Cocaine Addiction & Abuse
Understanding Cocaine, Its Effects, and Signs of Abuse
Addiction to Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that, when inhaled, snorted, or injected, makes its way to the brain through the bloodstream. Once in the brain, it interferes with the brain’s normal processes including the mesolimbic dopamine system, recognized as the pleasure center of the brain. This interference results in creating a euphoric sensation along with feelings of alertness, increased energy, and elevated heart rate.
Cocaine usually appears as a white, powdery substance and can be consumed by smoking, snorting, or injecting into a vein after being dissolved in water.
Though the highly addictive nature and harmful side effects of cocaine are widely known and studied, it still attracts millions of users in the US. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there were an estimated 1.9 million active cocaine users in the United States in 2015.
Effects of Cocaine Abuse
Along with the euphoric sensation caused by the happiness-inducing chemical dopamine, a cocaine user will experience the following common effects:
- Talkativeness
- Excitement
- Alertness
- Anxiety
- Confidence
- Elevated Heart Rate
- Numbness in the Mouth and Throat
- Paranoia
The severity and length of time a user experiences these symptoms will largely be determined by the quantity, the potency or purity of the cocaine, and the method of consumption. Snorting cocaine will have effects lasting 30-45 minutes. Smoking or injecting cocaine will last 5-10 minutes, but with more intense effects.
Because of the short duration of cocaine’s effects when compared to other illicit drugs, users will usually dose often, in some cases a dozen or more times in one day. As with many illegal substances, prolonged cocaine abuse has extremely damaging side effects on the body. Cocaine negatively affects several vital organs including the heart, brain, kidney, liver, and lungs.
Cocaine Overdose
When taken in high doses, a user can overstimulate the body and brain to a lethal level resulting in heart attack, organ failure, or a stroke. Cocaine poses an elevated risk of overdose due to the large variation in the potency and purity of the substance. It is common for cocaine dealers to mix cocaine with other household or chemical substances to increase the volume and generate more sales. A user who is accustomed to receiving low-quality cocaine mixed with baking soda will use more of it to achieve a high. Acquiring a more purified product and consuming the same amount may lead to a lethal overdose.
Also, due to incompetence or malice, cocaine may be mixed with dangerous chemicals or substances, which can increase the risk of sudden death. Without specialized knowledge and equipment, it is impossible for a user to determine the purity or potency of their cocaine.
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Recognizing Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine addiction markers are like those of other illicit substances, though may be difficult to distinguish at times. Among these are:
- Using cocaine for longer periods than originally intended
- Having feelings of wanting to cut back on cocaine use
- Unsuccessful attempts to stop using cocaine for a period
- Experiences strong urges or cravings to use cocaine
- Failing to meet professional or social obligations or responsibilities due to cocaine use
- Recognizing an adverse effect of cocaine use and continuing to use it anyway
Cocaine addiction contains both physiological and phycological elements. Frequent cocaine users will develop a dependency, and require the drug to feel normal. Once a user is dependent on the drug, it will become difficult for them to stop, due to the unpleasant effects of cocaine withdrawal, which become increasingly severe with extended use. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Fatigue or Exhaustion
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Depression, Anxiety, and Irritability
- Chills, Tremors, Muscle Aches, and Headaches
- Increased Appetite
- Nightmares
Heightened Abuse – Pairing Cocaine with Other Drugs
Alcohol
Cocaine’s reputation as a “party drug” makes it commonly used in conjunction with alcohol. When used together, cocaine and alcohol are incredibly dangerous. Studies show that the risk of sudden death due to heart attack or organ failure increases 20 times when these two substances are used together, and a cocaine overdose can occur at just one tenth the normal cocaine levels when alcohol is involved. The cocaine high can also effect the user’s ability to perceive the effects of the alcohol and drink more excessively, leading to alcohol poisoning among other alcohol related injuries.
Benzodiazepine
Cocaine is sometimes paired with benzodiazepines (benzos) such as Xanax or Valium. Benzos and cocaine have vastly different effects, causing users to take them simultaneously under the assumption that the benzo will counteract some of the adverse side effects of the cocaine, or “take the edge off.” Some users will use benzos to help alleviate some of the common withdrawal symptoms of cocaine, such as restlessness or anxiety. Using these two drugs together leads to a significant increase in the chance of a lethal overdose and may enhance the negative side effects associated with each drug.
Opiates
Though it is incredibly dangerous to mix cocaine with any other illicit substance, opiates have proven the most fatal. Much like benzos, mixing opiates with cocaine is commonly an attempt to reduce some of the negative side effects or withdrawal symptoms of one of these substances by using the other. Combining these two substances greatly increases the risk of a fatal overdose, and complicates treatment.
Other Drugs
Though these are the most common drugs to be used with cocaine, it is not uncommon for cocaine to be used with other illicit substances such as marijuana, MDMA or ecstasy, gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine, and other designer drugs.
Cocaine Statistics
- There were an estimated 1.9 million active users of cocaine in 2015
- 53,000 cocaine users in 2015 were between the ages of 12 and 17
- The majority of cocaine users are young adults age 18-25. They represent about 1.7% of the young adult population
- Roughly 35.3 million Americans reported having tried cocaine at least once
- According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, cocaine is the most common cause of emergency room visits among illicit substances
- Cocaine is the second most trafficked illegal drug worldwide
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Cocaine is an incredibly difficult drug to quit, but with proper treatment, it can be overcome and you or your loved one can enjoy a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. Treatment options vary depending on the patient’s location, resources, health, and circumstances, but there are a variety of programs available to accommodate patients of all kinds. Riverside Recovery can help begin your journey on the road to recovery.