Narconon News

But “Cocaine Recovery Steps Are Vital” According to Dependency Experts of the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program

Tremendous relief has been felt by families following the unanimous decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission to stipulate reduced sentences for crack cocaine offenders. The decision followed a Congressional move to bring punishment for crack-related offences in line with punishments involving powdered cocaine. In November a potential 12,000 inmates could be released from prison due to the change in a law passed in 1986 that treated crack cocaine offenses 100 times more severely than powdered cocaine offenses. The law was reaction to panic over increased homicides in many inner-cities. Today it is seen as unfairly targeting African Americans, and indeed, 85% of those who will be eligible for release in November are African American.

However, release from prison does not guarantee that the family will now be able to mend say drug dependency experts of the Narconon® program. “Cocaine users are still in a dangerous situation, months and even years after taking the drug until they seek drug rehabilitation regardless of how long they have been away from it. It can be a hopeless battle to keep them separated from sources. Families should take immediate steps to get loved ones into a cocaine recovery program that handles the cravings,” says Bobby Wiggins, Drug Prevention Specialist at Narconon International.

Successful cocaine recovery or recovery from dependency to any drug must address the physical cravings that persist and continue the drug’s influence long after a drug user stops using; however, not all programs focus as heavily on this element as does the Narconon model.

In simple terms, the body identifies drugs and alcohol as toxins or poisons as soon as they are taken. This causes the liver and kidneys to instantly begin breaking the drug down to eliminate it from the body through urine, sweat or other bodily functions. But much of the drug is drawn to the fatty tissues that surround blood vessels. It is now trapped before the body has a chance to get rid of it.

Extensive scientific studies have shown that drug and toxin residuals can stay in fatty tissues for years. Physical drug cravings occur when an amount of the drug that is lodged in the fatty tissue is released back into the blood stream and flows to the brain. That’s what triggers drug or alcohol cravings, which are almost impossible to resist. Unbeknownst to the addict, normal life situations like stress, exercise or anger can dislodge drugs from fatty tissues allowing them to flow to the brain and cause drug cravings. “It can be very frustrating for the former addict,” says Wiggins.

Whereas the crack cocaine has long since left the body’s systems, there are still residuals that have chemically bonded with fat cells in the body. “We have been handling the bio-physical factors of addiction and bringing hope to addicts and their families for decades. Once free of the cravings, the addict is in a position to leave addiction far behind and live a life free of drugs,” says Wiggins.