While the devastating health implications of cocaine use are fairly well-known, it is even more disheartening to assess this impact in terms of the financial cost. In Canada, cocaine addiction treatment costs may not be cheap but they measure favourably against the financial outlay on the actual drug itself.
Estimates in the United States point towards cocaine addiction treatment costs coming in much cheaper in the long run than actual addiction – with not only the drug itself costing a large amount of money, but the money spent on jailing individuals also proving costly.
Cocaine addiction treatment can come in various forms in Canada. These can vary from behavioural modification to cognitive therapy, while for more intense levels of addiction there can be the more long-term provision of managed withdrawal, likely under the supervision of qualified clinicians.
These approaches also feature variations in the level of cocaine addiction treatment cost, with private treatments unsurprisingly coming in at a higher price than government schemes, although even the latter has a cost – usually assessed according to the level of income of the person being treated.
What are the effects of cocaine and how is it treated?
Cocaine is highly addictive because of its intense short-term effects. These include euphoric feelings and a sharpened sense of mental awareness – making the user more alert and energetic, and providing a temporary energy kick. With these seemingly appealing features it is perhaps no wonder that regular users find themselves quickly enveloped in a powerful habit.
The downsides of cocaine use are equally well-known but are likely to become sidelined by the addicted user, who is more preoccupied with revisiting the short-term upbeat effects. According to Health Canada, these side effects include paranoia, violent behaviour, anxiety and nausea. As unappealing as these side effects may seem, unfortunately when an addict arrives at the point where they can no longer live without the drug use, it can become difficult to wean them off it.
How big a problem is cocaine use in Canada?
Cocaine addiction treatment costs in Canada continue to be a real issue due to the country’s high usage statistics. In 2019, Canada was the joint second highest user of cocaine in a table of 36 countries, topped only by Scotland. But with 60% of the Canadians who were surveyed also saying they want to cut their cocaine use, there is much potential for the beneficial effects of cocaine addiction treatment.
The first step in overcoming an addiction is making the commitment and then fully immersing oneself in a treatment plan. Tailored treatment plans are offered at many addiction centres across Canada, with approaches ranging from the traditional clinician-led intervention and managed withdrawal, to more modern and progressive treatments such as art and music therapy, or simple health and fitness coaching to help the body recover and restore itself.
Convincing users of the intrinsically deceptive nature of cocaine is also a key step. While the initial euphoric rush makes addiction highly likely, users need to be reminded of the less pleasant come down – usually marked by major mood swings and illogical behaviour – while over a longer stretch of time there can be more terminal health consequences, with heart disease and respiratory problems often the outcome of cocaine addiction.
An added problem is uncertainty over the safety of the actual cocaine. When the drug is bought from street dealers there is very little opportunity to trace the origins of the cocaine and as a result, there are no guarantees over its purity and safety. Cocaine bought in this way is on many occasions mixed up with other substances and chances are these will be highly toxic. This increases the chance of death or at least long-term disability and physical damage.
What does the cost of cocaine addiction treatment buy?
Cocaine addiction rehabilitation may have a considerable cost but the multi-layered nature of its assistance enhances users’ chances of kicking their cocaine habit. Many treatment plans shift their focus beyond initial withdrawal from the drug and work to prevent the chances of relapse – this can be achieved through finding ways to restore the body’s nutrition levels and strengthen its cardiovascular system through physical exercise. The psychological effects of cocaine addiction are also taken care of, with many group and community activities on offer to rebuild confidence and self-respect in social situations.
Cocaine addiction affects everyone, not just the user
It is a fact that cocaine addiction has side effects and consequences that reach far beyond the user. As their home and professional lives become increasingly fraught, the impact on family, friends and colleagues is also considerable. They may well be on the receiving end of cocaine-induced mood swings and aggressive behaviour, and are likely to be disturbed at watching a cherished friend or loved one physically deteriorate.
These are the true costs of cocaine addiction, and far outweigh the financial outlay towards cocaine addiction treatment cost. Ultimately, treatment costs are a saving on the real long-term price of addiction.
