Cocaine Rehabilitation
Methods, Costs & Treatment Options

Overcoming cocaine addiction involves much more than just quitting and going through detox. In most cases, an integrated programme at a cocaine rehab is necessary to create long-lasting change in your life. Intensive treatment of this kind can address all of the immediate and underlying aspects of your situation, including co-occurring mental health issues, multiple addictions, and psychiatric symptoms. Professional cocaine addiction rehab in Thailand uses evidence-based methods of treatment, delivered in a stable and supporting environment, to put you back on the path to sustainable success.

What is cocaine rehab?

Rehab for cocaine addiction incorporates a variety of evidence-based psychological treatment methods within a controlled facility. The overall aim is to eliminate your habit of using the drug, and enable you to preserve self-control while leading a drug-free life.

As a client, you’ll receive much-needed support to help you manage withdrawal, maintain abstinence, and avoid relapse. This support may come in the form of an initial detox period along with medical intervention, where the focus will be on monitoring withdrawal symptoms and avoiding the unwanted effects. 

The path to recovery also incorporates behavioural therapy and other effective psycho-social interventions, giving you the mental tools necessary to take control of your life once again.

mental health conditions with cocaine abuse

Research shows that many cocaine users also suffer from underlying conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It can sometimes be hard to determine whether your mental health issues were present before you began abusing cocaine, or came about as a result of your substance abuse – but evidence shows that the success of your recovery is more likely if you receive treatment for all underlying mental health issues during rehab treatment. For this reason, it is important that you receive a comprehensive mental health assessment during your cocaine rehab programme.

In addition to treating cocaine addiction, rehab can also facilitate multiple mental health symptoms and addictions that often co-occur with cocaine abuse, such as:
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Cocaine addiction and the limbic system

Addiction is best understood through its relationship with the limbic system in each of our bodies. The term ‘limbic system’ is used to classify a group of brain structures close to the edge of the medial wall part of the brain area. 

In layman’s terms, this system is responsible for determining your emotions and motivation levels, in turn affecting how you view and adapt to your surroundings. In effect, the limbic system physically links together the cognitively oriented side of your brain with the branch that triggers your survival instincts.

Drugs such as cocaine alter the way the limbic system works, intervening with your ability to display normal behaviour with regard to emotion and motivation. When your emotions become untethered to external reality, you start to feel ‘fake’ feelings of euphoria and relaxation due to the effects of the drugs.

The brain’s reward system is part of the limbic system channel, and generates the feeling of euphoria. When a drug like cocaine triggers a particular set of neurons, dopamine is released into the middle of the brain to create a rush of positive sensations. Before long, the brain comes to depend on this release of dopamine – ultimately becoming powerless to resist this addictive force without targeted intervention.

Rehab settings for cocaine addiction

Rehab for cocaine addiction is available in two general settings: outpatient and inpatient. If you suffer from a mild case of addiction, and otherwise have a strong and stable reservoir of support at home, then outpatient treatment may prove to be just enough. On the other hand, inpatient treatment is strongly recommended if you suffer from a more serious case of cocaine addiction, have a dual diagnosis, or do not live in a healthy, supportive, and stress-free environment.

FeaturesOutpatient RehabInpatient Rehab
SeverityMild addictionModerate to severe addiction
EnvironmentPatients live at home in the same environmentPatients live at the centre in a safe and controlled environment
Duration8-12 weeks1-6 months
Therapy Sessions9-12 hours / week15-20 hours / week
Cost $3,000 – $7,000 per week$10,000 – $50,000 per month
DisruptionMinimalMaximal
DistractionsPotential exposure to stressors and triggersNo exposure to stressors and triggers
Relapse RateHigher risk of relapse Reduced risk of relapse
Family supportYesNo
Medical supportNoYes

Outpatient cocaine rehab

Depending on the severity of the addiction among other factors, outpatient rehab for cocaine usually lasts in the range of two to three months. This type of rehabilitation care can be considered a light form of addiction treatment, as the level of engagement is relatively low.
As an outpatient client, you can expect to attend regular therapy sessions for up to 12 hours a week. Appointments are typically scheduled in the evening, after work hours. This arrangement is practical if you have a day job, as it allows you to allocate time after hours for treatment. If the allotted duration is not enough, intensive outpatient programmes (IOPs) are available as an alternative.
This type of cocaine rehab programme may be suitable if you spend most of your time working, or have other duties to attend to during the day. As this method of treatment is mainly intended for people who suffer from a milder level of addiction, outpatient care can also be incorporated as a follow-up stage after an inpatient programme is completed. The costs incurred for this type of treatment are considerably lower than for inpatient treatment, but the absence of 24-hour daily monitoring means you will need to be able to exercise discipline and self-control whenever you are outside the therapy sessions.

Inpatient cocaine rehab

Inpatient cocaine rehab programmes represent a more intense form of rehabilitation, involving a complete commitment to residential treatment. As this type of care is set in a controlled environment, you will have no access to harmful substances, and 24-hour medical support is typically provided to help you with your physical or psychological needs.

Clients undergoing inpatient treatment stay at the facility for several weeks or months at a time. You will typically receive a diverse range of treatment and counselling sessions in a supportive environment. Each cocaine rehab facility has its own preferred methods, but these normally incorporate both individual and group counselling. Some facilities also provide a variety of recreational activities as part of a holistic approach to rehabilitation

Not all cocaine rehab centres offer the same paths to recovery, as some might only be able to provide a single type of service. For instance, one facility may specialise in detoxification sessions while another focusses entirely on post-detox therapy. This variance in services provided, as well as the degree of luxury offered, can significantly affect the pricing schemes of rehab facilities.

How Cocaine rehab works

Addiction treatment comes in a variety of forms, depending on which cocaine rehab programme you attend. A good programme combines quality and flexibility within their overall rehabilitation plan, in order to provide you with the best outcome for a complete and long-lasting recovery.

Rehab for cocaine addiction often require an initial period of detoxification and stabilisation that lasts between 3-4 days. You will be encouraged to rest during this time, as you work on regaining your appetite. During detox, it’s important you remain in a calm, secluded environment with access to professional medical support. Depending on how heavily you have been using cocaine, anti-psychotic medications such as Seroquel (quetiapine) may be prescribed to assist in the prevention of hallucinations and paranoia.

Individual counselling for cocaine is one of the most important elements in the primary care process. These one-on-one sessions take place in a relaxed setting where you and the counsellor can establish rapport, making progress toward lasting sobriety. These sessions will produce the fundamental plan for recovery, building your mental skillset as a means of re-establishing your independence.

Individual counselling helps you understand your addiction, reduce your stress levels, and gain the tools needed to achieve real self-control. By exploring the link between your emotions, thoughts and actions, these therapeutic techniques enable you to change how you feel by changing the way you think.

Participants in the group counselling sessions are encouraged to get to know each other as they each speak about their drug-related history and how abuse has affected them. Group members offer each other invaluable peer support and advice within a safe environment, sharing with each other their methods of overcoming drug-related issues. This bond offers an essential dimension of emotional support, bringing together those who genuinely understand each other’s struggles and offer meaningful words of encouragement.

Confidentiality within a group setting is respected at all times. These sessions can dramatically increase participation and motivation during the recovery process, providing a vivid reminder that you are not alone in your struggle to overcome the challenge of substance addiction.

Many cocaine rehab centres use the 12-step method popularised by Alcoholics Anonymous as the foundation for their treatment model. The 12 steps use group participation to help cocaine addicts resist their impulses and regain control of their lives. As a series of practical methods for maintaining sobriety, the 12-step programme also helps participants earn reconciliation with the people they may have harmed through their addiction. This combination of psychological and emotional progress helps to clear the way forward on the path to lasting recovery.

Psychosocial interventions are regularly applied as part of a comprehensive treatment programme in cocaine rehab centres. They aim to equip clients with an advanced cognitive toolkit, helping them manage their emotions and maintain motivation throughout the treatment process.

Through CBT, clients learn to deal with negative thought patterns, while guiding their attention back to more positive themes. There is an additional psychological component to this skill; learning to control your thoughts and emotions often leads to a sense of accomplishment and pride, which in turn improves focus as well as motivation toward future objectives.

Similarly, a contingency management plan can also be incorporated into cocaine rehab programmes. This type of treatment allows for a system of rewards to be introduced for accomplishing behaviour-related targets, and abstaining from cocaine use. The promise of rewards can increase motivation, while also encouraging a healthy sense of competition during the different stages of treatment. Prizes can be awarded in the form of cash or vouchers, which can be traded in for items of interest.

A related system of discipline or punishment is sometimes applied, in order to further encourage positive behaviour. The contingency management method has proven to be effective for drug abuse, and can be combined with CBT and other forms of treatment.

What happens in cocaine addiction rehab?

What happens after cocaine rehab?

Recovery from cocaine addiction is a process that continues long after you complete your cocaine rehab programme. To ensure that you maintain your recovery during and after re-entry into society, it is well worth participating in recovery meetings or attending outpatient counselling, as well as any additional treatment recommended by your facility. Professional cocaine rehab centres typically provide an aftercare programme and relapse prevention plan as part of their service, so that upon your departure, you will continue to receive support as you rebuild your normal day-to-day routines entirely free from cocaine and other addictive drugs.

How long are cocaine rehab programmes?

The time needed to complete cocaine addiction rehab will likely depend on your history of substance abuse, and whether there are underlying mental health issues that need to be addressed. If you are addicted to additional substances like alcohol and marijuana, you will likely require a longer stay. At a minimum, an inpatient stay at a cocaine rehab lasts for 30 days. Programmes lasting for 60 or 90 days are recommended for more complicated cases, or if the addiction is particularly severe.

How much does cocaine rehab cost?

The cost of a 30-day cocaine rehab programme can range from $10,000 in a standard facility, all the way up to $100,000 at a luxury rehab facility in countries such as Australia, the UK and the USA. Generally, the price tag for treatment is:

  • Detox: $4,000 – $7,000 for 7 days 
  • Intensive outpatient programmes (IOPs): $3,000 – $7,000 per week
  • Standard inpatient rehab: $10,000 – $40,000 for 30 days 
  • Luxury inpatient rehab: $40,000 – $100,000 for 30 days 
Oriental style hotel room at cocaine rehab resort in Thailand

Affordable Cocaine Addiction Rehab in Thailand

Cost is one of the primary issues associated with private inpatient rehabs in the West. Rehab centres in Thailand are considerably more affordable than their overseas counterparts, even for similar levels of quality. On average, rehab facilities in Thailand cost roughly $10,000 per month for inpatient treatment, which often includes daily recreational activities and excursions to see the natural and cultural highlights of the surrounding area.

By choosing an overseas cocaine addiction rehab in Thailand, you will benefit from a team of world-class drug addiction specialists, as well as comfortable accommodation in a tranquil seaside or mountain setting. 

If you or a loved one are looking for a quality cocaine rehab programme, please contact us. We will arrange for one of our clinical coordinators to call you, and discuss the best treatment option.

Author
Cameron Brown
Psychologist
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  2. Saisan, J., Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Segal, J. (2019, October). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/substance-abuse-and-mental-health.htm.
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  4. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 33.) Chapter 2—How Stimulants Affect the Brain and Behavior. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64328/

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