Cocaine & Stimulant Addiction Treatment at Shine
Clinically reviewed by Joe Papa, LICSW · Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Cocaine addiction is real, it is serious, and it responds to treatment even without medication. At Shine, we use the most effective behavioral therapies available to help people across the North Shore break free from stimulant addiction for good.
Confidential. No pressure. We'll explain your options clearly.
Understanding Cocaine & Stimulant Addiction
It is not a willpower problem. It is a brain chemistry problem and it has evidence-based solutions.
Cocaine and stimulant addiction clinically known as stimulant use disorder is a chronic brain condition driven by powerful changes in the brain's reward system. Cocaine produces an intense but short-lived surge of dopamine the brain's feel-good chemical that is significantly stronger than any natural reward. Over time, the brain adapts by reducing its natural dopamine production, leaving the person feeling flat, depressed, and unable to experience pleasure without the drug.
This is not a character flaw. It is neuroscience. And it is why simply deciding to stop without clinical support is so difficult for most people.
Cocaine and stimulant addiction is also one of the most underestimated addictions in terms of severity. Many people with cocaine addiction maintain high-functioning lives for years before the consequences become undeniable which means the problem is often more entrenched by the time they seek help. At Shine Wellness & Recovery, we understand this. We serve individuals and families across Saugus, Lynn, Revere, Malden, Chelsea, and the greater North Shore who are ready to get honest about what is happening and take a real step toward change.
An important safety warning
The street cocaine supply increasingly contains fentanyl, often without the user's knowledge. A single exposure can be fatal. If you or someone you love is using cocaine, the risk of an accidental fentanyl overdose is real and immediate.
No medication, but treatment works
Unlike opioid addiction, there are currently no FDA-approved medications for cocaine use disorder. But behavioral therapies particularly CBT, contingency management, and DBT have strong evidence for effectiveness.
Co-occurring mental health is common
Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma are frequently found alongside cocaine addiction. At Shine, we treat both simultaneously because treating one without the other rarely leads to lasting recovery.
Cocaine & Stimulant Addiction in America
The numbers tell a story and behind every number is a person who deserves help.
Americans used cocaine in the past year according to the 2024 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health
SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2024
of young adults aged 18 to 25 used cocaine in the past year the highest rate of any age group representing approximately 1 million young adults
SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2023
cocaine-involved overdose deaths have increased as fentanyl increasingly contaminates the cocaine supply sometimes without the user's knowledge
SAMHSA and CDC, 2024
These numbers represent real people across Saugus, Lynn, Revere, Malden, Chelsea, and communities like theirs. Cocaine addiction is not a lifestyle choice. It is a medical condition that deserves a clinical response and at Shine, that is exactly what we provide.
A Critical Warning About Fentanyl in the Cocaine Supply
This is not a scare tactic. It is a medical reality that every cocaine user needs to know.
Fentanyl a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine is increasingly found in the street cocaine supply, often without the knowledge of the person using it. Because most cocaine users have no tolerance to opioids, even a small amount of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose.
This is not rare. Cocaine-involved overdose deaths have been rising in Massachusetts and nationally, and fentanyl contamination is a primary driver. Using cocaine from the street supply regardless of how long you have been using or how familiar you are with your source now carries a risk of accidental opioid overdose.
If you or someone you know uses cocaine and experiences slowed breathing, extreme drowsiness, or loss of consciousness call 911 immediately. These are signs of opioid overdose, not a cocaine overdose. Naloxone (Narcan) can reverse a fentanyl overdose and is available without a prescription at most pharmacies in Massachusetts.
How We Treat Cocaine & Stimulant Addiction at Shine
No medication shortcuts but powerful, evidence-based behavioral treatment that works.
Because there are currently no FDA-approved medications for cocaine or stimulant use disorder, treatment relies entirely on behavioral therapies. This is actually good news because the behavioral therapies that work for cocaine addiction are among the most effective tools in addiction medicine, and they produce durable results that last well beyond treatment.
At Shine, cocaine addiction treatment is built around a combination of the most effective behavioral approaches available, delivered by licensed clinicians in a trauma-informed environment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is the most well-researched behavioral treatment for cocaine use disorder. It identifies the specific thoughts, triggers, and behavioral patterns that drive cocaine use and builds practical skills for responding differently in real-life situations.
Learn moreContingency Management (CM)
Contingency management is an evidence-based approach that uses structured positive reinforcement to reward abstinence and treatment engagement. NIDA identifies CM as one of the most effective treatments for stimulant use disorder with strong outcomes across multiple clinical trials.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT addresses the emotional regulation challenges and distress tolerance deficits that often underlie cocaine use particularly for individuals who use cocaine to manage emotional pain, boredom, or anxiety.
Learn moreRelapse Prevention Therapy (RPT)
Cocaine cravings can be intense and long-lasting triggered by people, places, and emotional states associated with past use. RPT teaches you to recognize and interrupt the relapse cycle before physical use occurs.
Learn moreGroup Therapy & Peer Support
Group therapy provides accountability, peer connection, and shared experience one of the most powerful components of cocaine addiction treatment. Being in a room with people who genuinely understand what you are going through changes the experience of recovery.
Co-Occurring Mental Health Treatment
Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma frequently co-occur with cocaine addiction. Our psychiatric nurse practitioner evaluates and treats co-occurring conditions simultaneously because treating one without the other significantly increases relapse risk.
Which Program Is Right for You?
Cocaine and stimulant addiction treatment at Shine is available at three levels of outpatient care serving Saugus, Lynn, Revere, Malden, Chelsea, and surrounding communities.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
6 hours per day, 5 days per week. Recommended for individuals who need a high level of structured support including those with severe cocaine dependence, co-occurring mental health conditions, or significant life disruption from use.
View treatment detailsIntensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
3 hours per day, 3 to 5 days per week with morning and evening options. Designed for people managing work, school, or family responsibilities alongside structured cocaine addiction treatment.
View treatment detailsOutpatient Program (OP)
Clinically tailored scheduling typically once per week for individuals stepping down from more intensive care or those whose cocaine use can be appropriately addressed with less frequent clinical support.
View treatment detailsMost Insurance Covers Cocaine Addiction Treatment.
We'll reach out to your insurance company, explain exactly what's covered, and walk you through any costs before you ever start treatment. No guessing, no hidden bills , just clear answers up front.
We accept most major insurance plans.
Joe Papa is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and member of the Shine Wellness & Recovery clinical team. All clinical content on this site is reviewed by Joe to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence-based practice standards in addiction treatment and behavioral health.
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