Under the backbreaking weight of cocaine addiction, many people have found relief through religious treatment. Some claim that their faith was the only thing that healed them. When it comes to addiction there are a number of factors involved, many of them personal and unique. Each story varies depending on the individual and his own beliefs, whatever those may be.
Religious Treatment
Linking religion with treatment for substance abuse is a growing trend in the United States, and one that many say is more successful. Jewish, Catholic and Muslim groups are becoming more involved in the problem with substance abuse, offering counseling and therapy to parishioners and others.
A popular form of treatment is group meetings, in which members say they are strengthened to learn of others with the same beliefs going through the same struggles. Many find it beneficial to have the guidance and encouragement of a trusted religious leader. They feel encouraged by religious scriptures pertinent to their situation, and for many, turning their focus to religion takes their mind off their addiction.
Musician Smokey Robinson, for example, claims that his release from cocaine addiction came from God. The Motown star struggled with cocaine abuse and remained individuated from those who tried to help him. During a church service nearly thirty years ago, however, a pastor connected with him in ways that no one else had. It was at that point, Robinson says, that he became sober.
Drugs Are Not Selective
One of the issues that Robinson’s pastor discussed with him was the physical, emotional and mental factors involved in his addiction. Robinson said that she understood what was going on with him in ways that no one else did. When one works in the world of substance abuse treatment, the struggles fall into the same pattern. Religious leaders and counselors become well versed in the issues that each addict is fighting.
Regardless of religion or personal convictions, drugs cross all barriers and are coldly unbiased. People from all walks of life are affected in very similar ways.
Physical Effects of Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine hits the brain and central nervous system in an exact way, producing a number of physical effects that go beyond the short-lived high.
Here are some common physical effects of cocaine addiction:
Loss of appetite
Trouble sleeping
Nausea
Hyperstimulation
Weight loss from malnutrition
Sexual problems
Severe tooth decay
Physical addiction, even after just one hit
Headaches
Abdominal pain
Nose trouble if the drug is snorted, including loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, and a consistently runny nose
Convulsions
Seizures
Sudden death and overdose from high doses
Emotional Effects of Cocaine
Cocaine affects the brain chemicals that monitor pleasure, causing a rapid release, which is what gives users the intense high. After this, however, the brain is temporarily exhausted of its pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. This produces heavy emotional effects, including:
Severe depression
Irritability
Erratic and sometimes violent behavior
Anxiety and paranoia
Mental Effects of Cocaine
Cocaine’s effects on the mind are various and sundry, ranging from bizarre to terrifying.
Disorientation
Apathy
Confusion
Hallucinations
Panic
Psychosis
Success in Treatment
People fight and win against cocaine addiction every day. Programs that address more than just the physical aspect of the drug have a higher chance of success. One factor in common with higher success rates is having a strong support group, whether it be family, friends, group counseling or church. The mental and emotional aspects of cocaine must be addressed as well as physical detox.