Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach

October 7, 2015

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Treating cocaine addiction

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach is quickly gaining roots in the delivery of addiction treatment among therapist

If we want to have any meaningful treatment of all kind of addiction, it is first important that we have a team of well-trained and competent professionals to handle the job. That is why doctor Dalal Akoury and her team of experts from the home of addiction solution (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) strongly believe in substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach among other training modes available. It is also important for the qualified experts to appreciate that the integrating cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) and medication is very essential since it is highly compatible with pharmacotherapy. When applied in combination with medication, the range of CBT interventions expands to include a focus on enhancing medication compliance. Generally, medication response and compliance are monitored during the early part of each session and that is to say that the first third of each hour of the training session which then translate into a 20/20/20 session. And for a better understanding of these facts, the following are some specific strategies that have been found useful:

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Inquire as to patients’ previous experience with medication

It is always very important that specialist attending to the needs of addicts should explore deeply about the previous experience with medication by asking questions as this will help in laying down the frame work of proper treatment. the following are some of the questions the therapist may consider asking:

Therapists should ask patients about their prior history with pharmacotherapy for any psychiatric disorder or condition.
Why was it prescribed?
Was it helpful?
Under what conditions was it terminated?
Did they take the medication as prescribed faithfully to the last dose?

From the results of such questions, the therapist should be able to point out areas of noncompliance and this should alert them into professionally establishing the patients’ view as to why they did not comply previously and also to attempt to address those issues proactively.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Address patients’ concerns about medication

Listening is very paramount in the treatment process. It is therefore important that therapist take time to listen to their clients carefully for any concerns, including any misunderstandings, or prejudices about taking medication and find ways of addressing them timely and assertively. These may include misconceptions about expected medication effects, time needed to experience the effect, side effects, dosing, and interactions with cocaine and other substances. It is important that therapists provide clarification in clear, familiar terms and frequently check back with patients to be sure that they have understood.

Besides that, sometimes the effects of medication may not come immediately apparent, it is important to inform patients that it may take several weeks before therapeutic effects emerge; thus, patients should be encouraged to expect gradual rather than all-or-nothing change. Explaining the gradual emergence of medication effects provides an opportunity for the therapist to emphasize that patients should not expect to benefit from an entirely passive stance regarding CBT treatment simply because they are taking medication. Mastery and implementation of coping skills remain an essential and important part of treatment; medication may be an additional, useful adjunct or tool.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Assess medication compliance since last session

Close, consistent, and careful monitoring is one of the most effective strategies for enhancing compliance with medications. Thus, a portion of each session should be devoted to evaluating medication compliance and working through any difficulties that might arise. In general, until the patients’ compliance pattern is clearly established, therapists should, in every meeting, inquire about medication compliance, day by day, since the last session. This should include asking when patients take the medication, how they take the medication, and a thorough discussion of any deviation from the prescribed dose and schedule.

In her many years of service in this discipline, doctor Akoury has noted that compliance and retention are most difficult to achieve early and late in treatment – early if the patient is not receiving obvious benefit, and later if the patient, after obtaining a partial or full therapeutic response, does not appreciate the need to continue treatment. Thus, therapists should be particularly attentive to compliance and motivation issues during early and late sessions.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Praise medication compliance

Therapists should also convey confidence in the medication and inform patients of the likely benefits. Therapists should be strongly on the side of compliance and praise patients’ compliance enthusiastically and genuinely. Like for instance you could appreciate your patient by saying that “I have seen you take your medication diligently since our last meeting and that’s really great. I know you may have had some doubts about whether the medication would work for you, and I’m glad you were willing to give it a try. And by the way have you noticed any positive changes you think might be related to the medication?” for better assessment, doctor Akoury suggest that the patient improvement should be related to compliance and lack of improvement and luck of it to noncompliance.

The other point of significance to the therapist is to establish and stress the connection between medication compliance, psychotherapy sessions, and improvement. Therapists should make explicit causal links between patients’ compliance and improvement in cocaine abuse and other appropriate target symptoms. Conversely, therapists might tie poor compliance to failure to improve. Therapist should continue appreciating the effort of their clients from time to time like for instance you could point out that “since you’ve been taking the medication, I can see a lot of positive changes in your life. And by the way you’ve cut down significantly on your cocaine use and it is impressing that you’ve been feeling a lot better. I think the changes indicate that the medication is helping you. What do you think?” engagements like that are very important for recovering addicts in every session you have with them. That way they will see some progress and put in more effort in their commitment to kicking out cocaine addiction out of their lives.

Finally we want to assure you that we are always very much available for you as professionals anytime of the day and therefore if you need help in any way, remember that at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care we focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. Take note that doctor Akoury is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. Therefore any qualified professional can now be a part of this truly successful and fast addiction recovery treatment any time any day by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Akoury today.

Substance abuse counselor training using cognitive behavioral approach: Treating cocaine addiction

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction

October 6, 2015

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction: Coping with cocaine addiction

Cocaine can only be described as the crystal of death and therefore Identifying and addressing craving challenges is very fundamental in finding lasting treatment solution.

In dealing with drug addiction it is important that we first deal with the element of ignorance which can pose a great hindrance towards realizing the success of the objective which is total eradication of addiction from our lives and societies. It is no wonder in the holy book, it is recorded that “our people suffer because of lack of knowledge” meaning that if we are enlighten of the facts around addiction, then we will be comfortable addressing craving challenges and dealing with addiction of cocaine professionally for the betterment of our health. Doctor Akoury acknowledges that it is only after identifying the problem, and then can you start on the modalities of dealing with it. In other words you may not succeed in effectively dealing with addiction if you haven’t identified the kind of addiction you are struggling with. That is why we want to focus this discussion on the identification then we can react to what we now know. Our drug of exploration in this article is going to be cocaine and how users often crave for it even when they are in the treatment process. In our previous articles we did mentioned a lot of negativity of drugs cravings and strategies of coping as and when craving knocks on our appetite. We want to progress on that by focusing on two elements including recalling negative consequences and using self-talk.

Identifying and dealing with hidden craving challenges: Recalling negative consequences

Craving for drugs often make very many users of drugs to lose hope and give up on ever recovering from their addiction. This is so because many at times when one is receiving treatment for any kind of addiction, the urge to continue with the habit never dies and this is further complicated with the abundance of triggers around the users on treatment. Doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center is a veteran addiction expert having been in consistent practice for over two decades says that many at times when people are experiencing craving, they often have a tendency of only remembering the positive effects of cocaine or any other drug they have been craving for or using before; this is often the norm and it is regrettable that users in that state of mind often forget the negative consequences which has far reaching effects on their lives. But on the contrary, doctor Akoury says that it is very important that when experiencing craving, it is often effective for them (users) to remind themselves not just the benefits of abstinence but also the negative consequences of continuing indulgence in cocaine addiction. When this perfectly done, it therefore become much easier for patients to remind themselves that there is actually nothing good in using drugs let alone cocaine.

Because of the difference in feelings, doctor Akoury advices that it is necessary that users document in writing on a piece of paper all the reasons why they want to be abstinent and alongside that all the negative consequences of use. This list will act as their point of reference and therefore must be kept safely and be made available as and when it is needed. Remember that a glimpse of the document when confronted by intense craving for cocaine or a high-risk situation can remind the user of the negative consequences of cocaine use at a time when they are likely to recall only the euphoria. This may sound useless to many but it will impact to you very positively and by being reminded of the bitter consequences of using the drug, you are likely to engage in activities that will help in addressing craving challenges by distract you from causing more harm to yourself by avoiding further usage.

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction: Using self-talk

For many patients, a variety of automatic thoughts accompany craving but are so deeply established that patients are not aware of them. Automatic thoughts associated with craving often have a sense of urgency and exaggerated dire consequences. Some of those automatic thoughts may include the following:

I have to use now
I’ll die if I don’t use or
I can’t do anything else until I use.

Doctor Akoury is of the opinion that in coping with craving, it is important that both the patient and the therapist should collectively recognize the automatic thoughts and take measures of encountering them effectively. To help patients recognize their automatic thoughts, therapists can point out cognitive distortions that occur during your sessions with the client. Like for instances your therapist could point out that a few times today you’ve said you feel like you have to use the drug and then the question would follow that, while you were having that feelings were you really aware of those thoughts when you mentioned them?. That is just one strategy and the other strategy could be when you are using a tape recorder, you could help your patients by slowing down the tape to recognize cognitions.

The good thing about recording the session is because it can be replayed over and over. Like for instance the patient may have said something and so you could play it again saying “when you decided to go out last night, you said that you really weren’t aware of thinking about using cocaine.” That is when he/she said but in your own professional evaluation you think otherwise, in situations like that you could play the tape again and help the user to try to remember what the night was like, sort of play it back like a movie in slow motion, we could find a couple of examples of things you said to yourself, maybe without even realizing it, that led to cocaine use.

Finally once automatic thoughts are identified, it then becomes much easier to counter or confront them using positive rather than negative self-talk which may include cognitions such as challenging the thought like “I won’t really die if I don’t have cocaine” and normalizing craving which can be very uncomfortable if not handled professionally. Remember that if you are having any concerns about craving for any drug and you are wondering where to begin from, you can call on doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your treatment today.

Addressing craving challenges in dealing with addiction: Coping with cocaine addiction

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies

October 5, 2015

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: A cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction

Doctor Akoury says that knowing drug cravings negativity and coping strategies without really seeking for help will not be beneficial to you. Once this is known, it must be accompanied with action immediately for good health to reign

We have in the resent past been discussing serious topics touching on the cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction and in particular cocaine addiction and techniques of coping with craving. We are not about to give it up because we understand the seriousness of the problem in our societies and even closer to our individual families. This is a war we are determined to win by all means and for that reason, we want to further into the discussion by looking at the drug cravings negativity and coping strategies we can adopt to defeat this scourge. Doctor Dalal Akoury an addiction expert of several decades has been sharing with us very healthy information about a cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction as being one of the best strategies in finding lasting solution to cocaine addiction. She is going to progress from where we left in the previous article for us to have a better understanding of what is before us. She says that in coping with craving for cocaine or any other substance, there are a variety of strategies for doing so and some of those strategies may includes the following.

Distraction
Talking about craving
Going with the craving
Recalling the negative consequences of cocaine abuse
Using self-talk

We appreciate that different professionals may have different view about this like for instance some therapists may wish to point out that these strategies may not stop craving completely, however at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we believe that with practice, recovering addicts will reduce the frequency and intensity of craving and make it less disturbing and frustrating when it occurs. It is therefore very prudent that we take keen interest in adopting mechanisms that will enable us to cope successfully with craving for cocaine and other drugs.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: Entertainment and distractions

When under the influence of drugs, all that you will be thinking about is drugs because that is what keeps you going, without it, you will actually fall sick. In that case it is only fair that you get distracted so that your mind can be engaged into other things. Professionally doctor Akoury can now confirms that this has been tested and found to very helpful. It is therefore very necessary that you prepare a list of reliable distracting activities and with the help of your doctor in anticipation of future craving. Such activities might include taking a walk, playing basketball, and doing relaxation exercises. Preparation of such a list may reduce the likelihood that patients will use substances, particularly alcohol and marijuana, in ill-fated attempts to deal with craving. Leaving the situation and going somewhere safe is one of the most effective ways of dealing with craving when it occurs.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: Sharing freely about craving

Talking about drug addiction is not a taboo as some people make it to look like. Doctor Akoury says that when patients have supportive, abstinent friends and family members, talking freely about craving when it occurs, it gives the recovering addicts the confidence to move forward. Sharing is a very effective strategy and can help reduce the feelings of anxiety and vulnerability that often accompany it. Besides that it can also help patients identify specific cues. It’s true that sure family members may become distressed when they hear their loved ones (patients) sharing about craving because of the fear that this might ultimately lead to use of drugs, it is therefore very important that therapists and other lined professionals to spend some time in identifying which patients would feel comfortable to talk with freely about craving, how that person would react, and whether it makes sense to ask that person in advance for support.

Socially isolated patients, or those who have few non-using friends, will find it difficult to nominate a supportive other who can assist with craving, thoughts about cocaine, and other problems. This should alert therapists to the need to consider addressing social isolation during treatment. For example, therapists and patients can brainstorm ways of meeting new, non-using others, reconnecting with friends and family members, and so on. To help patients “own” these strategies and be more likely to initiate positive social contact, therapists might suggest applying the problem solving strategies which we have already dwelt on in our previous postings.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: Going with the craving

Doctor Akoury says that the idea going with the craving technique is to let it (craving) occur, peak, and pass and that is to say experiencing them without either fighting or giving into them. Giving patients the imagery of a wave or walking over a hill may help convey this concept that is, gaining control by avoiding resistance.

Experts through several studies have identified the steps involved which should ordinarily be practiced within sessions or at home before craving occurs. Besides that patients should also be told that the purpose is not to make the cravings disappear, but to experience them in a different way that makes them feel less anxiety provoking and dangerous and thus easier to ride out. The steps are summarized below.

Pay attention to the craving – This usually involves, first, finding someplace safe to let oneself experience craving (e.g., a comfortable and quiet place at home). Next, relax and focus on the experience of craving itself – where it occurs in the body or mind and how intense it is.

Focus on the area where the craving occurs – This involves paying attention to all the somatic and effective signals and trying to put them into words. What is the feeling like? Where is it? How strong is it? Does it move or change? Where else does it occur? After concentrating in this way, many patients find the craving goes away entirely. In fact, the patient may find it useful to rate the intensity of craving before and after the exercise to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique.

Finally understanding the drug cravings negativity and coping strategies alone will not be helpful if you do not take the next step of seeking for help. Yes you now have the information, but if you don’t apply that information, it will not be helpful. That is the reason why doctor Dalal Akoury founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for every individual who is struggling with any form of addiction to seek for help. You can reach out for her on telephone number 843 213 1480 so that you can have a one on one with her and you will have all your addiction related concerns addressed professionally.

Drug cravings negativity and coping strategies: A cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction

October 2, 2015

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction: Coping with craving of cocaine (part two)

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction is very crucial in solving the problem of cocaine addiction especially in the teens who would want to explore.

In our part one of this series of articles about the cognitive behavioral approach of treating addiction, we had highlighted some of the areas to focus on as listed below and we were able to explore on the first one i.e. understanding craving. You can actually make reference on that as we progress but for the purpose of this article we want to continue from where we left and see how best we can describe craving which is one of the biggest elements when it comes to solving the problem of addiction. Our team of experts from the home of addiction solutions (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury who is also the founder of the facility, we want to explore on the possibilities of addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction with a view of finding lasting solutions to the scourge of addiction.

Understanding craving
Describing craving
Identifying triggers
Avoiding cues
Coping with craving

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction: Describing craving

Having understood what cravings is our next point would be to get the essential sense of the patients’ experience of craving. This can be very broad and may include having the knowledge about the following information.

What is craving like for you? – Doctor Akoury says that cravings or urges as it is commonly known is experienced in many different of ways by different patients. Like for instance an individual could say, the experience is primarily somatic that is to say, a patient would just get a feeling in the stomach or the heart races or just start smelling the element being craved for. For others, craving is experienced more cognitively; like for example one would say that “I need it now” or “I can’t get it out of my head” or “It calls on me.” Or it may be experienced effectively; for example, “I get nervous” or “I’m bored.” Depending on your individual experience, it is important that when seeking for help, you let your therapist know your experience with craving, this way they will be able to get to the roots of the problem and offer solutions effectively.

Are you bothered by craving? – There is tremendous variability in the level and intensity of craving reported by patients. For some, achieving and maintaining control over craving will be a principal treatment goal and take several weeks to achieve. Other patients deny they experience any craving. Gentle exploration with patients who deny any craving especially those who continue to use cocaine often reveals that they misinterpret a variety of experiences or simply ignore craving when it occurs until they suddenly find themselves using. Other, abstinent patients, who deny they experience any craving often, when asked, admit to intense fears about relapsing.

How long does craving last for you? – In this journey doctor Akoury says that to make the point about the duration and nature of craving, it is often very important for professionals to point out to their patients that they have rarely let themselves experience an episode of craving without giving in to it.

How do you try to cope with it? – Getting a sense of the coping strategies used by patients will help the therapist identify their characteristic coping styles and select appropriate coping strategies.

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction: Identifying triggers

The next point to focus on would be the identification of the triggers to the substance of abuse. It is important that therapists should work very closely with their patients to develop a comprehensive list of their own triggers. Some patients become overwhelmed when asked to identify cues. From experience doctor Akoury says that when handling addicts, you will notice that someone may even associate breathing with cocaine use. Again, it may be most helpful therefore to concentrate on identifying the craving and cues that have been most problematic to the patient in recent weeks. This should commence immediately during the therapy session and this should include self-monitoring of craving so that patients can begin to identify new and more subtle cues as they arise.

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction: Avoiding cues

When considering the avoidance of cues it is always advisable that you keep in mind the general strategy of “recognize, avoid, and cope.” These strategies are particularly applicable to craving for all substances and not necessarily cocaine. Doctor Akoury says that real experts would first identify the patients’ most problematic cues then make an exploration of the degree to which some of those could be avoided. This will come with certain sacrifices including breaking ties or reducing contact with individuals who use or supply you with cocaine, getting rid of paraphernalia, staying out of bars or other places where cocaine is used, or no longer carrying money, as in the following example:

Finally in dealing with the minds perception about cocaine addiction one needs not to let any stone unturned. I am saying this because we are all aware that cocaine is an illegal substance but other substances like alcohol which are legal can form a perfect avenue for the consumption of cocaine without being noticed. Besides that the ability to pay for the substance is another point of consideration. When the financial strength allows users to access cocaine could easily form a solution in an alcoholic drink. Therefore experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center recommends that for any meaningful treatment to be realized, therapists and other professionals in the line of substance abuse must spend considerable time exploring the relationship between alcohol and cocaine with patients who use them together to such an extent that alcohol becomes a powerful cocaine cue. Specific strategies to reduce, or preferably, stop alcohol use should be explored. We appreciate that doing this may not be easy for many people and that is why doctor Akoury will be readily available on call for you to schedule for an appointment so that any pending or unclear issues relating to addiction can be attended to professionally.

Addressing mind perception about cocaine addiction: Coping with craving of cocaine (part two)

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction

July 4, 2015

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction: No drug takes you down faster or harder than crack

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction are ruining people’s live and the sooner you reach out for help the better

In one of the sessions where doctor Dalal Akoury was impacting health knowledge to some group of cocaine addicts, she mention a very strong statement that has kept many thinking about substance abuse in general. She said that “no drug takes you down faster or harder than crack and that the consequences of cocaine addiction are real and dangerous.” Take a moment and visualize what this statement is loaded with. It simply means that when you are taking this drug, in essence you are reducing your life spun with every injection, smoke or drink you take hence the statement going down faster and harder. Cocaine is a very dangerous and addictive substance and it comes in two forms, the powdered form that is snorted and crack that is smoked. When we say that cocaine is very addictive, this may not make sense to many people, but wait a moment and listen to this illustration about the intensity of this substance. The addictiveness of cocaine can be displayed with the life of a mouse. That is to say, if you give a mouse a hit of cocaine every time it presses a lever, it will do nothing else but press that lever. It won’t stop for a minute to take a sip of water or a bite to eat, and eventually it will die from a cocaine overdose. The only thing that prevents people from overdosing on crack is their bank account. Once people are addicted to crack, they will sell their soul for another hit and that is how addictive this drug can be says doctor Akoury.

In life we often have the liberty to make choices, some of the choices we make can be very costly to our health and getting into drugs is one such choice that is today causing many families serious nightmares. The formation of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center by doctor Akoury is one of the best choices that any professional can make. Having seen how wrong choices were being made by many people opting into drugs, doctor Akoury made a decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. Therefore if for whatever reason you may have made the wrong choice and you want to get back to making the right choice, then this is the place to start from. I am not promising a joyride in the process. Recovering from addiction is a process and not a destination and so obstacles will be there but with determination and commitment, doctor Akoury will help you go through the healing process in the most professional way. All you have to do is to call her on telephone number 843 213 1480 to schedule for your appointment with her today.

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction: The dangers of cocaine use

Now as you consider calling that number, it is important to note that cocaine is a stimulant and very addictive for that matter. Therefore its usage can cause your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to constrict the consequence of which are high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. These are not just health problems but very serious ones which can cause you your life. This problem is ravaging in our societies like never before and in fact heart attacks in young patients without a history of heart disease are so frequently thanks to cocaine abuse and because of that emergency room doctors are taught to consider it as one of the first diagnoses. And the problem doesn’t end there.

Cocaine is an important cause of cardiac arrest – like I have said cocaine causes ones heart to speed up, and in some cases the speed is so fast that it actually stops. What is especially deadly about cocaine is that there is no correlation between how many times you’ve used cocaine or how much you used, and when you will suffer a cardiac arrest. Some people die after their first use. Other people have used cocaine hundreds of times, and then drop dead on the very next time. Some university athletes who suddenly drop dead are discovered to have died from cocaine induced cardiac arrest. And as with all drugs, the most important consequences of cocaine addiction are psychological, social, and emotional. However with cocaine these happen faster and harder than with other drugs. A word of caution to all cocaine users, if you are a cocaine addict, you don’t have to wonder if you’ve hurt your friends and family because the truth is that you have done that not once but many times, you may not know because of the influence the drug has on you but now that you are sober and you’re asking, the writings is on the wall. Make a mend by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery journey.

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction: Withdrawal symptoms

The withdrawal symptoms of cocaine are emotional – There are no physical withdrawal symptoms from cocaine, which is why people sometimes trick themselves into thinking they aren’t addicted to it. “I’m not physically addicted to cocaine.” But there’s no physical addiction and non-physical addiction all we have is addiction. Remember that all addiction occurs in the brain. Doctor Akoury says that even though there are no physical withdrawal symptoms, cocaine still satisfies the criteria of addiction. People have difficulty controlling how much they use and they continue to use even though it has negative consequences to their life. Nevertheless the known emotional withdrawal symptoms of cocaine may include tiredness, depression, anxiety and moodiness.

Post-acute withdrawal – The post-acute withdrawal symptoms for cocaine are similar to those of other drugs and they include mood swings, variable energy, low enthusiasm, poor concentration and sleep disturbances.

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction: Cross Addiction

Most cocaine addicts struggle with the idea of total abstinence – If you’re addicted to cocaine, you know you never want to use cocaine again. Cocaine has ruined your life, it has cost you a lot of money, but you’re not sure about stopping alcohol. Maybe alcohol has never been a problem. But because of cross addiction, if you want to stop using cocaine you must also stop all addictive drugs including alcohol and marijuana.

Alcohol is a common trigger for cocaine use – You’ll start with just a few drinks a week. Maybe you’ll drink moderately for weeks or even months without using cocaine. But then one week, you’ll have a bad week. Bad things happen. During that week, everything will go wrong. You’ll be stressed out at work. You’ll have an argument at home. And by the end of the week, you’ll really want a drink. But instead of just a few drinks, you’ll want maybe three or four drinks to take the edge off. After the first one or two drinks, your inhibitions will be lower. After two or three drinks, you’ll reach a magic number, and your brain will suddenly say “Bingo. With all these experiences all you need is an experienced professional to help you and that service is available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, make that call today.

The hard consequences of cocaine addiction: No drug takes you down faster or harder than crack

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