To ask if anyone has beaten a cocaine addiction??

[K1092902]

DSIL has got a serious problem- and we didnt quite realise how serious until we went and stayed for easter. It is taking over her life

Yes and I know of others who have too.

But unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all answer to how to do so.

Yes, it’s not one of the harder ones to beat either I understand. I know several people who have given it up without treatment. Although affordability was a factor in that.

Yes including in my family

In all cases I’ve experienced the main changes can only be:

Admitting you have a problem and want to solve it
Stop socialising completely with the people you’ve been taking it with
Address the reasons you’ve been taking it

Which are all hard steps. Good luck to her/you

Does she wAnt to beat it?

Yes, I had to cut contact with everyone though and I did have one night relapse about a year after. Clean 9 years now though and I know I'll never do it again. I do still find myself sniffing along if I see it being done on TV, and I love the smell of paper money, it gives me butterflies in my tummy still

Yes my brother, although I know it’s not a guarantee that he will stay drug free forever. He went into a residential rehab type place which was v expensive but he was spending huge amounts on cocaine and he has a lot of money. It was all his decision to go to rehab and I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work if the addict was forced into it or pressured by family. They really have to want to do it themselves.

No one can beat ANY addiction unless they actually want to 100%.

If she does want to, there are some great rehabs in the UK. Some places have a "charity bed", which is a lot cheaper than the usual cost. My sister, an alcoholic, had help from Life Works in Woking.

Yes, although I only managed it because I removed myself entirely from the situation and ensured I had deleted all numbers so couldn’t get any even if I wanted to. I haven’t touched it for 10 years now, spent 3 years spending £120 a day on the stuff. I still don’t think I could guarantee I’d never do it again though. I’d like to think I wouldn’t.

Yes I do. It was his own choice though and he went cold turkey

Yes, loads of people recover from addiction. Cocaine Anonymous is a great place to start. There is a website with a list of meetings in your area. If you phone the helpline you will get advice and someone is usually available to talk to you/your SIL.

Yes, I did. It took over my entire life. My job, my uni, my friendships. It’s hard but absolutely doable.

Who is her dealer? Can they be cut out? My dealer was my best friends husband, I had to sacrifice that friendship but I am so glad I did.

Yes- the vast majority of people who develop an addiction to anything recover. It's the minority who don't that get all the media attention but they are a minority.