Cocaine addiction affects about 1.6 million Americans and accounts for about a third of all emergency room admissions for drug abuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Office of National Drug Control Policy cites cocaine as the most powerful stimulant of natural origin. Treating cocaine addiction is very challenging due partly to the powerfully addictive nature of the drug, and partly to the ability of the drug to alter certain pathways in the brain that have to do with rewards and motivation.
Drug Treatments
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, there are no approved drugs specifically for the treatment of cocaine addiction. However, certain drugs used to treat other medical conditions have been found useful in reducing cocaine use amongst addicts. The most prominent of these is disulfiram, used to treat alcoholism. Other drugs that have shown promise and are undergoing further evaluation in clinical trials are modafinil, baclofen, tiagabine and topiramate.
As of 2010, newer drugs targeted at the changes brought on by cocaine use in the brain are being developed. A cocaine vaccine which would block the entry of cocaine into the brain is also being developed.
Individual Behavioral Therapy
Motivational Incentive, MI, or contingency management is a behavioral treatment approach for cocaine addiction. In MI, the aim is for the individual to win a voucher for a prize every time he has a drug-free urine test. Abstinence is thus encouraged, and there is motivation to remain in the treatment program and avoid relapses.
Another approach mentioned by NIDA is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT. Here, the learning process is used to train individuals to remain drug-free and avoid relapse. The individual is taught to recognize and avoid those situations that lead to drug use and to cope with the problems that arise from drug use more effectively.
Group Treatments
Therapeutic communities, TCs, or residential programs are also effective in treating cocaine addiction. Here, a 6 to12 months stay is required. The process involves the use of several components like career counseling, job training and group therapy within the community to prepare an individual for a fruitful and drug-free life. The individual may learn a new trade to prepare her for a new life independent of drug use. Other needs in the individual's life are also addressed in the community.
One more group approach is a community-based recovery program like Cocaine Anonymous. This program uses a 12-point approach to address the needs of those trying to remain drug-free. The atmosphere of fellowship among those struggling with the same issues supplies much needed emotional support and strengthens the resolve to remain drug-free.
