First 24 hours
- — Crash: exhaustion
- — hypersomnia
- — increased appetite
- — severe dysphoria
Cocaine Addiction in Louisville, KY
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that produces an intense, short dopamine surge — followed by a steep crash that drives compulsive re-dosing.
Overview
What cocaine addiction looks like.
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that produces an intense, short dopamine surge — followed by a steep crash that drives compulsive re-dosing. Cocaine and crack cocaine carry significant cardiac, neurological, and psychiatric risk, and Kentucky has seen a recent rise in cocaine deaths linked to fentanyl contamination. There are no FDA-approved medications for cocaine addiction, so evidence-based behavioral treatment — particularly contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — is the clinical standard of care.
Also known as: cocaine, crack, crack cocaine, coke, blow.
Signs of use
What patients and families actually notice.
- Binge-and-crash use patterns lasting hours to days
- Dilated pupils, restlessness, rapid speech, hyperactivity
- Nasal damage, frequent nosebleeds, or persistent runny nose (insufflated use)
- Burns on lips or hands, respiratory issues (crack use)
- Unexplained weight loss and disrupted eating patterns
- Severe mood crashes — depression, irritability, paranoia between uses
- Financial strain from rapid consumption
- Continued use despite escalating medical, legal, or relationship consequences
Withdrawal timeline
What withdrawal tends to look like.
Every person's experience varies. The windows below describe typical clinical patterns — your plan will be adjusted based on how you respond.
Days 2–7
- — Intense cravings
- — depressed mood
- — anhedonia
- — anxiety
- — sleep disturbance
Weeks 2–4
- — Cravings remain strong
- — mood and energy gradually improve
- — cognitive function clearing
Weeks 4–12+
- — Post-acute window: episodic cravings, mood lability, and anhedonia — high relapse-risk period
Treatment approach
How we will treat cocaine addiction.
Withdrawal management, before admission
Cocaine withdrawal is rarely life-threatening, but medical and psychiatric monitoring is important — particularly for patients with cardiac issues, severe depression, or co-occurring polysubstance use. Withdrawal management is completed before admission to Golden Grove.
Residential treatment
Structured residential care provides protected time during the acute post-use psychiatric window, when cravings and mood crashes are most severe.
Contingency management
Contingency management (CM) is a recognized behavioral treatment for stimulant use disorder, and will be part of Golden Grove's behavioral programming. Ask admissions how it works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT helps patients identify and rework the triggers and thought patterns that drive use, and builds practical relapse-prevention skills for the long post-acute window.
Integrated mental health care
Cocaine use commonly co-occurs with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Integrated mental health care addresses the conditions that drive use, not just the use itself.
In Kentucky
The local picture.
Kentucky has seen a significant rise in cocaine-related deaths over the past several years — much of it driven by fentanyl contamination of the cocaine supply, which sharply raises overdose risk for people who are not opioid-tolerant. Cocaine use in Louisville crosses demographic lines and Kentucky Medicaid covers the clinical continuum of treatment.
Kentucky Medicaid coverage
Cocaine Addiction is typically covered.
Kentucky Medicaid plans typically cover medical detox and residential treatment for cocaine and crack use disorder. There are no FDA-approved medications specifically for cocaine addiction, but behavioral treatment and integrated mental health care for co-occurring conditions are typically covered.
Coverage is determined by medical necessity using the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria. Our admissions team verifies your specific plan on the call.
Frequently asked
Common questions.
Is cocaine withdrawal dangerous?
Cocaine withdrawal is usually not directly life-threatening, but it produces severe depression, anhedonia, and suicidal ideation in some patients. Medical and psychiatric monitoring during the crash window is strongly recommended, particularly for patients with cardiac risk or co-occurring depression. If you're thinking about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988. If you're in immediate danger, call 911.
Is there a medication for cocaine addiction?
No medication is FDA-approved for stimulant use disorder. Evidence-based behavioral treatments — particularly contingency management and CBT — are the standard of care, along with treatment of any co-occurring psychiatric conditions.
How long does cocaine treatment take?
Duration is individualized — based on severity, medical necessity, and clinical progress. Call admissions to talk through what's likely for your specific situation.
Does Kentucky Medicaid cover cocaine rehab?
Kentucky Medicaid plans typically cover medical detox and residential treatment for cocaine use disorder based on medical-necessity determinations.
Other substances we will treat
The full treatment scope.
Take the next step
Discuss cocaine addiction with our admissions team.
Admissions answers 24/7. Golden Grove will accept Kentucky Medicaid. Coverage check happens on the call.