Quick answer
Stimulant-involved deaths rose in Jackson County in 2024, and deaths involving both stimulants and opioids rose 14%. Cocaine has no FDA-approved medication, but contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy work. CMHS runs treatment and crisis services in Independence. Here is how to start.
Cocaine has no medication the way opioid use disorder does, which is why so many people feel stuck after a first attempt to stop. The honest answer is that behavioral treatment works for stimulant use disorder — and eastern Jackson County has a clinic that delivers it. If you are ready to change something, the first step is one conversation.
What Jackson County's numbers show
The University of Missouri–St. Louis Addiction Science team tracks drug-involved deaths across the four Greater Kansas City, MO counties. Its 2024 report found:
- 402 drug-involved deaths across Cass, Clay, Platte, and Jackson counties, a 10% decrease from 2023
- In Jackson County, stimulant-involved deaths rose 4%, and deaths involving both stimulants and opioids rose 14%
- Fentanyl-involved deaths fell 8% and opioid-involved deaths fell 4% — so stimulants are a growing share of the local picture
Statewide, the 2024 Missouri overdose report counted 1,450 overdose deaths and found stimulant-involved deaths not involving opioids fell 19%, even as combined opioid-and-stimulant deaths rose in the Kansas City metro.
What treatment for cocaine actually looks like
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is direct: there is no FDA-approved medication for cocaine use disorder, but behavioral treatments work.
- Contingency management — tangible rewards (vouchers, prizes, or gift cards) for verified drug-free tests. This is the strongest-performing approach for stimulant use disorder in clinical trials.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — recognizing the situations, moods, and thoughts that trigger use, and building practical ways through them.
- Structured outpatient programs — a regular schedule, groups, and case management.
One honest caveat: program listings do not flag contingency management, so ask the question directly when you call — does this program offer contingency management for stimulant use, and how quickly can it start?
Where to get help in Independence
Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) is the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for eastern Jackson County and provides residential and outpatient recovery services to all of Jackson County. Its Independence site is at 17844 E 23rd St, with:
- Open-access walk-in appointments for behavioral health and recovery services on weekdays
- A 24/7 crisis line at 888-279-8188
CMHS also operates a George R. Norman, Jr. Recovery Center and residential substance use recovery programs, so it can serve people who need more than weekly counseling.
The polysubstance reality
Stimulants and opioids are increasingly used together here, and Jackson County saw combined opioid-and-stimulant deaths rise in 2024. Two practical consequences:
- Tell any program everything you use, not just cocaine. A plan that ignores the opioid part misses the most dangerous part.
- If opioids are anywhere in the picture, carry naloxone. Missouri's statewide standing order lets pharmacists dispense naloxone without a separate prescription, and free naloxone is available through GetMissouriNaloxone.com.
Paying for treatment
MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) covers medically necessary behavioral health treatment for substance use disorders for eligible members, including outpatient and residential care. Many members enroll through managed care plans such as Healthy Blue, Home State Health, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. CMHS also serves people who are uninsured.
How to start today
- If someone shows chest pain, a seizure, or severe agitation after using, call 911 now. For a crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through options with a person — no pressure, no commitment:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers.
- Call CMHS at 816-254-3652 (24/7 crisis line 888-279-8188), or walk in to 17844 E 23rd St for an open-access appointment.
- When you call a program, ask specifically about contingency management, and mention everything you use so the plan fits reality.
Stimulant use disorder is treatable, and Independence has providers who treat it. The first call is the hard part.
Emergency and crisis lines
Call 911 first if someone is unresponsive, seizing, overheated, or having chest pain after using. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above.
Last updated: Mon Oct 19 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a medication for cocaine addiction?
No FDA-approved medication exists for cocaine or other stimulant use disorder. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, treatment is behavioral: contingency management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and structured outpatient programs.
How common are stimulants in Jackson County overdoses?
The University of Missouri-St. Louis Addiction Science team reports that in Jackson County, stimulant-involved deaths rose 4% in 2024, and deaths involving both stimulants and opioids rose 14%. Across Missouri, stimulant-involved deaths not involving opioids fell 19%.
What is contingency management and does it work?
Contingency management gives concrete rewards - vouchers, prizes, or gift cards - when drug tests come back negative. It has the strongest evidence base for stimulant use disorder. Programs do not always advertise it, so ask directly when you call.
Where can I get help with cocaine use in Independence?
Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) is the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for eastern Jackson County, at 17844 E 23rd St in Independence, with residential and outpatient recovery services and open-access walk-in appointments. Its 24/7 crisis line is 888-279-8188.
What should I do in a stimulant emergency?
Call 911 if someone has chest pain, a seizure, very high body temperature, severe agitation, or is unresponsive. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, or call the 24/7 crisis line at 888-279-8188.