When you think of a party drug, or the Wolf of Wall Street, cocaine probably comes to mind. People who are searching for a quick and intense high typically end up abusing this drug as it offers nearly instantaneous results and does not last for hours. Because of its short lifespan, it can be used throughout the day or intermingled with regular activities without drawing that much attention. It is the strongest stimulant known to man, but the form you get on the street is far from it. It is often mixed with anesthetics, laxatives, sugar, creatine, and caffeine to make distributors a better profit. Even lab rats are shown to be highly susceptible to its intoxicating effects.
So is cocaine mentally or physically addictive? Unlike narcotics such as heroin, cocaine does not have any physical withdrawal symptoms such as nausea or tremors. While some users report fatigue or insomnia, overall “coke” is a non-physical addiction. However, it does still possess physical side effects. Long term or chronic cocaine use can put a user at risk for heart attack, hemorrhaging in the brain, stroke, and lung failure.
Cocaine is an entirely mental drug. This is also why breaking a cocaine addiction can be very difficult. Every time you use, the dopamine receptors in your brain increase the level of dopamine and stimulate the central nervous system. The high typically only lasts 30 minutes, so soon the user will use again to achieve another high. This often leads to overdose due to a large amount of consumption in a short period of time, according to Overdoseday.com. Repeat usage also destroys a normal dopamine communication system, by rewiring the brain’s natural reward processing functionality. Because cocaine inhibits appetite, it can frequently cause malnourishment or an underweight physique in users. This can negatively affect the immune system over time. This particular addiction is one of the costly ones, as a single gram of cocaine can run you upwards of $80. There have even been circumstances where low-income mothers will attempt to sell their children for money to buy as reported by the DEA.
Because of the nature of this addiction, a therapeutic approach is three fold. At Asana Recovery we aim to provide some of the best and most comprehensive addiction treatment available. We use cognitive-behavioral techniques to help our patients learn life skills to cope with cravings and temptation, in order to avoid relapsing. We also include option group therapy sessions that can provide a sense of community and social support. Lastly, Asana Recovery has individual counseling to help patients manage their possible mood disorders and allow them to gain the ability to reflect internally and ward of negative thoughts. If you struggle with substance abuse, or have a loved one who is afflicted, call us at (949) 348- 4504 to take control of your life and help you regain lost time.
