Struggling with a cocaine addiction can prove particularly debilitating and damaging because of the dichotomy between the concept of cocaine use and the actual reality of using cocaine. To many, the cocaine is thought to encourage exciting social interactions in an almost party-like atmosphere.
This misconception seduces people to the doorway of cocaine addiction and encourages them to walk through. Once they begin abusing cocaine, the reality is much more sinister and threatening, triggering a constant need for more of the drug to maintain their high.
This can lead your loved one down the darkest path they’ve ever known, where they ignore the physical and mental health damage cocaine use can cause. This is why it’s necessary to understand how cocaine impacts your loved one’s immune health and the treatment available to help them recover.
How Does Cocaine Affect the Immune System?
People who abuse cocaine are significantly more likely to suffer from a wide variety of infections and illnesses directly related to their addiction. Most of their increased potential for dealing with serious illnesses is related to the terrible decision making – using dirty needles, eating poorly, ignoring personal hygiene and partaking in unsafe sex – associated with their substance use disorder.
In addition, snorting cocaine has been shown to severely damage the mucous membranes in a person’s nose, throat and lungs – which, in turn, can lead to upper respiratory infections.
All of this can lead your loved one down a road of poor health and increased susceptibility to serious disease tied directly to their addictive behaviors. (1)
Here’s How Cocaine Affects Immune Health
A recent study found that a person dealing with a cocaine addiction is far more likely to contract an infectious disease than someone with no history of drug addiction.
Researchers added that infectious diseases are the most common and costly health complications of drug addiction, and chronic drug users are at a particularly high risk of contracting infections, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV – even if they are not injecting drugs. In addition, it was noted that rates of other infections – such as tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases – are also high among people who regularly use cocaine.
One reason people are more at risk of diseases when abusing cocaine is because of a protein called interleukin-6 (IL-6). This protein, a key immune system component, responds less effectively in people struggling with an infection or illness while abusing cocaine.
Investigators at McLean Hospital’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center have even found that cocaine itself has a direct biological effect that may decrease a person’s ability to fight off infections.
Smoking crack cocaine is also detrimental to the immune system, even when no needles are involved. Smoking cocaine has been shown to significantly damage a person’s lungs, while also reducing their immune system’s response to lung infections. This puts them at greater risk of pneumonia and bronchitis. (2)
Cocaine and Immune Health: Facts and Stats
The negative impact that cocaine use can have on your loved one’s physical health and overall wellbeing is no secret. In fact, there is a mountain of evidence and research indicating that both short-term and long-term cocaine abuse can result in a wide variety of physical ailments and negative health issues.
Some of the more significant facts and stats include the following:
As recent as 2017, cocaine was associated with 1 out of 5 overdose-related fatalities. In addition to this fact, cocaine addiction can result in organ damage, cause respiratory failure and provoke mental disorders.
Cocaine constricts blood vessels and increases heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. This can result in seizures or cardiac arrest.
Over 1 in 3 drug-related emergency room visits involve cocaine, accounting for approximately 40 percent of drug-related emergency room crises. (3)
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How to Support Your Loved One Through Cocaine Addiction
Even with all the facts out there indicating the dangers of cocaine addiction, your loved one may be too deep into their substance use disorder to be thinking rationally about their disease. You being there to provide support and guidance when they are ready to face their addiction head on is essential to their long-term sobriety.
If you plan on sit down to talk with your loved one about their substance abuse, do research beforehand on stand-out treatment facilities that are available to aid in your loved one’s recovery. For most people who want to get clean, finding a rehab facility on their own is often so overwhelming that they avoid doing the research themselves and, therefore, don’t get the help they need.
Your actions in this area can help tremendously and proactively prepare them for their rehabilitation.
Life-Changing Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Ranch Creek Recovery
Even through all the pain and anguish that comes with watching a loved one struggle with addiction, being ready to step up and help them transition into treatment when the time is right can be the difference between sustained sobriety and a missed opportunity.
At Ranch Creek Recovery, your loved one will be met with an individualized treatment plan and expert medical attention and therapy. Through our non-12-step rehab and holistic cocaine addiction treatment program, your loved one will prepare to forge the drug-free future they desire.
Learn more about our life-changing, holistic cocaine treatment program, or contact us today to get your questions answered.
Staff: 4.5/5Owner, Director, therapists, nurses, counselors, and support staff are all really great. I had no issues with anyone in particular. They are all there to help you however they can. I found that everyone advocated for my well being, were available when I needed them, and did their best to support me, check in on me, and make sure I was happy and comfortable.(why not 5/5? They have had a bunch of turnover and need to update their website with their newer staff members and qualifications. Additionally the Doctors they partner with were not as thorough as I would have wanted, and were kind of pushy with medications)Program: 4/5Small groups for the win! You get a lot of attention if you need it. This is a Holistic approach rehab. They do not focus on any 12 step programs. You have daily classes with different counselors, focusing on the science behind addiction, anger management, talk therapy, art therapy, equine therapy, nutrition, and much more. You have one-on-one sessions twice a week with a Licensed Therapist, and you have access to a gym daily, with a yoga instructor and trainer coming a few times a week. You also have a docent that comes once a week to do sound therapy, and you can learn techniques such as tapping. They have 2 doctors on staff you will have Zoom appointments with, and someone is always present to distribute morning, afternoon, and bedtime medication. You can also always grab whomever is on-call to talk through any issues or questions you have.(why not 5/5? Overall I found that there was too much down-time. I got bored and restless with that much free time and I craved more structure. Additionally I thought that the family Zoom sessions could have served as a stronger resource for loved ones)Location: 4/5Murrieta is a quiet, tranquil area, with mountain views, a lot of farmland, and very little public noise to distract you. When you do leave the house, you get to visit a small farm that is very close by to interact with horses and goats, etc. You also have an outing on Saturdays for a few hours that allows you as a group to get out of the house. The immediate area has all the basic stores and activities you would want, like target/walmart/grocery/7-11/etc as well as mini golf, bowling... You do need to decide as a group where you want to go because you have 1 chaperone and need to stay together at all times.(why not 5/5? There are 2 different houses located about 10 minutes away from each other. The Bass house advertised on the website is much nicer and larger than the Doreen house. During my time the clients staying at the Doreen house were shuttled over to the Bass house for our daily classes and sessions, not being able to utilize their own kitchen, rooms, and bathrooms during the day. I was also told by clients that the Doreen house was not as nice as the Bass House)Amenities: 4/5Pool - (I was there in the winter, so it was not heated and basically unusable, however, I did do some cold plunges just for the shock)Hot tub - available once a week on Friday eveningsYard - Large Grass Backyard and cement patio with tables and chairsGym - Available daily. TV for movies or music. Free weights, yoga mats, and a few outdated cardio machines that mostly worked.Kitchen - Large kitchen, multiple Fridges/Freezers, Huge pantry for preparing anything you want, ovens, microwave, toasters, dishwasher, outdoor gas grill, etc...Pool table, ping pong table, arts and crafts table, outdoor TV, Indoor TV, Computer, land-line house phone.Comfortable rooms and bathrooms with laundry access, and provided bedding and towels.(why not 5/5? I was disappointed that it wasn't clear that the pool and hot tub didn't have daily access as advertised, and that the gym was more outdated than described/pictured. They also could make some very inexpensive recreation investments like a basketball for their outdoor hoop, soccer ball, frisbees, croquet set, bocce, etc for their giant lawn to be used during the extensive downtime)
Ranch Creek Recovery is the best way to start your new healthy way of life. This program actually saved my life and my sanity. Their Holistic approach was amazing and I learned so much from my counselors and Dr. Dena. With only a limited number of participants in the house at one time, you are guaranteed the one on one time, as well as the group counseling they offer in a safe and comfortable setting. They make you aware that they truly care and are there to support you , listen to you, and most important to teach you. Teach you information about triggers, cognitive behavior and how to stay sober. They include therapy through others means such as Yoga, Meditation, working with Horses and even Physical Training. Ranch Creek makes sure when you leave you are good, Mind, Body and Soul. They have an excellent Intensive Outpatient Program (10) weeks that helps navigate your way back into life. A year ago (received my one year chip June 8, 2022) I was lost and a raging out of control alcoholic. I can proudly say today that I am not. I will always be an alcoholic with an addictive personality. But now I have tools, personal contacts and the faith in myself that I have never had before in my 9 years searching for sobriety. I often reflect back on my time at the Bass house. I am probably one of the few that actually stayed 60 days because I had so much to learn. My insurance did not cover all of the last days, but it was worth it to me, so I stayed. I am so grateful to so many of the staff, Jimmie, Christine, Jonathon, Dr. Dena and countless extended staff to name a few, because there were more. I would not be here to tell you it works, because without the treatment and the help I received, I alive today to tell my journey. If you are ready to face the truth, please give them a call. I promise if you are committed, you will never be the same as when you walked in. Thank you Ranch Creek Recovery.
Also known as Angelica, I couldn’t recommend this place more . This treatment center really helped me get what I have always wished for , Peace with my past , healing , restoration . Ranch Creek Recovery’s program was such a tremendous blessing, life changing experience for me and my family. This week I celebrate 9years of living life in recovery, sobriety. Thank you RCR for saving my life .
I had long term sobriety and was under a lot of stress from my professional position. I began to use cannabis recreationally and soon became dependent. I sought recovery, because I could not stop using cannabis on my own. It was causing issues with my family and in my professional life. I signed up with Rancho Creek Recovery, through my insurance. I attended the pm IOP zoom sessions with Lorri. Her group sessions and the materials she provided, helped me to get off of cannabis. Lorri was a big help in giving me strategies to stay sober and to manage the cravings and ways to deal with my work stress. I would strongly recommend Rancho Creek Recovery's outpatient program and the pm IOP zoom sessions with Lorri. She was a great professional to work with.
I've had a few stints with rehab and none even skinned the surface of what I learned here. Located on a beautiful property in the foothills of Murrieta, with in house groups led by instructors that break it down so in depth. My perspective had a total shift and I can honestly say I owe my life and the promise of a new future to this facility and it's faculty. If you're willing to do the work this is the place to get into your core issues and help you recover from the lifestyle and vices that one is addicted to. I recommend this place to anyone who wants something different from life. DBT, CBT, recovery education, family therapy are just a few of the groups and The program director and Clinical director hand picked a team that is progressive, informed, patient, caring and passionate about what they do. I encourage anyone who's seeking treatment to look into this program I first hand watched others and had my life transformed.
Coming to Ranch Creek Recovery, I had been through three different inpatient chemical treatment facilities in CA. I was feeling lost and somewhat hopeless. The serene setting gave me peace and I began healing. The counselors were very inspiring and helped me grow in ways I haven’t experienced in years. I began to see the bigger picture that a life in sobriety can give you. Although I am somewhat scared to leave the comfort and security that Ranch Creek Recovery and staff has brought me, I am also excited to share my growth with my family and to start my new life. Thank you RCR!
2) National Center for Biotechnology Information. Effect of short-term cocaine administration on the immune system of young and old C57BL/6 female mice. Accessed January 20, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10584210/.
