Primary prevention
Educational programmes can warn of the dangers of illicit drug use.
Secondary prevention
A drug history should be part of routine history in order to identify those at risk for cocaine toxicity.[60]
A brief intervention using motivational interviewing is recommended to encourage the patient to engage in treatment of their cocaine dependence.[57][58] Clinicians should refer patients to a detoxification or mental health programme to support ongoing abstinence. Psychosocial treatment (e.g., cognitive therapy or a 12-step programme) may reduce the withdrawal rate and increase the longest period of abstinence.[59]
There is no clear role for cocaine substitution with other psychostimulants for treatment of cocaine dependence, although some studies suggest it may be helpful.[61]
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