If you are addicted to cocaine, you can get better. It means learning how to build a life with no drugs. The first step is getting help. The next is stopping the cycle of drug use. Then you'll need a plan to fight relapses. And you'll need long-term support to stay drug-free.

• Get help from a professional drug dependency counselor. This type of counselor can help you see your drug addiction more clearly. They can also help family members deal with the problem.
• Have a professional evaluation. See a health care provider or psychologist who specializes in addiction. This helps identify your needs and plan a course of action.
• Start professional treatment. This type of treatment may be inpatient or outpatient. It may take place in a hospital or treatment center. It includes group or individual therapy. In some cases, medical treatment is needed.
• Find self-help groups. These give support to help you stay drug-free. They help you identify your drug use triggers. And they help you make lifestyle changes that keep you away from cocaine. An example of this type of group is Cocaine Anonymous. See the blue box for contact details.

Drug-free living is the goal of the recovery process. Cocaine addiction is a long-lasting illness that can come back again and again. You may have a constant urge to go back to using. You may relapse. You may think, "This time I'll keep it under control." But you'll need continued support to stay drug-free.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, www.samhsa.gov
• Cocaine Anonymous World Services, www.ca.org
• Smart Recovery, www.smartrecovery.org
• Narcotics Anonymous World Services , www.na.org