Confidential help, 24/7 — outpatient care across Virginia
(571) 586-2883
Cocaine treatment · Arlington, VA
PHP, IOP, and structured outpatient therapy for cocaine and crack use — CBT, contingency management, and dual-diagnosis care for adults in Arlington, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia.
Medically reviewed by the VABH Medical Team
When treatment helps
Cocaine creates a fast cycle: high, crash, craving, repeat. Outpatient treatment is designed to interrupt that loop and build the skills that keep it from starting again.
Cocaine's half-life is short, so use tends to come in runs — repeated dosing through the night until the supply, money, or body gives out. If your pattern is crash-and-repeat rather than casual use, that's a sign treatment can help.
Crack works faster and wears off faster, which makes compulsive use and crash cycles more severe. Treatment is the same evidence-based outpatient care, but the urgency and medical monitoring are often higher early on.
Many people use alcohol or benzodiazepines to take the edge off a cocaine crash. That combination raises cardiac risk and complicates withdrawal — and it means both substances need to be treated together.
Cocaine is expensive and time-consuming. Missed obligations, debt, secrecy, and conflict that tracks with your using are often the problem people notice first, even before the physical consequences pile up.
Chest pain, palpitations, chronic nosebleeds, or days of insomnia after a run are common medical consequences. These are not just side effects — they are reasons to stop, and we can evaluate them during intake.
Cocaine depletes dopamine and serotonin quickly, so the crash can feel like depression, panic, or suicidal thinking. That's not a personality flaw — it's neurochemistry, and it responds to treatment.
How we treat cocaine use
There is no single medication that fixes cocaine use, but the right combination of behavioral therapy, structure, and medical support works — and works well.
CBT helps you identify the people, places, emotions, and thoughts that trigger cocaine use, then build a plan for each one. It's one of the most studied, effective approaches for stimulant use.
A structured, evidence-based reward system that reinforces clean drug screens and treatment attendance. It sounds simple, but it consistently improves outcomes for cocaine and stimulant use.
For people whose cocaine use spikes with anger, shame, emptiness, or relationship chaos, DBT distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills are a core part of the plan.
Cocaine disrupts sleep, appetite, and cardiovascular health. We treat the depression, anxiety, and insomnia that come early in recovery, and our medical staff may prescribe or coordinate cardiac and psychiatric monitoring.
Many people use cocaine to manage PTSD, unresolved trauma, or ADHD. We treat both conditions at the same time so that mental health symptoms don't drive relapse after the cocaine stops.
Cocaine craving can return months later, often tied to a specific cue. We build a relapse-prevention plan with coping strategies, family boundaries, and ongoing support so you're not improvising when a trigger hits.
Levels of care
Where you start depends on how long and how heavily you've been using, what else you're using, and whether depression, anxiety, or trauma are part of the picture.
Our most intensive outpatient level for cocaine use. Daily groups, individual therapy, and medical oversight — built for people whose home environment is stable enough but whose use has been severe or repeated.
Group and individual therapy several times a week with morning and evening tracks. IOP is a common entry point for cocaine treatment because it provides structure while you keep working or caring for family.
Weekly counseling, psychiatric follow-up, and relapse-prevention groups. Cocaine recovery is often long-term; this level keeps support in place after formal programming ends.
If medical detox, inpatient rehab, or a residential stay is the safer first step, we coordinate placement with trusted, vetted providers and take the guesswork out of the handoff. Outpatient care with us resumes when you step down.
Across the river from Maryland
Our Arlington center is a short drive from Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and the broader Maryland suburbs. Many clients choose in-person PHP and IOP here because the commute is manageable and the program fits around work. Telehealth is available for Virginia residents between in-person visits.
Common questions
There is no FDA-approved medication specifically for cocaine use disorder, but our medical staff may prescribe medications to manage cravings, sleep, depression, anxiety, or ADHD — and those treatments often make the difference. We also use behavioral therapies like CBT and contingency management, which have strong evidence for cocaine use.
Cocaine withdrawal is mostly psychological and emotional: fatigue, depression, irritability, increased appetite, vivid dreams, and intense craving. Unlike alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, it is rarely medically dangerous, but it can still feel overwhelming and increase relapse risk. Treatment makes the first weeks safer and more stable.
That depends on the severity of use, your mental health, and your life circumstances. Many people start in PHP or IOP for 6–12 weeks and step down to outpatient therapy. We plan the length of care around your progress, not a calendar.
Yes. Crack is a form of cocaine, and the same outpatient treatment works. Because crack use often involves faster cycles and more intense cravings, we may start with a higher level of structure and more frequent medical monitoring.
Yes. Our IOP has evening tracks, and outpatient care is designed around work schedules. Many people with cocaine use disorder are high-functioning at work; the goal is to protect your career while stopping the use.
Yes. Substance use records are protected under 42 CFR Part 2 in addition to HIPAA. Nothing is shared with employers, family, or anyone else without your written consent.
Yes, for Virginia residents. Our clinicians are licensed in Virginia, so telehealth sessions are available throughout the state. In-person care at our Arlington center is open to Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC residents.
In-person cocaine treatment at 5400 Shawnee Road, Arlington, VA for VA, MD, and DC residents. Telehealth for Virginia residents only.
Get help today
Whether you're calling for yourself or for someone you love, the first conversation is free and completely confidential.
Insurance accepted
Cocaine and stimulant use disorder treatment is covered by most commercial plans we work with, including Anthem, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Sentara Health Plans, UMR, and Johns Hopkins Health Plans. We'll confirm your outpatient and intensive outpatient benefits before you start.
Don't see your plan? Call us — we also work with out-of-network benefits and self-pay.