What cocaine is
A fast-acting stimulant in two main forms
Cocaine speeds up the brain and body, bringing a burst of energy, confidence, and alertness that fades quickly. That short high is a big part of why people use again and again in one night.
Powder cocaine
A white powder that is usually snorted, and sometimes rubbed on the gums or injected. Often called coke, blow, snow, or yay.
Crack cocaine
A rock form that is smoked. The high hits faster and ends sooner, which can lead to heavy use in a short time.
Why people start
To have fun, fit in, stay awake for work or school, feel more confident, or cope with stress and low mood.
Why it is hard to stop
Cocaine floods the brain with dopamine. The crash that follows, and the cravings, can pull people back quickly.
How cocaine takes hold
Weekend use does not always stay on the weekend
Many people who struggle with cocaine are working, raising families, and keeping up appearances. Use can shift from occasional to regular without anyone noticing, including the person using.
Cocaine use disorder is a health condition, not a moral failure. With the right support, people recover.
The cocaine risk
Cocaine is not the same drug it used to be
Fentanyl now shows up in cocaine, often without the buyer knowing. People who use cocaine but not opioids have no tolerance, so even a trace can stop their breathing.
Call 911 right away if someone
Stay with them until help arrives. North Carolina has a Good Samaritan law that offers limited protection from some drug charges for people who call for help during an overdose. Do not let fear of trouble stop the call.
If someone is talking about ending their life, call or text 988, any hour of any day.
Signs it may be time for help
Some signs worth paying attention to
You do not need to hit bottom to deserve help. If a few of these sound familiar, in yourself or someone you love, it is worth a conversation.
Using more often, or in larger amounts, than you planned
Needing cocaine to enjoy a night out or get through work
Frequent nosebleeds, a runny nose, or a lost sense of smell
Spending more money than you can afford
Feeling anxious, paranoid, or irritable
Crashing hard with low mood, exhaustion, or cravings
Hiding use from family, friends, or coworkers
Trying to cut back or stop and not being able to
You are not alone
More common than most people think
4.3 million
people in the United States used cocaine in the past year.
About 8 in 10
cocaine-related overdose deaths also involved opioids like fentanyl.
3 in 4
adults who have ever had a drug or alcohol problem say they are in recovery or have recovered.
National figures from SAMHSA’s 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the CDC. These are not Renovia Behavioral Health results.
Cocaine use cuts across every kind of community, from restaurant and hospitality workers to professionals, college students, and parents. You are not the only one, and you do not have to figure this out alone.
The crash and early recovery
What to expect when you stop
After cocaine use stops, many people feel exhausted, hungry, low, restless, and strongly drawn to use again. Sleep may be off for a while. These feelings usually ease over days to weeks.
Cocaine withdrawal is usually not medically dangerous on its own, but the low mood can be serious. Depression and thoughts of self-harm can happen in early recovery, which is one of the biggest reasons not to go through it alone.
Support makes the hardest weeks easier
If you are using other substances too, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids, talk to a medical provider before you stop. Renovia Behavioral Health does not offer detox at this time, but we can help you find a provider if you need assistance. Read: If You Need Detox First
How we help
Therapy that helps you change the pattern
Research shows behavioral therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy, are the most effective treatments for cocaine use disorder. That is the core of outpatient care.
If needed first
Detox
We can help you find a provider if you need assistance.
Medical emergency: call 911.
Crisis: call or text 988.
Renovia Behavioral Health
Day Treatment (PHP)
5 days a week, 5 hours a day
Renovia Behavioral Health
Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
3 days a week, 3 hours a day
Tried before
If treatment did not stick last time
For most people, recovery takes more than one serious try. Tell us what did not work, and we will build a better plan.
How to get started
From first contact to first day
1
Call or text 833-813-HELP
Tell us what is going on. Nothing has to be decided on that first contact.
2
We check the details
We verify your insurance and collect your background so your first day is focused on you.
3
Your first day
Plan on a full day. A clinician completes your assessment, and you get an orientation.
4
Your plan begins
We place you in the group that fits you best, and your team reviews your plan every week.
