Cocaine addiction can occur very quickly and can be very difficult to break. Animal studies have shown that animals will work very hard (press a bar over 10,000 times) for a single injection of cocaine, choose cocaine over food and water, and take cocaine even when this behavior is punished. Animals must have their access to cocaine limited in order to prevent taking toxic or even lethal doses.

Researchers have found that cocaine stimulates the brain’s reward system inducing an even greater feeling of pleasure than natural functions. In turn, its influence on the reward circuit can lead a user to bypass survival activities and repeat drug use. Chronic cocaine use can lead to a cocaine addiction and in some cases damage the brain and other organs. An addict will continue to use cocaine even when faced with adverse consequences. Dependency can develop in less than 2 weeks. Some research indicates that a psychological dependency may develop after a single dose of high-potency cocaine. As the person develops a tolerance to cocaine, higher and higher doses are needed to produce the same level of euphoria.

Unfortunately, such thinking is flat wrong. And any prospective rehab patient who engages in it sets the odds against himself in his fight for long-term sobriety.

The simple truth is that drug rehabs aren’t all the same: Some are just plain better than others. The most fundamental difference…and the most important one, for any rehab patient…is the level of attention rehabs devote to their individual patients. The most successful rehab centers are those that recognize the fundamental uniqueness of each and every one of their residents, and strive at all times to confront addiction on a case-by-case basis. Remember, drug abuse is invariably a personal problem. To beat it, you need a personal solution. The drug rehab center that’s “right” for you is the one that can give you just that it. Anything less, in the end, couldn’t ever possibly cut it.