Cocaine Addiction Treatment In Boston, MA

Whenever you use illicit drugs and abuse prescription drugs, you gamble with your life. For people in Boston who use cocaine, this sentiment is made evermore true by the common presence of fentanyl in cocaine. Using cocaine with fentanyl can prove deadly, but the drug carries other risks that may cause severe outcomes as well.

People addicted to cocaine in Boston can find treatment solutions at rehab centers in and around the city, including comprehensive treatment at Bedrock Recovery Center in Canton, just south of Boston.

Increased Risks Associated With Cocaine Abuse In Boston And The U.S. Overall

Nearly 30% of overdose-related deaths nationwide involved the use of cocaine along with other drugs in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On its own, cocaine was responsible for nearly 5% of all fatal drug overdoses in the U.S. that year. However, cocaine was involved in more than half (51%) of overdose deaths related to fentanyl use in Boston in 2022, according to a report by the Boston Public Health Commission. Boston cocaine overdose deaths, when fentanyl was involved, jumped by a rate of almost 200% between 2017 and 2022. Last year, the Boston Public Health Commission issued an advisory to healthcare providers about the presence of fentanyl in cocaine, which is increasing the rate of overdoses among people who were not seeking opioids, reports the City of Boston.

In Boston and many other towns and cities throughout the U.S., cocaine is rarely pure, or free from additives used to increase the quantity or potency of the drug. Rather, cocaine often contains active cuts, or drugs added to other drugs to enhance the experience, according to the Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream (MADDS). One of the most concerning active cuts commonly found in cocaine in Boston is fentanyl. Because fentanyl use is especially problematic in Boston, there is a high likelihood for people who use cocaine to unintentionally use fentanyl.

In 2021, MADDS found that 12% of cocaine samples in Boston also contained fentanyl. The prevalence of fentanyl and cocaine use suggests a danger of people using cocaine that is laced with fentanyl. Trace amounts of fentanyl can prove lethal. Cocaine is a strong and addictive drug with potential for abuse and other short- and long-term consequences, including fatal overdose, but the presence of fentanyl in cocaine has escalated concerns about Boston cocaine abuse.

Treatment For Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction can be treated using a number of support and behavioral services, including detox, residential treatment, outpatient treatment, behavioral therapy, peer support groups, and aftercare planning. Bedrock Recovery Center provides medical detox and residential treatment using evidence-based treatments and a holistic approach for lasting recovery.

Recommendations for treatment vary from person to person. Every client at BRC is thoroughly assessed and given a personalized treatment plan based on their unique needs. Many personal and lifestyle factors are considered to develop an effective, practical, and supportive plan of action.

Factors considered when creating a personalized treatment plan may include:

• availability of a support network
• cultural issues
• duration and severity of substance use
• employment
• family obligations, e.g., caring for children or other dependents
• financial situation
• issues contributing to their substance use
• medical history
• mental health and co-occurring disorders
• personal values and aspirations
• spiritual beliefs
• substance use history
• substance(s) used
• trauma history
• triggers

Medical Detox

BRC’s medical detox offers 24-hour access to healthcare professionals, who monitor each client’s mental and physical condition to ensure their safety during withdrawal. Services may include administering medications to manage withdrawal symptoms and help with sleep, appetite, mood, and more; providing intensive treatment for severe side effects such as psychosis, seizures, heart problems, or abnormal blood pressure; and monitoring for and diagnosing co-occurring mental health disorders.

It takes five to seven days, on average, to withdraw from cocaine. The length of time will differ depending on frequency of use, average daily amount used, length of use, and other factors. While it’s possible to detox from cocaine on your own, it’s not recommended. Detoxing in a medical facility can provide support for complications you may not anticipate and make the experience more comfortable. Medical detox also makes it easier to transfer on to receive further treatment, as detox is not considered a complete treatment option but just a first step.

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment for cocaine addiction involves staying onsite while receiving treatment, typically for 30-, 60-, or 90-day periods, but this varies. At BRC’s rehabilitation center near Boston, clients participate in evidence-based treatment methods such as group and individual therapies, psychoeducation, and trauma-informed care. These methods are used to educate people seeking recovery about the nature of addiction as a disease, empower them with healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with emotions and triggers, and support their healing journey.

One of the unique benefits of residential treatment is that it offers a buffer between clients and the outside world. Instead of being distracted by responsibilities, obligations, stress and worry, and access to substances, people can focus fully on their recovery. The buffer physically separates people in treatment from their home environments, which may be triggering and/or difficult to navigate recovery in, especially during the early days of sobriety. Bedrock offers all the amenities of home and more—from an onsite fitness center and exercise classes to a movie theater, onsite laundry services, and nutritious meals—to ensure that you or your loved one is comfortable and well-cared-for.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is less restrictive than residential treatment, and may follow a stay in a residential facility as part of a step-down model. In outpatient programs, people receive treatment at a hospital or healthcare center for set hours each day or week, depending on their plan. Unlike residential treatment, people in outpatient treatment leave to return home after the day’s sessions are over. For this reason, outpatient care helps people in recovery to safely reintegrate into their everyday lives.

Outpatient treatment focuses on supporting the behaviors that were taught during inpatient treatment. Having learned tools such as social-emotional skills and how to manage triggers, outpatient programs allow people to develop and apply these tools in the real world, so as to support their continued sobriety. Treatment may include meetings with a counselor, group meetings with other people in outpatient treatment, drug testing, and more.

Sober Living

Sober living involves living in drug-free housing with other people in recovery. A person may transfer to sober living immediately after completing residential treatment and live in the residence while receiving outpatient services. BRC’s supportive staff can help clients locate a sober living facility before finishing treatment.

A house manager typically resides in the sober living home and is available around-the-clock to those who live there. These homes have rules and conditions that residents must agree to in order to continue living there. For example, many sober living homes have curfews, conduct random searches and/or drug tests, assign chores, and require residents to attend a peer-led recovery meeting each day. In many of these facilities, residents gain privileges by following the rules over time, and may earn the ability to spend a weekend with loved ones or get a job. Like inpatient treatment, sober living can also provide a buffer from fully reintegrating into society, allowing for the focus to remain on recovery.

Therapy

Therapy is an integral part of each phase of addiction treatment. People in inpatient treatment are required to participate in various therapies throughout the day and week, and therapy is also a key component of outpatient treatment. Therapy is strongly recommended as an aftercare measure as it encourages people to continue actively healing while receiving support for potentially stressful emotions and experiences. Those in addiction treatment typically participate in a combination of one-on-one and group therapies, and possibly family therapy.

There are various types of therapies that use different techniques to help people grow and heal based on their wants, needs, and motivations.

BRC uses the following evidence-based therapies to help people recover from addiction:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which involves identifying and changing disruptive thinking patterns
• dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which helps people learn how to manage their emotions and handle difficult situations
• motivational interviewing (MI), which helps people identify their own motivations for change

The therapies included in a person’s care plan at BRC will vary based on their unique needs.

Peer Support Groups

Peer support groups, also known as self-help groups, for addiction recovery provide a space where people in recovery can meet, share their experiences, realize that they are not alone, and grow in their recoveries. Each member of the group has an equally valuable voice and presence. Some of the more well-known groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), but people recovering from cocaine addiction may find Cocaine Anonymous (CA) meetings particularly helpful.

CA meetings consist of like-minded people who are seeking support to stay sober. Meetings make it possible to build a community of sober peers, who hold each other accountable and offer support when needed. If a member has a random craving to use cocaine or unintentionally crosses paths with a person whom they share a triggering relationship with, the individual can call other CA members for help and guidance. Like AA, CA follows a 12-step program that asks members to rely on help from a higher power of one’s own choosing. There are also non-12-step support groups available for people who prefer a more secular approach, such as SMART Recovery.

Peer support groups are beneficial for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that recovery is a process that involves immense learning: learning how to manage feelings, handle situations differently, and manage life in a sober manner. This learning takes place over the course of a lifetime, changing as life changes. Groups like CA are accessible to people of all ages and all lengths of sobriety for the duration of their lives, offering ongoing and accessible support.

Find Freedom From Cocaine Addiction

If you are dealing with an addiction to cocaine or other drugs, you don’t have to handle it alone. Help is available whenever you’re ready. Call Bedrock Recovery Center in Canton, MA, for more information today.