The cocaine epidemic: treatment options for cocaine dependence

Because the current cocaine epidemic has affected all levels of health care, the primary care provider is increasingly called on to identify and treat the consequences of cocaine abuse and dependence. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the recovery process can enable the clinician to devise a treatment plan that coincides with rehabilitation efforts. This article presents an analysis of current management strategies for cocaine abuse and dependence. By incorporating the use of a health care model that addresses the five domains of health--physical, psychological, family/social, personal and spiritual--the clinician is in a better position to treat and refer the individual and family afflicted with the disease of cocaine addiction. A description of contemporary ongoing research is included to highlight future directions and possible modifications in treatment approaches for psychoactive substance-use disorder.