Cocaine Abuse and Addiction: Effects, Facts & Recovery

Key Takeaways

• Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant originally derived from coca leaves and was once used in medicine; now, it’s a controlled substance.
• Forms of cocaine include a snortable powder and crack cocaine, which is smoked; both have significant health risks.
• Cocaine use induces euphoria and alertness but can also lead to anxiety, paranoia, and severe physical and psychological health issues.
• Cocaine addiction is driven by dopamine release, leading to dependency and a cycle of repeated use despite harmful consequences.
• Physical side effects of cocaine include high blood pressure, heart issues, nosebleeds, and an increased risk of serious conditions like stroke and infections.
• Psychological effects can include extreme mood swings, paranoia, and long-term cognitive impairments like memory loss and poor decision-making.
• Cocaine overdose is life-threatening, with symptoms such as seizures, high body temperature, irregular heartbeat, and potential death.
• Cocaine withdrawal causes restlessness, depression, and anxiety, making medical detox and treatment essential for recovery.
• Medical detox programs are recommended for safely managing withdrawal symptoms, especially for those with co-occurring mental health issues.
• Long-term recovery from cocaine addiction requires ongoing treatment, including detox, inpatient care, and outpatient programs, to prevent relapse and support sobriety.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a strong stimulant. People in South America have used coca leaves for energy for a long time. But over a century ago, scientists made a man-made form of this chemical that gives you energy. They used it in medicine for things like headaches, alcoholism and stomach pain. It was even in the first recipe for Coca-Cola.

Currently, we see cocaine as a very addictive drug. It’s in the Schedule II category of controlled substances.

Cocaine comes in two main forms. The first is a white powder that can dissolve in water. People either snort it through their nose or inject it. The other form is crack cocaine, which looks like little rocks. It’s made by mixing cocaine with things like baking soda and water. People smoke it.

Cocaine has many slang names like coke, snow, powder and blow. Sometimes, people mix it with other stuff like cornstarch or even other drugs and alcohol. For example, Liquid Lady is a mix of cocaine and alcohol, and a speedball is a mix of cocaine and heroin.

How Is Cocaine Used?

People use cocaine in different ways, depending on the form. The powder version is usually snorted, while crack cocaine can be smoked.

When someone uses cocaine for the first time, they get a “high” with lots of pleasure, happiness and alertness. They might not feel hungry or sleepy, and it can even boost their sex drive.

But the drug can also lead to anxiety, irritability, paranoia, increased heart rate and high blood pressure. It can also raise the risk of a heart attack.

The effects of cocaine depend on factors like how much you use, how pure it is and how you use it. Some people use it to feel high, enhance performance, enjoy socializing or cope with mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

Cocaine Side Effects

Cocaine is addictive because it makes your brain release a chemical called dopamine, which feels good. But this comes with a price. Your brain starts to connect cocaine with feeling good and wants more. That’s how addiction starts.

Cocaine is also appealing because it makes you feel energetic and confident. People using cocaine often feel connected to others who use it, which makes it hard to stop.

But cocaine addiction can mess up your life in many ways, including your relationships, your job and your finances. You may get into legal trouble if you’re found in possession of cocaine or driving while intoxicated. It can also hurt your health in different ways, both physically and behaviorally.

Physical Side Effects of Cocaine

Since cocaine is a stimulant, it makes your central nervous system very active. This can lead to various side effects, like high blood pressure, a fast heart rate, big pupils, trouble sleeping and loss of appetite. 

Over time, it can cause loss of smell, nosebleeds, swallowing problems, hoarseness, runny nose, worsened asthma and a higher risk of infections like HIV and hepatitis C. Cocaine can also lead to issues in your stomach, chest pain, stroke, heart inflammation, aortic artery rupture, seizures, bleeding in the brain and Parkinson’s disease.

Psychological Effects of Cocaine

Right after using cocaine, people might feel really happy, alert, excited, restless, irritable, anxious or paranoid. But after using, they often crash, which may cause the individual to feel sad or tired. As a result, they may become withdrawn or sleep for much of the day. These unpleasant effects cause many people to go back to using cocaine, and the cycle continues. 

Over time, cocaine addiction can cause problems with paying attention, controlling impulses, memory, making decisions and doing tasks that need coordination.

Cocaine Overdose

Taking a lot of cocaine at once can lead to an overdose. This is very dangerous and can affect many parts of your body. Signs of a cocaine overdose include:

• Losing control of your bladder.
• High body temperature.
• Heavy sweating.
• High blood pressure.
• A very fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Bluish skin.
• Fast breathing.
• Seizures.
• Passing out.
• Death.

A cocaine overdose is an emergency. If you think someone is overdosing, call 911 right away. Don’t hesitate to get help. If you can’t call, reach out to Web Poison Control Services online.

Cocaine Withdrawal

If you’re addicted to cocaine and want to quit, it’s not as easy as just stopping. Cocaine withdrawal can bring on many uncomfortable symptoms, and it’s often safer to get medical help.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

When you use cocaine regularly, your body gets used to it. Suddenly stopping can lead to symptoms like:

• Intense cravings for cocaine.
• Fatigue and extreme tiredness.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Increased appetite.
• Vivid, unpleasant dreams or nightmares.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Slowed thinking and physical activity.
• Irritability and mood swings.
• Restlessness and agitation.
• Muscle aches and chills.

While cocaine withdrawal doesn’t usually cause physical symptoms like vomiting and shaking, having other mental health issues can make it harder.

Cocaine Detox

Because cocaine withdrawal can be uncomfortable and risky, it’s a good idea to go to a medical detox program when quitting. This is especially important if you also have mental health issues like depression or anxiety because cocaine withdrawal can make you more likely to have suicidal thoughts.

In a medical detox program, professionals can quickly deal with withdrawal symptoms and keep an eye on you. They make sure you stay hydrated and get the right nutrition during withdrawal. Medical detox is often short but can be followed by an addiction rehab program that includes ongoing care, counseling and help for mental health disorders.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Getting better from cocaine addiction is a journey, and it often starts with medical detox. Cocaine addiction can be tough to overcome on your own because it’s hard both physically and mentally. In a detox center, you get medical support to make detoxing safer and more comfortable.

But detox alone isn’t enough for a lasting recovery. It’s important to move from detox to a professional addiction treatment program for the best results. Think about places like The Recovery Village Indianapolis Drug and Alcohol Rehab. We offer:

– Medical detox

– Inpatient care

– Partial hospitalization programs

– Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)

– Outpatient treatment

– Long-term aftercare

This step-by-step approach helps you go from the hardest part of quitting to more manageable steps. Detox and inpatient care help you through the beginning of your sobriety journey, while outpatient and aftercare options support your long-term recovery.

If you’re searching for cocaine addiction treatment options in Indiana, The Recovery Village Indianapolis Drug and Alcohol Rehab is ready to help. Contact us today to learn about programs that fit your needs and goals.