Treatment of cocaine-dependence

The aim of this review article is to evaluate the treatment of cocaine-with drawal, cocaine-intoxication and long-term relapse prevention of cocaine-ad dicts. Some 25 % of police recognized first time drug users in Germany cons ume cocaine. However, there is an increasing number of cocaine-abusers and -addicts in the USA. The withdrawal of cocaine can be divided into three ph ases dominated mainly by psychiatric symptoms. Lifethreatening condition ca n occur in cocaine-intoxication mainly in combination with other drug-use. A high risk of relapse is seen in follow-up trials of cocaine-addicts. Inte nsive craving, high cocaine- and substance-abuse is reported regularely in cocaine-addicts after detoxification therapy. Recommendations in the treatm ent of cocaine-intoxication, withdrawal and long-term relapse prevention ar e made. The use of antidepressives, anticonvulsants, dopaminergic and serot onergic medications as well as behavioural, psychoanalytical and combined t herapies and their efficacy in clinical and trails is evaluated. A short re view of new experimental therapies in the treatment of cocaine-dependence i s shown.