subject: Dealing With Cocaine Addiction And Recovery [print this page] Cocaine addiction and recovery is a rough road to travel. The odd thing about cocaine is that it's really not one of the most chemically addictive drugs around. Oh, to be sure, it IS chemically addictive, but honestly, it doesn't hold a candle to heroin or even cigarettes when it comes to chemical addiction. Rather, what gets you hooked is the emotional aspect of the drug. You get emotionally addicted to cocaine.
Cocaine makes you feel like a superhero; it really does. It makes you feel hundreds of feet tall, beautiful, powerful, sexy, strong. On cocaine, you feel like you could fight the world while driving a convertible through a ring of fire and land in a swimming pool full of supermodels. This is why the crash is so hard. When you come back to reality and realize that it wasn't you in the dream, it can be painful. You want some more cocaine immediately, to keep the fantasy going. Who doesn't want to feel like that all the time? Unfortunately, cocaine is not the way to live the good life and it can kill you.
If you're dealing with addiction and ready to quit, follow these steps...
Just Quit Using.
This makes it sound too easy, of course. But, some people can, and do, quit cocaine by simply quitting. Take the drugs you may have in the house and get rid of them. If you have a friend or dealer who only ever comes over to do drugs or provide you with drugs, sever ties with them. Even if they're a very close friend, they need to either respect that you're kicking the habit. They may be willing to hang out with you in a drug free context, or they need to leave you alone. Your well being should be that important to them. If not, they were never your friend to begin with.
2. Get a Healthy Habit
For many of us, an addiction is more of a need to fill some void in our lives than anything. We may not be depressed, we may not be necessarily chemically addicted, we just need something to do. If this is you, you may be able to quit by getting a healthier full time interest. After you've sobered up, you can replace drugs with working out, drawing, writing or any number of other interests. They're all more rewarding than drug and alcohol addiction.
Join a Program.
If neither of the above worked for you, then sorry to say, but you probably won't be able to kick the stuff on your own. Look, you can either sign into rehab, or you can wait until your family and friends put you through the emotionally draining and humiliating experience of an intervention. One way or another, it's time to raise the white flag and ask for help.
