What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the coca plant. In the United States it is used illicitly in two main forms: powder cocaine, which is typically snorted or (less commonly) injected, and crack cocaine, a smokable form produced by processing powder cocaine with baking soda. Both forms produce intense, short-acting euphoria followed by a crash, and repeated use leads to compulsive patterns that meet the clinical definition of cocaine use disorder.

Cocaine use disorder differs from opioid or alcohol use disorder in one important way: there is no FDA-approved medication-assisted treatment for cocaine use disorder. Decades of research have not yet yielded a pharmaceutical for stimulant addiction that matches what’s available for opioid or alcohol use disorder. The foundation of effective cocaine treatment is therefore behavioral: evidence-based counseling, structured group programming, and peer support.

Recovery from cocaine use disorder is realistic. Patients who engage with structured outpatient care have significantly better long-term outcomes than those who attempt to stop on their own — even without MAT as part of the plan.

The Tennessee Picture

Stimulant-involved overdoses in Tennessee have shifted dramatically in recent years, almost entirely because of fentanyl contamination.

  • Methamphetamine was detected in 44% of Tennessee’s 2023 overdose deaths. Cocaine was detected in 28%.
  • Polysubstance overdoses involving both opioids and stimulants rose 200% in Tennessee between 2019 and 2023. Many stimulant overdose deaths today are not pure stimulant overdoses — they are fentanyl overdoses in people who didn’t know their supply was contaminated.
  • Stimulants were found in 66% of all 2023 overdose deaths statewide — the second-most-common drug class after illicit opioids (78%).
  • Tennessee’s overdose death rate in 2023 was 57% higher than the national rate, the fourth-highest in the United States.

The practical implication: fentanyl test strips and naloxone access matter for stimulant users too, even those who have never intentionally used opioids. If you’re using cocaine or methamphetamine, the single highest-leverage risk-reduction step is assuming your supply could be contaminated and carrying naloxone. Treatment lowers that risk further.

Sources: Tennessee SUDORS Report 2025 (Tennessee Department of Health, June 2025); Tennessee Overdose Response Coordination Office Annual Report 2023/24 (TDH, May 2025).

Signs of Cocaine Use Disorder

Cocaine use disorder is a medical condition diagnosed using DSM-5 criteria for stimulant use disorder. Common signs include:

  • Loss of control. Using more cocaine or for longer periods than intended.
  • Unsuccessful attempts to cut down. Wanting to stop but finding yourself using again.
  • Time spent on cocaine. Significant time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects.
  • Cravings. Strong urges to use, especially in particular settings or emotional states.
  • Interference with responsibilities. Work, school, or family obligations affected by cocaine use.
  • Continued use despite consequences. Financial damage, relationship breakdowns, health problems, or legal issues not being enough to stop.
  • Tolerance. Needing more cocaine to feel the same effects.
  • Crash symptoms when stopping: extreme fatigue, depression, increased appetite, vivid or disturbing dreams, and intense cravings.
  • Physical health effects of long-term cocaine use: cardiovascular strain, nasal damage (for snorted cocaine), or respiratory issues (for crack).

If several of these apply, a professional evaluation can help clarify where you are and what options exist.

Cocaine Withdrawal: Timeline and Symptoms

Cocaine withdrawal is different from opioid or alcohol withdrawal: it is primarily psychological rather than physically dangerous. Most patients can stop cocaine use safely on an outpatient basis without medical detox. That said, the psychological symptoms are real and often severe, which is why relapse rates are high for patients who try to quit on their own.

A general timeline for cocaine withdrawal looks like this:

  • First 24 to 72 hours (the “crash”). Extreme fatigue, excessive sleep, increased appetite, vivid or disturbing dreams, low mood, and strong cravings.
  • Day 3 to week 2. Persistent low mood, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure), irritability, difficulty concentrating, and continued cravings.
  • Week 2 to week 10. Post-acute symptoms: intermittent cravings, mood instability, and triggers tied to people, places, and situations previously associated with cocaine use.

Because the withdrawal is psychological, treatment focuses on managing the emotional and behavioral symptoms through counseling and structured programming rather than medication. For patients with severe depression or suicidal thoughts during early recovery, psychiatric medication management can be part of the plan.

How We Treat Cocaine Addiction

At Restoration Recovery, cocaine use disorder is treated primarily through counseling, structured programming, and coordinated medical care. There is no FDA-approved medication-assisted treatment for stimulant use disorder, so the foundation of effective care is behavioral: evidence-based counseling, group-based programming, and peer support. Treatment components include:

  • Individual counseling with licensed therapists who use evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and contingency management, both of which have strong research support for stimulant use disorders.
  • Intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for patients who benefit from a more structured treatment schedule — delivered in a group format by design, with clinician-led sessions multiple times per week.
  • Certified peer support from specialists who have lived experience with recovery themselves.
  • Psychiatric medication management for co-occurring mental health conditions. Many patients with stimulant use disorders also experience depression, anxiety, trauma-related conditions, or ADHD — treating these conditions is part of a comprehensive plan.

Restoration Recovery is an outpatient clinic. We do not provide medical detox or residential care. Stimulant withdrawal is primarily psychological rather than physically dangerous, so most patients can start outpatient treatment without a formal detox. For patients with severe psychiatric symptoms during early recovery, we coordinate with regional partners for a higher level of care.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your first visit typically lasts 60 to 120 minutes and follows a four-step clinical flow:

  1. Intake. You’ll complete paperwork and a clinical intake, including a DSM-5 assessment for stimulant use disorder covering criteria and severity, plus a review of your medical history, current health, and any co-occurring mental health conditions.
  2. Counseling. You’ll meet with a counselor to discuss your substance use history, prior treatment, and personal recovery goals. Because there is no FDA-approved MAT for stimulant use disorder, counseling and behavioral interventions form the core of treatment.
  3. Doctor evaluation. A medical provider reviews your intake and counselor notes, performs a physical assessment, evaluates any co-occurring psychiatric conditions that may need medication, and answers your questions.
  4. Treatment plan. You’ll leave with a personalized treatment plan, which may include individual counseling, enrollment in our intensive outpatient program (IOP), and medication for any co-occurring conditions. Your first follow-up is scheduled before you leave.

Bring a valid photo ID, your insurance card if applicable, and a list of any medications you currently take.

Why Behavioral Treatment Works for Cocaine

While there is no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder, decades of research support several evidence-based behavioral interventions. Effective treatment for cocaine use disorder typically combines several of these approaches:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps patients identify the thought patterns, emotional triggers, and behavioral habits that drive substance use, and replace them with healthier coping strategies.
  • Contingency management uses structured incentives for documented abstinence and treatment engagement. It has the strongest research support of any behavioral approach for stimulant use disorder.
  • The Matrix Model and other structured outpatient programs combine individual counseling, group sessions, family education, and relapse prevention skills in an integrated curriculum.
  • Peer support from certified specialists provides ongoing accountability and practical help navigating recovery.

Stimulant use disorder is a medical condition that responds to treatment — sometimes gradually, and sometimes with setbacks along the way. Recovery is realistic, and patients who stay engaged with structured outpatient care have significantly better long-term outcomes than those who attempt to stop on their own.

Why Restoration Recovery

Choosing where to start treatment matters. Restoration Recovery brings together the clinical depth, the practical access, and the kind of care that keeps patients in treatment long enough to get well.

  • Chattanooga’s longest-running outpatient addiction treatment clinic. Our providers have decades of clinical experience treating opioid and substance use disorders in Southeast Tennessee.
  • CARF accredited. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities is the gold standard for outpatient addiction care — our accreditation is reviewed on an ongoing basis, not a one-time stamp.
  • Four clinic locations across Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia, with telehealth follow-up available for established patients.
  • Most major insurance accepted — TennCare, Georgia Medicaid, commercial plans, Medicare, and supplemental Medicare. Our patient services team verifies your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
  • Same-day appointments in most cases. You don’t have to wait weeks to start.
  • One integrated team. Medical providers, counselors, certified peer support specialists, and psychiatric care under one roof — not parallel referral tracks that leave you coordinating your own care.
  • Licensed in both states. Licensed in Tennessee and Georgia, HIPAA compliant, 42 CFR Part 2 compliant — your treatment is confidential from the first phone call.

Insurance and Access

Restoration Recovery accepts most major insurance plans, including TennCare, Georgia Medicaid, a broad range of commercial plans, and Medicare (plus supplemental Medicare plans). Our patient services team can verify your benefits before your first appointment so you know exactly what to expect in terms of cost.

If you do not have insurance, contact us anyway. We can help you explore options and will walk you through self-pay pricing. For a full list of accepted carriers and details on the verification process, visit our insurance page.

Four Clinic Locations

We operate four outpatient clinics across Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. All locations offer cocaine addiction treatment with same-day appointments in most cases:

  • Chattanooga, TN — 6141 Shallowford Rd, Suite 100, Chattanooga, TN 37421
  • Cleveland, TN — Serving Bradley County and surrounding areas
  • Soddy-Daisy, TN — Serving Hamilton County north and the Sequatchie Valley
  • Ringgold, GA — Serving Catoosa County and Northwest Georgia

Telehealth follow-up visits are available for established patients who have completed their initial in-person evaluation. For directions, hours, and contact information, visit our locations page.

Take the Next Step

Cocaine addiction is survivable, and treatment works. You don’t have to figure this out alone — and you don’t need to have all the answers before you call. You don’t need to be clean before your first appointment. Our team will walk you through the process from your first phone call to your first visit and every follow-up after that.

Same-day appointments are available in most cases. Contact us today to schedule your evaluation, or call 423-498-2000 to speak with our team directly.