In the medical community, there is no general agreement as to the best way to treat cocaine dependence. This is alarming given that in 2000, an estimated 1.2 million Americans were current cocaine users. One form of treatment takes a behavioral approach towards cocaine dependence. Behavioral therapy works to change how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Behavioral therapy uses a number of different approaches to work on breaking an individual of his or her drug use. The behavioral approach uses various methods depending on the doctor's own preferences and the needs of the patient. Many consider it particularly useful because it can be combined with other treatments, such as medication. However, the effectiveness of behavioral treatment is in the early stages of being tested.

Outpatient Versus Inpatient Treatment

People dependent on drugs can get treatment as an outpatient—meaning the person lives at...