“If you got bad news, you want to kick them blues, cocaine
When your day is done, and you want to run, cocaine
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie
Cocaine.”
Cocaine by Eric Clapton
Drug use, as a whole, can be glamorized at times. The song by Eric Clapton isn’t the only example of drugs like cocaine being mentioned in music. From “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by the Beatles to “xanny” by Billie Eilish, this isn’t a new phenomenon.
Does it ever make you feel like taking drugs like cocaine is a requirement for creativity?
Maybe you tried cocaine for other reasons, but now your spark is gone whether you’re taking it or not.
Do you feel lost because of your cocaine use but don’t know how to get back to yourself again?
Nearly 100,000 adults in Arizona reported past-year cocaine use in 2021. If you’re one of those people, you’re not alone in this. Our team here at Recovery Center for the Arts uniquely understands how this condition impacts people, especially creatives. From societal influences to stressors in life, there’s no singular reason that someone turns to cocaine use. The good thing is, we’re here to help guide you out so you can find your creative soul once more.
Substance use disorders are a condition, not a moral failing. Anyone can develop a substance use disorder, no matter their home life, finances, mental health, and more.
Here are a few questions to genuinely ask yourself. There’s no judgment here, so take a moment to think these over.
When you think about your life 5 years from now, do you see yourself still taking cocaine? 10 years from now?
Why do you seek it out in the first place?
What influences you to seek it out? Stress? Past trauma?
Do you feel like your creativity is impacted by cocaine?
Do you want to stop but find yourself unable to?
Even if you don’t feel like you have the answers to these questions right now, that’s okay. Let’s talk more about when cocaine use becomes a disorder and how we work with you to address it.
While no level of cocaine use is ever safe, trying cocaine one time will not guarantee that you will develop a cocaine use disorder. This disorder develops from repeated consumption of the substance to the point where cravings and side effects occur. These side effects can range from physical to emotional and behavioral. Increased depression, paranoia, nosebleeds, and cravings are just a few of the side effects you might experience.
A cocaine use disorder presents differently from person to person. There isn’t a set level of distress or discomfort that you need to experience to be worthy of treatment. If you’re reading this page right now because you think you need help, then we’re here for you.
We have a multi-faceted approach to treatment, integrating different evidence-based components into our care. Our primary goal is to help you heal your inner child so you can thrive like you deserve to.
So how exactly do we do that?
No matter which level of care you’re in, these are the key programs that we will work with you through to help you find healing. These components are offered in both individual and group settings, which each have their own unique benefits.
Cocaine is not a drug that’s unique to Arizona, but let’s talk about how Arizona specifically is impacted by it.
In 2023, over 27,000 lbs of cocaine was seized in Arizona. As of May 2024, 21,000 lbs have already been seized this year alone, nearly reaching 2023’s numbers before half the year is up.
Nearly 1 in 20 teens aged 14 and up reported trying cocaine at least once in 2022.
There are many different things that can play a role in developing a cocaine use disorder. It’s important to note that even if you experience one of these factors, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to develop a cocaine use disorder. It also doesn’t mean that it was a factor for you, specifically. Keeping these in mind, however, can help better understand how a cocaine use disorder develops and why.
One of the most common factors for any substance use disorder is untreated mental health. Many people seek drugs like cocaine as an alternative to treatment or even seek it without realizing they need treatment. All they know is that it makes them feel better when they take it.
If you’re already engaging in other illicit drugs, you’re more likely to try another if the opportunity arises. Over 40% of people in Arizona who sought treatment for a substance use disorder did so because of multiple substances.
Other factors can include the people you hang out with, your home life, and high stress. While this list is not exhaustive when it comes to factors, these are the most common.
Here at Recovery Center for the Arts, we offer several levels of support for your recovery journey. You’ll work with our team to help determine which level of support will best suit your needs. Along your journey, this level of support will change depending on how your recovery progresses. There’s no wrong path of healing if it’s working for you. Everyone’s journey is different, and not every journey is fully linear.
Let’s go through our primary levels of care.
Our partial hospitalization program, or PHP, is our most supportive level of care. You have the choice to stay in our offered housing during this level of care, but it’s not required. In PHP, you will be on-site frequently, being supported by our medical staff with full access to our treatment program.
Intensive outpatient programming, or IOP, is our level of care with medium to high support. During this level and our general outpatient program, you’ll stay at home while coming to our facility multiple times a week to attend treatment. From individual settings to group treatment, we’ll help you address concerns in your day-to-day life while helping you find healing for your inner child. We want to see your creative spark shine again and we’re determined to help you achieve that.
In our general outpatient program, you will come on-site a few times per week. The specifics of frequency for any of our programs will be determined by your needs at the time. In this level of care, you will still have access to our full treatment program, continuing to work on yourself and with peers to pave your path to long-term recovery.
For those seeking 24/7 access to care, we have supportive housing available for anyone ages 18 - 45. This gives you access to our PHP treatment while having full monitoring and support. It’s not uncommon to want to start fresh in a new environment where you don’t have many of the temptations that you do at home constantly around you. You’ll be with fellow peers also seeking recovery and have our understanding and compassionate care team there to support you the whole time.
If you’re ready to start your journey away from cocaine dependence, our team is here to help. No matter how you wound up here, we’ll work with you to help your creativity and spirit flow once more. There’s never a wrong time to start or return to recovery, all you have to do is take that first step.
If you have any questions about our addiction recovery process, where you’ll fit in, how to get started, and more don’t hesitate to contact us at (602) 579-9023. Our Recovery Center for the Arts team is here to direct you on your journey. It does not matter if you are a painter, songwriter, sculptor, or never dabbled in the arts, we will help unlock your creative outlet allowing you to fully be free to express yourself.
Recovery Center for the Arts – Finding recovery through creativity.
It can be difficult to ask for help, but living in the cycle of cocaine addiction is no way to go through life. Recovery Center for the Arts gives you the opportunity to not only find recovery from cocaine, but also discover new passions or relearn old ones. Through art and music, you will find healthy coping skills that will encourage you in recovery and allow you to leave cocaine where it belongs – down the drain.
