Cocaine and crack addiction is unique in modern recovery medicine — there's no MAT for it, the withdrawal isn't medically dangerous but is psychologically punishing, and the relapse risk in the first 90 days is exceptionally high. RECO Intensive's cocaine and crack treatment is therapy-intensive, structured for the specific challenges stimulant recovery presents.
The clinical picture of stimulant use disorder
Cocaine and crack engage the brain's reward system intensely and acutely. The high is short; the comedown is steep; the cravings during the comedown drive continued use. Common features:
- Binge-pattern use — sustained use over hours or days, then a crash
- Severe post-use depression ("the comedown") that drives re-use
- Cardiovascular risk — cocaine is one of the leading causes of substance-related cardiac events in adults under 40
- Polysubstance combinations — alcohol, opioids, benzos used to manage the crash
- Financial devastation — cocaine addiction is one of the most expensive
- Sleep and appetite dysregulation that persists weeks into recovery
How RECO treats cocaine and crack addiction
Medical stabilization in detox
Stimulant withdrawal isn't medically dangerous in the way alcohol withdrawal is — but the cravings, mood crash, and sleep dysregulation are intense. Medical detox at RECO supports the physical recovery phase with sleep medication, nutritional restoration, cardiovascular monitoring, and 24/7 clinical presence.
Therapy-intensive treatment plan
Without MAT options, the recovery work is fundamentally therapeutic. CBT for the thought patterns that drive use. DBT for distress tolerance during cravings. Individual psychotherapy for the underlying drivers. Contingency-management approaches where clinically appropriate.
Cardiovascular and medical follow-up
Chronic stimulant use stresses the heart. Our medical screening includes EKG and cardiovascular evaluation, with referral when needed. Many clients arrive with undiagnosed cardiac issues that need ongoing care.
Long-term aftercare for the high-risk window
The 90 days after stimulant treatment are the highest-risk relapse window. Our aftercare planning is structured for it — alumni-community engagement, ongoing therapy, structured sober living, and a clear crisis plan.
Who this track serves
Daily cocaine users. Crack-cocaine clients (often with more severe psychosocial impact). Weekend / functional users whose use has escalated. Cocaine + alcohol clients (the "speedball" combination that produces cocaethylene). Clients with cocaine-related cardiac events. Anyone whose stimulant use has crossed into compulsion.
What cocaine recovery looks like at RECO
Typical pathway: detox → residential → PHP → IOP → sober living → aftercare, sequenced over 90-180 days. The therapy intensity stays high throughout because there's no medication to lean on. Alumni engagement post-discharge is particularly important for this population.
Why RECO's approach is different
Many programs deliver minimal therapy for stimulant clients — because the detox phase is brief, the assumption is the rest can be lighter. Wrong. Stimulant recovery requires more therapy, not less. Our treatment plans reflect that, and the outcomes show it.