A cocaine addiction can be particularly hard for individuals to conquer. Offering a quick high and a stable street price, cocaine is considered an attractive drug of choice. Those interested in leaving cocaine behind also find that treatment options come in a confusing array of formats, from medications to counseling. Choosing the best treatments for cocaine addiction increases the chances of getting and staying clean for good.
Medications
Unlike heroin, cocaine has no ready replacement drug that can be used to assist with tapering off the drug. Instead, for cocaine addicts, The American Journal of Psychiatry reports that the primary medical option is vigabatrin, which was proven in 2009 to be effective in humans for reducing cocaine consumption levels. Doxazosin, a drug to help prevent relapse among cocaine addicts, is undergoing clinical trials in 2010, according to ClinicalTrials.gov, but results are not finalized. Either medication has the potential to help treat cocaine addiction.
Individual Counseling
Counseling is recommended as a best practice for treating cocaine addictions, since many addicts have underlying mental health or social interaction issues that fuel their addiction, reports Newsweek. PsychCentral also notes that the behaviors of an addict are often difficult for newly clean individuals to handle emotionally, making counseling on internal issues and feelings critical for bridging the gap into a new life. Counseling on a one-to-one basis can be delivered in private or at residential treatment centers.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, aims to change thought patterns and instinctive behaviors. For cocaine addicts, breaking the habits of addiction helps prevent relapse. Newsweek cites National Institute on Drug Abuse researchers who endorsed CBT as one of the most effective treatments for cocaine currently available. Drug Rehab's list of top treatments includes multiple kinds of CBT programs, which can help former users identify and diffuse triggers that might prompt them to relapse.
