Cocaine is obtained from the leaf of a cocoa plant. It was legally sold in the United States for many years. By the turn of the century, the addiction and problems that cocaine was causing started to become very evident. A cocaine addiction is very common for a cocaine user. The euphoria associated with cocaine or high mood swing usually only lasts for about an hour. This quickly starts a dependency on the drug. The user immediately wants to feel that high again. When under the influence of cocaine, the abuser will usually sleep very little, if at all. Some users think that by using cocaine it will help them lose weight. The reason for this is because while high on cocaine a person can go days without eating. However, cocaine addiction will swiftly begin after a relatively short time of consuming the drug.

For a person to come back from cocaine addiction it is very important that they be very motivated. No amount of pleading from concerned loved ones will do the job. Abusers usually do not stop until the cocaine addiction has touched all aspects of their lives. Once the cocaine addiction is so unbearable that the addict decides they have had enough, it is wise to get an experienced counselor to start them on the road to recovery. The window of time to get the addict to admit that he needs help can be a short one. It is important to have professionals that can be ready when needed. For the addict to start on the road to a new life he needs to get detoxification from the drug.

The patient will likely experience withdrawal effects that can be from mild to severe, so it is important that they be in a safe environment with medical assistance. Withdrawal effects are not as obvious as with heroin or alcohol, but this does not mean that they cannot be severe. After a person has had a long term cocaine addiction when they withdrawal they can experience anything from paranoia, fatigue, great anxiety, to deep depression.
A 12 step program and support group such as Cocaine Anonymous is very important, for the addict’s treatment is just beginning. The user should stay away from his regular environment and any friends that also use the drug, or it will be very difficult to stop. It can be done but it takes deep commitment from the cocaine addict.