Cocaine & PTSD Support

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD as it is otherwise known, is a grave mental health disorder that arises from traumatic events.  Thought to affect 8 million people each year, only a small fraction of those living with the mental health disorder seek treatment.

Sadly, undiagnosed and untreated PTSD can have adverse effects.  In some instances, individuals will turn to substances, including cocaine, for relief. Should you find the quality of your life impaired by cocaine and PTSD, you must secure treatment.

If you are worried that a loved one, friend or employee struggles with cocaine and PTSD, understanding PTSD and cocaine in greater detail will enable you to help them secure treatment.

Understanding and Recognising PTSD

PTSD is a somewhat common mental health disorder that arises from traumatic events such as combat, life-changing accidents, physical assault, sexual assault, abuse, life-threatening illnesses, and the death of a loved one.

Although not everyone who experiences or witnesses a traumatic event will struggle with PTSD, 4 in 100 people in the United Kingdom find their lives impaired by the disorder.

If PTSD is impairing your life, you will experience various psychological symptoms that will gradually impact your physical health and behaviour.

These symptoms often include, but are not limited to, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, pessimistic feelings, nightmares, distress, physical pain, nausea and a sense of overwhelming fear and worry.

Treatment For PTSD

Unbeknown to many, treatment is available for PTSD.  Often consisting of cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy, these psychological therapies have helped thousands of individuals overcome the pessimistic thoughts and feelings associated with PTSD.

Yet, due to stigmas, a lack of treatment availability and waiting times, a large proportion of those affected by PTSD continue to suffer in silence.  Instead, many take matters into their own hands and attempt to self-medicate using substances such as cocaine.

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Asana Lodge is a leading UK based expert in Private Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment. Find out how we can help by getting in touch with our friendly team today.

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Cocaine and PTSD

Between 23 and 42% of cocaine users are believed to simultaneously struggle with PTSD.  Thought to offer short-term relief from the symptoms of PTSD, cocaine dispenses a temporary euphoric feeling, leaving many individuals feeling happier, energetic and optimistic.

However, as noted above, these sensations only offer short-term relief.  In fact, the effects of cocaine are thought to reduce after 40 minutes.   

As the side effects of cocaine wear off, PTSD often intensifies.  In turn, symptoms such as those noted above become intolerable.

Having come to experience the relief that cocaine offers, many people living with PTSD will once again snort, smoke or inject cocaine to help them cope with the crippling symptoms encountered.

Sadly, frequently using cocaine to manage a mental health disorder such as PTSD can lead to cocaine addictions.

Understanding Cocaine Addictions

Defined as a chronic condition that results from consuming large quantities of harmful substances, cocaine addictions continue to have undeniable ramifications on the lives of millions.

However, cocaine users often overlook the ramifications that cocaine has and continue to chase the high the drug offers.

Although not everyone who consumes cocaine will develop an addiction to the substance, individuals with PTSD are at greater risk of becoming reliant on cocaine. 

Identifying If A Cocaine Addiction Is Present

Just as numerous symptoms indicate whether PTSD is present, various symptoms stipulate that a cocaine addiction is.

Common symptoms associated with cocaine addictions include;

  • Reduced appetite
  • Changes in eating patterns
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Paranoia
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Financial problems
  • Changes in appearance
  • Intense cravings

Treatment For Cocaine and PTSD

While treatment is widely available for cocaine and PTSD, a reduction in treatment referrals has been observed.

Although this is often a result of the stigmas connected to addictions and mental health disorders, it can also be because insufficient information regarding cocaine and PTSD treatment is available online.

If you find your life impaired by cocaine and PTSD, it is not enough to simply secure treatment for your addiction or mental health disorder.  Instead, you must obtain dual diagnosis treatment.

With the ability to simultaneously treat cocaine and PTSD problems, dual diagnosis is the most effective form of treatment.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment At Asana Lodge

Here at Asana Lodge, our dual diagnosis treatment is administered on a residential basis at our private drug and alcohol located in Towcester.

Combining several industry-leading treatments such as medically induced detoxifications, psychotherapy and well-being therapy, much of our treatment focuses on brain and body restoration.

While the treatments outlined above are often administered, it should be noted that coexisting cocaine and PTSD problems require personalised treatments.

This essentially means that the treatment you encounter at our rehab will be personalised to your cocaine and PTSD needs.

To ensure that a personalised dual diagnosis treatment programme can be generated, upon entering our rehab, we will initiate a clinical assessment. This assessment will enable us to assess your physical and psychological health and understand the impact cocaine and PTSD has had on your life.

Although we cannot determine the exact treatment you will undergo at our rehab without discussing your disorders with you, you may encounter cognitive behavioural therapy.

Administered on a one-to-one basis with a counsellor, cognitive behavioural therapy will help you identify your cocaine addiction and PTSD.

You will also become much more aware of your emotions surrounding these disorders, and you will be encouraged to understand how they have negatively impacted your behaviour.  In doing so, you will have the ability to learn how to alter your thoughts and obtain an optimistic outlook.

Not only will cognitive behavioural therapy help relieve the symptoms associated with your PTSD, but it will help you overcome your addiction as you learn how to manage your thoughts and feelings.

Aftercare Support

At Asana Lodge, we are dedicated to your recovery and sobriety, which is why we will provide you with 12-months of cocaine and PTSD aftercare support upon completing dual diagnosis treatment.

Aftercare support will see you invited to attend weekly group sessions.  You will also be offered one-to-one therapy, should it be required.

Email Icoon  Get In Touch

Asana Lodge is a leading UK based expert in Private Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment. Find out how we can help by getting in touch with our friendly team today.

Contact Us

Contact Us Today

If you are ready to address your struggles with cocaine and PTSD, contact us today to secure dual diagnosis treatment.


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John Gillen - Author - Last Updated: 9 July 2021

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of Nad+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. his passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases.

The journey continues, in recent times john has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with Nad+ scientists and the very best of the medical profession in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Clinics own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists, Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with Nad+ therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.

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Dr Alexander Lapa (Psychiatrist)

Dr Alexander Lapa (Psychiatrist) - Clinical Reviewer - Last Reviewed: 17/02/2022 12:00 am

MBBS, PG Dip Clin Ed, OA Dip CBT, OA Dip Psychology, SCOPE Certified

Dr Lapa graduated in Medicine in 2000 and since this time has accrued much experience working in the widest range of psychiatric settings with differing illness presentations and backgrounds in inpatient, community and secure settings. This has been aligned to continuation of professional development at postgraduate level in clinical research which has been very closely related to the everyday clinical practice conducted by this practitioner as a NHS and Private Psychiatrist.
He is fully indemnified by the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) and MIAB Expert Insurance for Psychiatric and Private Medical practice. He is fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK with a licence to practice.

Dr Lapa is approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act (1983)

Member of Independent Doctors Federation (IDF), British Association for Psychopharmacology (BMA) and The Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO)

Dr Lapa’s extensive experience has also concentrated on the following areas of clinical practice:
– Assessment, Diagnosis and Pharmacological Treatment for Adults with ADHD.
– Drug and Alcohol Dependency and maintaining abstinence and continued recovery
– Intravenous and Intramuscular Vitamin and Mineral Infusion Therapy
– Dietary and Weight Management and thorough care from assessment to treatment to end goals and maintenance
– Aesthetic Practice and Procedures