The standard low dose of oral cocaine
Used for treatment of cocaine dependence
1994
Coca tea has been used for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Two previous reports found that treatment that includes coca tea can be successful in controlling relapse to cocaine dependence. In the current study, coca tea plus counseling was used to treat cocaine dependence in 23 cocaine-addicted coca paste smokers seeking treatment at an outpatient clinic in Lima, Peru.
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Cocaine lapses fell from 4.35 times a month prior to treatment to 1.22 during treatment. Mean abstinence increased from 32 days before treatment to 217.2 days during treatment. The current results support the effectiveness of coca tea for preventing relapse in cocaine-addicted patients.
Anecdotal reports of the use of coca tea for the control of craving in cocaine users have beenpublished. However, this literature has not described the exact amount of cocaine received by patients when drinking the coca tea infusion. The current study is the first to examine the efficacy of a standard low dose of cocaine alkaloid administered in regular coca tea for the treatment of cocaine dependence.
The treatment was well accepted by the patients and their relatives. No medically adverse effects were reported by the patients, and patients showed fewer lapses, longer periods of abstinence, and reduced craving than prior to treatment. These results suggest the potential effectiveness of low doses of oral cocaine for controlling craving and relapse in cocaine dependence.
In summary, this initial study attempted to control relapse in cocaine dependence through the use of coca tea. The results suggest that standard low doses of coca tea can be helpful in treatment of cocaine dependence. Future studies should attempt to examine the efficacy of cocaine tea for the treatment of cocaine dependence in a more rigorous and controlled manner.
