Clean & Serene

Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs on the streets today and has been for many years. The powder derived from a plant primarily grown in South America, cocaine is a mind-altering substance that millions of people choose to use on a daily basis. While all using the drug might not become addicted, many find themselves caught in the painful grips of cocaine dependency.

The drug itself is dangerous, but there are different levels of severity. Cocaine can be snorted in powder form, cooked and injected or cooked into rock form and smoked. It’s an extremely strong central nervous system stimulant and it directly affects the brain’s processing of dopamine. Cocaine users experience what is described to be a euphoric rush when on the drug. However, most addicts link their continued use to their initial use, claiming that they’re “chasing” the way the drug made them feel when first taken. This is one of the primary reasons cocaine is so highly addictive – it’s a “feel good,” party drug and it’s readily accessible.

Cocaine constricts the blood vessels, causes the pupils to dilate, increases body temperate, heart rate and increases blood pressure to dangerously high levels. In some people, it can cause extreme restlessness, anxiety and paranoia, and in some cases even psychological breaks from reality and auditory hallucinations. On the low end of the spectrum, cocaine can cause abdominal pain and nausea, headaches, chest pain and an irregular heartbeat. It can also cause stroke, heart attack, seizures and respiratory failure if overused or if the drug is in too high a concentration.

Symptoms of cocaine use are ironically subtle and hard to identify for most people. Depression, irritability, nose bleeds, constant fidgeting, anxiety, paranoia, poor hygiene and loss of appetite or weight are all notable symptoms of cocaine abuse. Cocaine affects the way a person thinks and acts, causing them to change their behavior dramatically with increased use. Unfortunately, many fail to notice the signs of addiction until the dependency is severe.

Although cocaine is considered one of the most highly addictive controlled substances available, it’s also relatively safe to treat in comparison to alcoholism or heroin addiction. However, this is not to say that cocaine recovery is an easy path. With any addiction, the individual will always feel the urge to use the drug again, especially in familiar social settings. Cocaine treatment is a lifelong process that requires steadfast determination by the addicted person and those closest to them in order to keep up moral support and to stay on the straight and narrow.

To date, there are no medications that are legally approved for treating cocaine addiction, but solid data from various treatment programs suggests that, with the help of behavioral and psychological approaches, treatment can be successful. Like with any addiction, the most crucial aspect of treating cocaine abuse is getting the dependent person to admit they have a problem and see that they receive proper treatment for their disorder.

Many treatment avenues can be explored, and it’s always a great idea to check on various rehabilitation centers to find out how patients are treated and what type of treatment they offer.