Quitting cocaine | your first weeks without it

Quitting cocaine often starts with a morning after that you would rather not repeat. You may have noticed that a few lines at the weekend have become a more regular thing, or that the comedown now outlasts the night itself. Stopping is possible, and it helps to plan for the first few weekends as well as the first day. Knowing what to expect makes both easier to get through.

Cocaine gives a short, intense high, and once it wears off, the urge for more can come quickly. Over time you may need more cocaine for the same effect, so your use gradually goes up. This is how a cocaine addiction can develop, often with no specific moment you can pinpoint as the start. Addiction is a chronic brain condition, which is why willpower alone is usually not enough to stop.

The crash after a binge

When you stop after a binge, a crash usually follows almost straight away. This comedown can leave you exhausted, low and irritable, and craving more. Using again can then seem like the quickest way to feel normal. That is why the first few days after stopping are often the hardest to get through.

Nights out that revolve around cocaine

If you mostly use at weekends, cocaine can gradually become a fixed part of your nights out. It might start as a one-off, then become every Friday and later midweek too, and there is always a reason. Each new step feels normal because you are already used to the one before. That is why quitting coke can mean changing more than one habit at once.

You can call us with a question, or simply to talk through where you stand. Our team is on +27 21 541 0643, or you can leave your details in the form below.

How to quit cocaine depends on your situation, because your use is bound up with your own routines and reasons. You may use mainly at weekends, at work or alone at home. What helps in every situation is a clear decision, a plan for the times you would normally use and someone to talk to when things get tough.

Stopping cocaine in one go

Stopping in one go is the harder option, but you only go through withdrawal once, rather than every time you cut down further. Cutting down means having to say no halfway through a night out, again and again. Cocaine, and the alcohol that often comes with it, lowers your impulse control, which makes it especially hard to stop after one or two. Stopping cocaine use completely also sends a clear signal to the people around you, so they know not to offer you any.

Practical steps that make quitting easier

A few practical steps can make the first few weeks easier:

• delete your dealer's number and any chats that make it easy to order
• carry less cash, especially at the weekend
• plan what you will do on the evenings you would normally use
• tell someone you trust that you have stopped
• avoid alcohol for the first few weeks, as drinking weakens your resolve

Talking to someone you trust can make a real difference. If there is nobody you feel able to talk to, you can call our team on +27 21 541 0643.

How to cope with cocaine cravings

Cravings can come up suddenly, often in situations where you would normally have used. Payday, a message from a particular friend or the first drink of the evening are common examples. It helps to know your own triggers, so you can recognise a craving for what it is and do something else in that moment. Leaving the situation, calling someone or going for a walk are simple ways to get through it. If cravings keep coming back or become harder to resist, that is a good reason to talk to us. You can call us on +27 21 541 0643 or use the contact form below.

What quitting cocaine is like for you depends on how much you used, how often and for how long. It usually means a few difficult days, followed by weeks when old routines and cravings keep coming back. After that, things gradually settle over a longer period. Knowing this in advance makes it easier to see a bad day for what it is.

The first few days

In the first few days after stopping cocaine, the crash can make you tired, flat and irritable, and you may sleep a lot and feel hungrier than usual. Vivid and unpleasant dreams are also common in this period. These are cocaine withdrawal symptoms, and they tend to ease as the days pass. Cravings can be intense at this stage, which makes it a vulnerable time.

The first few weeks

Once the crash has passed, the cravings and the low mood may stay with you for longer. This is when your first coke-free weekends come round, with the same invitations and habits as before. Things you used to enjoy may also feel flat for a while. Getting through these weekends one at a time is a big part of the process, and this is where a plan for those evenings helps most.

The months that follow

Cravings and depression can last for months after long-term heavy use. Cravings can still come up unexpectedly, for instance at a party. Stress is also a well-known trigger for using again, so a difficult spell at work or at home can bring the cravings back. At the same time, your weekends and your money gradually start to feel like your own again. For some people, the low mood during this time can include suicidal thoughts.

If you drink when you use cocaine, quitting often means looking at your drinking too. Alcohol lowers your impulse control, so after a few drinks it is much easier to say yes. The combination also carries its own risk. When cocaine and alcohol are used together, the body produces cocaethylene, a substance that may increase the toxic effects on your heart. If you drink daily, call us on +27 21 541 0643 before quitting alcohol, because stopping suddenly after heavy drinking can be dangerous.

You may find that you keep going back to cocaine after a few weeks without it, even though you want to stop. If this keeps happening, your use may have become an addiction. Common cocaine addiction symptoms, such as using more than you planned or thinking about cocaine between weekends, can help you see where you stand. You can call us on +27 21 541 0643 even if you have not decided anything yet, or leave your details in the form below. Our team will listen and give you honest advice on what to do next, based on your situation.

Cocaine addiction treatment and rehab

If professional help is right for you, treatment begins with an addiction assessment, where we look at your cocaine use, your health and your circumstances. Our cocaine addiction treatment combines group therapy and individual sessions, so you can work on what has kept your use going. A stay at our cocaine rehab puts distance between you and the places and people linked to your use. Your aftercare is arranged while you are still with us, so it is ready when you go home.

Treating what lies behind your cocaine use

Cocaine use can be linked to something else, such as stress, anxiety, trauma or ADHD. When an addiction and a mental health problem occur together, this is called a dual diagnosis. At our rehabilitation centre in South Africa we treat both together, because whatever led you to use coke is often still there once the cocaine has gone. Understanding that reason is part of overcoming cocaine addiction for good. Whatever you decide, you can call +27 21 541 0643 for honest advice about quitting cocaine.