Quick answer
Stimulant use disorder has no FDA-approved medication, so the evidence-based treatments are behavioral — contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy. Within 30 miles of Wilkes-Barre, 17 of 31 treatment programs offer contingency management. Luzerne County's provisional overdose toll was 58 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. Call (800) 653-9376 free, or 988 in a crisis.
Published: 2026-10-24 Updated: 2026-10-24
Cocaine Treatment in Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre is the seat of Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania, a city of about 44,700 people. Cocaine is a stimulant with a short, intense high and a long recovery tail — and while there is no medication that cures it, the treatments that work are well established and available here.
If someone is having chest pain, a seizure, or an altered mental state, call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.
Is cocaine addiction treatable in Wilkes-Barre?
It depends on what you need first. If you are caught in a binge-and-crash cycle, behavioral therapy is the evidence-based route, because no medication is approved for stimulant use disorder. If you are using to cope with depression, anxiety, or trauma, treating both at once matters as much as the cocaine itself. If you have already stopped and keep relapsing, contingency management — structured incentives for verified abstinence — is one of the best-supported tools. If you are in medical distress from stimulant use, 911 comes first.
Which treatments actually work
NIDA reports there are no FDA-approved medications for stimulant use disorder, so treatment centers on behavioral approaches:
- Contingency management — rewards verified abstinence; within 30 miles of Wilkes-Barre, 17 programs offer it.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — helps you recognize and change the situations and thoughts that lead to use.
- Motivational enhancement — builds your own reasons for change rather than imposing them.
- Intensive outpatient programs — structure several times a week for people who need more than a weekly session.
What withdrawal feels like
Cocaine withdrawal is less about physical danger and more about the crash. NIDA describes the days after heavy use as bringing exhaustion, low mood, irritability, sleep problems, and intense cravings. It is not usually medically dangerous the way alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be, but that low, restless window is a common reason people return to use — so an assessment before you stop, plus a counselor to call, makes it easier to get through.
A fentanyl warning for anyone using cocaine
NIDA warns that fentanyl is frequently mixed into other drugs, including cocaine and counterfeit pills. A stimulant can therefore carry an opioid overdose risk, and naloxone reverses opioid overdoses. Free and low-cost naloxone is available at Pennsylvania pharmacies under the state's standing order, and the county program at 570-826-8790 can help you find kits. Call 911 with any suspected overdose.
Where to get care near Wilkes-Barre
Per the SAMHSA treatment locator, within 30 miles of Wilkes-Barre there are 31 substance use treatment facilities, 11 of them in the city. Seventeen offer contingency management, 25 offer outpatient care, 15 run intensive outpatient programs, and 9 offer residential treatment.
The public path starts with the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug and Alcohol Program at 570-826-8790 (20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Penn Place Building, Suite 218, Wilkes-Barre), which provides assessment and referral. The 24-hour Help Line at 888-829-1341 offers information and referral.
What the local data show
CDC's provisional county-level data count 58 drug overdose deaths in Luzerne County in the 12 months ending March 31, 2026. Stimulants are increasingly involved alongside opioids in these deaths, which is why naloxone is worth keeping on hand even if a person does not consider themselves an opioid user.
Crisis lines and emergencies
- Chest pain, seizure, or unresponsiveness — call 911.
- 988 — call or text, the national suicide and crisis line, for any crisis.
- Luzerne County Help Line — 888-829-1341, available 24 hours a day.
- PA Get Help Now — 1-800-662-4357, 24/7 drug and alcohol referrals anywhere in Pennsylvania.
How to start today
- In a medical emergency, call 911. For a crisis, call or text 988, or call the Help Line at 888-829-1341.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through treatment options with a person, or use this form:
Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.
- Ask about contingency management when you call — it is one of the best-evidenced approaches for cocaine and methamphetamine, and 17 programs near Wilkes-Barre offer it.
- Call the Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug and Alcohol Program at 570-826-8790 for assessment and referral.
Cocaine use disorder is treatable, and the therapy that helps it is available in Luzerne County. The first call is usually harder than the first appointment. Other Cocaine treatment in Pennsylvania: Cocaine treatment in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Erie, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Reading, Pennsylvania, Cocaine treatment in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Last updated: Sat Oct 24 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Frequently asked questions
Is there a medication for cocaine addiction?
No. NIDA reports that there are currently no FDA-approved medications for stimulant use disorder, which includes cocaine. The treatments with the strongest evidence are behavioral: contingency management, which rewards verified abstinence, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you change the situations and thinking that lead to use.
What is cocaine withdrawal like?
NIDA and SAMHSA describe a crash after heavy use — exhaustion, low mood, irritability, sleep problems, and strong cravings — that can last days to weeks. It is not usually medically dangerous the way alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be, but the low mood and cravings are a common reason people return to use. Counseling can help you plan for that window.
Where can I get cocaine treatment near Wilkes-Barre?
The SAMHSA locator lists 31 substance use treatment facilities within 30 miles of Wilkes-Barre, 11 of them in the city. Seventeen programs offer contingency management, 25 offer outpatient care, and 9 offer residential treatment. The Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug and Alcohol Program at 570-826-8790 can assess you and refer you.
Can cocaine be laced with fentanyl?
Yes. NIDA warns that fentanyl is frequently mixed into other drugs, including cocaine and counterfeit pills, so a stimulant can carry an opioid overdose risk. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses and is available at Pennsylvania pharmacies under the state's standing order. Call 911 with any suspected overdose.
Does Medical Assistance cover cocaine treatment in Luzerne County?
Yes, for eligible members. Pennsylvania Medical Assistance covers medically necessary substance use disorder treatment, including counseling and intensive outpatient care, and 28 of the 31 facilities listed within 30 miles of Wilkes-Barre accept Medicaid. Confirm network and prior authorization with your plan.