On Thursday, March 22, 2018, a Georgia man was sentenced to 19 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release. Derrick L. Thomas is a 44-year-old man from Douglasville who pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine. He also pled guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This occurred in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Thomas was sentenced by Chief Judge Theresa L. Springman of northern Indiana’s U.S. District Court.
Between the November 2013 and February 2014, Thomas conspired with several co-defendants to possess the cocaine and to sell it. In February, he bought the firearm in question. Several government bodies investigated the case, including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Warsaw and Fort Wayne Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Geller was the prosecuting attorney assigned to the case.
What Is Cocaine Withdrawal Like?
Cocaine withdrawal was once considered to be nonexistent, and therefore, many medical professionals believed that the drug itself was not addictive. However, after many years of research, we have come to understand that not only is cocaine addictive but it also causes one of the most severe withdrawal syndromes associated with any commonly abused drug.
• The National Library of Medicine states doctors believed cocaine didn’t cause withdrawal because it actually creates psychological withdrawal symptoms that cannot often be immediately detected.
o Because cocaine does not create shaking like alcohol withdrawal or seizures like benzodiazepine withdrawal, people often thought what they couldn’t see wasn’t there.
• We now know that cocaine withdrawal is incredibly difficult to undergo. It causes symptoms like depression, fatigue, and bad dreams as well as slowed motor functions. In addition, a person may even experience intense hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, and even violent behavior early on in withdrawal. This is known as drug-induced psychosis (Center for Substance Abuse Research).
• In addition, the depression, cravings, and irritability associated with cocaine withdrawal can last for months after the syndrome has ended. Some people even experience sudden cravings for the drug as a result of certain triggers, which can make recovery difficult.
Cocaine withdrawal may not be as obvious as opioid or alcohol withdrawal, but it is extremely uncomfortable as well as long-lasting.
How Do I Fight Cocaine Withdrawal?
By seeking treatment in a professional detox program, you will receive the help you need to safely go through cocaine withdrawal. These facilities utilize medications, behavioral therapies, and a handful of other treatment options to stabilize patients and help them avoid the more severe symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. In addition, you can learn how to deal with cravings and other issues that you might experience later in your recovery from cocaine. Remember, though, everyone who has become addicted to a drug as powerful and intense as this one must seek rehab after detox in order to recover fully.
Getting Help for Cocaine Withdrawal Today
Call 888-646-0635Who Answers? to speak with a treatment advisor. They will help you find detox centers in your area that will take your insurance plan and help you put a stop to your cocaine abuse for good.
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