Cocaine Abuse & Addiction

Cocaine has been a popular party drug in the United States and in other countries for decades. While cocaine is illegal, the stimulant continues to be highly abused and extremely addictive. Cocaine addiction is a widespread disease and often leads to overdose deaths and heart attacks.

Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine is a white crystal-like powder but can be mixed with amphetamines to take a different appearance and cause more extreme effects than the drug has on its own. Cocaine reacts with the body’s central nervous system to produce energy and euphoria.

Although it is well known that cocaine is addictive, many people choose to experiment with cocaine.

How Addictive is Cocaine?

Cocaine is addictive because the drug abnormally increases the level of dopamine in the brain, which can reprogram the brain’s reward system. When people become addicted to a drug, there are often psychological symptoms that they show and physical symptoms. The psychological addiction is the link between the brain and the pleasant experience that occurs from the drug’s effects. The physical addiction is the body’s desire for the drug to function normally.

Physical symptoms include:

Decreased need for sleep
Headaches
Muscle twitches
Malnutrition
Abnormal heart rhythms
Constriction of blood vessels
Runny nose
Increased body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure
Decreased appetite
Tremors
Cravings

Psychological symptoms include:

Intense paranoia
Psychosis
Violent mood swings
Hallucination
Break from reality
Unable to exert good judgment
Rationalization of drug use
Lack of motivation

Someone who uses cocaine frequently will develop a dependence for the drug, meaning they feel a need for it to function properly and avoid feeling physically ill. Once a dependence has formed, withdrawal symptoms will occur when cocaine use stops or the dosage decreases significantly.

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Signs of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine increases levels of happiness-inducing chemicals that are naturally produced by the brain, which is why people feel exhilarated when they use the drug. Other effects of using cocaine include:

Talkativeness
Alertness
Anxiety
Overconfidence
Excitement

How often and the amount of cocaine people use can alter the potency and duration of the effects. The effects of snorting cocaine through the nasal passages are short-lived, lasting approximately 30 minutes. Smoking or injecting cocaine is more intense but lasts for an even shorter period, between five and 10 minutes. Injecting cocaine poses a higher risk of overdose than snorting cocaine. Most cocaine users will re-dose frequently to maintain the desired effects.

Cocaine abuse is particularly dangerous because continued use can cause strain on the heart, as well as weakening other vital organs. The most common cause of death in frequent cocaine users is stroke or cardiac arrest.

Cocaine Abuse and Addiction in Orlando

The appeal of cocaine is the energy and elation that using the drug creates. Cocaine often makes a person feel confident and upbeat while reducing appetite and giving the sensation that users are capable of more than they really are. Addiction sets in and life takes a dangerous turn, it is a leading cause of death in Florida.

There are thousands of treatment centers in the country, but not every rehab option fits each person’s specific needs. If you are looking for help, find a center that offers treatment for cocaine addiction and values patient comfort. Finding a center that treats addiction for other drugs, and co-occurring mental health disorders is also important.

Cocaine Abuse Facts and Statistics in Florida

An estimated 1.5 million people ages 12 and older abuse cocaine each month in the United States. This figure accounts for 0.6 percent of the population, or 1.5 million Americans.

While both men and women use this dangerous drug, men are twice as likely to use cocaine when compared to women. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that lifetime use of either powdered cocaine or crack was significantly higher among Caucasians than other ethnic groups.