A survey in 2013 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that over 1.5 million Americans admit using cocaine. This number has steadily climbed over the years for users as young as 12-years of age.
Cocaine is a harmful drug that is made with coca leaves soaked in kerosene or diesel then dried into a paste. This drug is extremely dangerous to use and can have damaging effects on users. Individuals can smoke cocaine, inject it, or snort it, each affecting them in a different way.
Regardless of the method of use, cocaine users can experience some side effects during use. Short-term side effects of using cocaine include:
- Intense happiness mixed with anger and irritability
- Paranoia
- Sensitivity to touch, sight, and sound
- Decreased appetite
The use of cocaine can cause an individual to experience one or more of the short-term side effects, and they are typically different at each use. As cocaine is generally made in a variety of ways, it is not possible to predict how a person will react to exposure.
In addition to experiencing short-term side effects, there are some more serious side effects that can occur in individuals who routinely use cocaine. Habitual users may experience these and serious side effects such as:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Mood disorders
- Heart attacks or heart disease
- Strokes
- Severe nosebleeds, runny nose, and problems swallowing
- Lung damage
- Severe digestive problems
The longer an individual uses cocaine, the more it alters the mental state. The body and mind form a dependency on cocaine, making it harder for users to recall memories, sleep, and they may experience a delayed reaction time.
Although it is not heard of too often, individuals are able to overdose on cocaine and it is a very difficult condition to treat. Signs of overdose include increased heart rate, sweating, and body temperature, problems breathing, chest pain, confusion, nausea and/or vomiting. Individuals suffering from overdoses may have a sudden increase in paranoia, experience a panic attack, and begin hallucinating. Cocaine overdoses are extremely serious as they often lead to heart attacks or strokes.
Forms of treatment for cocaine addiction
After detox, addicts typically resort to counseling and several forms of therapy to treat their addiction. A lot of individuals find inpatient facilities to be most beneficial as it helps users go through withdrawal, deal with cravings, and develop skills needed to refuse drugs in the future.
Some of the most promising forms of treatment for cocaine addiction involve behavioral therapy. These types of treatment include contingency management, cognitive therapy, and inpatient treatment at a therapeutic community.
At Asana Recovery, we have a team of professionals available around the clock to help individuals dealing with cocaine addictions. Our detox program is designed to make the transition to a drug-free life safer for patients. Addicts can stay at our inpatient facility for up to 12-months to get help with their addiction then transition to our outpatient program so they get can back to a normal life. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to see how we can help you become addiction free.
