drug abuse will lead them to rock bottom.

Step 4: Encourage Your Loved One to Seek Professional Help

Withdrawing from cocaine can be difficult. Camelback Recovery offers medical supervision to help people manage withdrawal symptoms. Our tailored treatment plans help increase the chances of a long-term recovery.

Types of Treatment We Offer

Detox services: Our medically supervised detox option helps reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient treatment: Detoxing in a controlled environment helps lower the risk of medical issues.
Outpatient programs: Some of our clients choose an outpatient program to enable them to continue their rehab while still working or being close to their families.
Dual-diagnosis treatment: Individuals struggling with mental health challenges or other substance misuse issues receive specialist support and care.

Step 5: Support Them During Treatment

Recovery isn’t linear, and many people experience a relapse during their treatment. Family and friends need to know ways to support a loved one with cocaine addiction, such as being calm and supportive no matter what the ups and downs. Family therapy can help people understand how to support their loved ones without enabling their addiction.

A smiling woman in a therapy session, illustrating how to help someone with cocaine addiction through counseling

Step 6: Help Them With Preventing Relapse and Continuing Support

The addiction professionals at Camelback Recovery offer ongoing aid to their clients in the form of support groups and regular check-ins once a person has completed their detox. These programs are considered some of the best resources for cocaine addiction recovery. As a friend or relative, you can also help by providing a listening ear, encouragement and accountability.