THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRY AND SOBER

Throwing out your stash is the first of many challenges you face. You need to find meaningful activities to substitute for using coke. You will also need to learn new coping strategies to help you deal with the anxiety you previously managed with cocaine and other drugs.

Sobriety is a lifestyle. At first it involves substantial planning to ensure that you do not relapse.

AA can help, but it's not enough for a vast majority of people. Other recovery groups like SMART and Rational Recovery offer cognitive-based options in recovery.

If you want to stop, it's important to accept that this will be a life altering decision. Psychotherapy with a qualified counselor or physcian will help you prepare for the challenges ahead.

Drugs and alcohol also affect family members. It's important that the program you use, whatever you choose, has qualified professionals with specialized training in treating addiction and couples therapy.

KICKING THE HABIT

COCAINE IS DANGEROUS

Aside from the risk of sudden death, stroke, or heart attack, cocaine can cause long term mood issues. Quitting cocaine eliminates the future health risk of past cocaine use. It's that important!

QUITTING COCAINE IS ABOUT LIFESTYLE CHANGES

While some research has demonstrated some medications to be helpful in controlling craving, you need to build a better life. The right doctor can make a big difference. Most of the cocaine users I work with get the drug from "friends." It's hard to give up a drug and your social life at the same time. Good therapy for cocaine use targets this issue, supporting you in making better decisions.

CHANGE THE WAY "CUES" AFFECT YOU

Another critical factor in reducing your depenence on cocaine has to do with how you allow cues to affect your behavior. Cues are anything which increase your craving for the drug. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help you re-program your brain so that you are less responsive to the cues that put you at risk for relapse.

PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO COCAINE ADDICTION

It's true. Most of my patients have untreated conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder that directly contribute to their inability to stay sober. Once the illness is treated, they find it much easier to control their cravings for cocaine.

YOU CAN LIVE A LIFE FREE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

It's not that you haven't been trying hard enough, but you need to try different things. The right psychiatrist can help you. Combining medication for your symptoms, with a personalized and progressive series of psychotherapeutic techniques to help you strenghten your skills is the best way to get bettter.

GREAT TREATMENT FOR COCAINE ADDICTION DOESN'T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK

The single thing that disturbs me the most are doctors who take advantage of people in need. The "Recovery" Industry is filled with bad people who will take as much money as you are willing to give them. I recommend avoiding any clinician, or treatment center that asks for money in advance, for a program. They may be taking advantage of your desperation.

To Schedule a Consultation, Please Call 310-593-4827

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