Methamphetamine (meth) and cocaine are some of the most commonly consumed illicit drugs in the US [1]. Not only are they both addictive, but they can be fatal: meth and cocaine are often involved in drug overdose deaths [2].
Choosing to quit any drug shows incredible strength and determination. Any substance is hard to stop if you have an addiction, but the withdrawal phase, symptoms, and general experience can be different depending on the drug and the person.
Treatment and support can help a person safely and successfully quit a substance. Let’s take a look at cocaine vs meth in terms of quitting and what to expect.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a white powder that comes from coca leaves. It can be snorted, injected, or smoked and produces a short but intense euphoric feeling.
Cocaine is addictive and works by acting on the limbic system of the brain, which regulates pleasure and motivation. When someone uses cocaine, they experience a buildup of dopamine in this region, making them feel good. Reward systems in the brain then drive the user to compulsively re-dose on cocaine and maintain the feeling [3].
In the US, around 2.2 million people use cocaine regularly [4].
What Does Withdrawal From Cocaine Look Like?
Withdrawal from cocaine is particularly challenging because of the psychological dependence people build when addicted to it. Unlike other substances, the withdrawal symptoms for cocaine are not physical. They include:
- Agitation and restlessness
- Fatigue
- Low mood
- Increased appetite
- Vivid dreams and sleep disruption
Withdrawal from cocaine can start within hours after the last dose. The acute crash begins and peaks over 24-72 hours, but cravings and mood symptoms can continue for weeks. As dopamine systems recover, anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure) can persist for months.
Relapse among cocaine users is high, with one study revealing that nearly a quarter of patients used cocaine again after receiving addiction treatment [5].
What Is Meth?
Meth is a human-made drug that speeds up the central nervous system and increases the release of dopamine in the brain. It’s highly addictive and, like cocaine, produces a short-term high that people “chase” by repeatedly consuming it.
It’s common for meth users to spend days bingeing on meth before crashing and experiencing severe withdrawal.
Meth is normally sold as a white powder or pill, with no smell but a bitter taste. Crystal meth — the strongest and purest form of meth — comes in chunks or white-blue rocks.
Around 600,000 people in the US use meth regularly [4].
What Does Withdrawal From Meth Look Like?
Meth withdrawal can start within 24 hours after the last dose. Withdrawal can last from a couple of days to weeks. Cravings and symptoms are strongest days 7-10. Symptoms can persist for up to 3 weeks.
Meth withdrawal symptoms can be physical and psychological. They include:
- Chills
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Anhedonia (loss of ability to feel pleasure)
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Psychosis
Meth users face a high risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior during withdrawal [6]. Over 60% of people who use meth relapse within 6 months after treatment [7].
Quitting Cocaine vs Meth Comparison Table
The table below gives an overview of cocaine vs meth in terms of withdrawal and difficulty to quit.
|
Cocaine |
Meth |
|
|
Number of addicted users in the US |
2.2 million |
600,000 |
|
Drug effects |
Forces a buildup of dopamine in the limbic system of the brain |
Speeds up the central nervous system and increases the release of dopamine |
|
Addictivity |
High: produces a short-term high that users seek to reproduce |
High: produces a short-term high that users seek to reproduce |
|
Onset of withdrawal |
Hours after last dose |
24 hours after last dose |
|
Withdrawal symptoms |
Not physical: agitation and restlessness, fatigue, low mood, increased appetite, vivid dreams, and sleep disruption |
Physical and psychological: chills, depression, fatigue, increased appetite, anhedonia, insomnia or oversleeping, psychosis |
|
Withdrawal discomfort |
Medium: strong cravings and ongoing mood disruption |
High: strong cravings, physical and psychological symptoms, risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors |
|
Withdrawal duration |
Up to 3 days of acute withdrawal, weeks to months for mood symptoms to pass |
Up to 10 days for acute withdrawal, weeks for symptoms to pass |
|
Risk of relapse |
High |
Higher |
How to Safely Quit Cocaine And/Or Meth
Both cocaine and meth are difficult substances to quit. One can’t be deemed harder than the other, as each person can have a different experience and response to withdrawal. There are also factors such as the length of addiction, dosage, and biological characteristics that influence a person’s ability to abstain from a drug.
Rather than compare substances, it’s important to see addiction as a condition that requires medical intervention and personalized care.
Anyone who is quitting cocaine or meth should seek help from medical professionals to safely remove the drug(s) from their system and move forward with treatment that can lead to long-term sobriety and stability.
Research shows that continued care for addiction can lower the risk of relapse and keep patients engaged in treatment [8]. In fact, over 51% of people successfully recover from an SUD after finishing treatment programs [9]. Clinical treatment can also alleviate withdrawal symptoms, address the deeper causes of addiction, and make recovery comfortable and possible.
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Sources
[1] Statista. (November 2025). Number of people in the U.S. who used selected illicit drugs in the past year as of 2024. statista.com.
[2] Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. (March 2026). Most Common Drugs in U.S. Overdose Deaths: 2017–2023. blogs.cdc.gov.
[3] Dodd, S. et al. (July 2025). Central nervous system stimulants in recreational and medical use. CNS Spectrums.
[4] Schwartz, E. et al. (September 2022). Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD): Current Clinical Perspectives. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation.
[5] Simpson, D. et al. (June 1999). A national evaluation of treatment outcomes for cocaine dependence. Archives of General Psychiatry.
[6] SAMHSA. (2006). Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. National Library of Medicine.
[7] Huang, M. et al. (August 2023). Risk factors for relapse among methamphetamine users receiving a joint legal–medical treatment program as a diversion intervention: A one-year follow-up study. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.
[8] McKay, J. (January 2021). Impact of Continuing Care on Recovery From Substance Use Disorder. Alcohol Research.
[9] Manning, V. (September 2019). Improved Quality of Life Following Addiction Treatment Is Associated with Reductions in Substance Use. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
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