Although cocaine, or “coke,” is derived from coca leaves, the most common form of cocaine for drug use is a fine white powder. Cocaine directly affects the brain through dopamine which results in euphoria and dramatic changes in the user’s personality. Users of cocaine tend to talk more, be more outgoing, and feel in control.
While the media tends to primarily show cocaine being snorted as a powder through the nose, direct injection into the bloodstream tends to produce a more significant high, and because of that, users tend to share needles which pose serious health risks. Cocaine also impairs judgment, which opens the door wide open for needle sharing, STDs from unprotected sex, and a higher risk of having a wreck while driving.
The reason cocaine should be avoided is that it causes kidney diseases, renal failure, and other adverse long-term effects the drug can have on the body. Research has also linked cocaine to psychological issues like aggression, paranoia, hallucinations, and other manic symptoms similar to the mental disorder, schizophrenia. Not to mention the danger of overdose after building up a tolerance to the drug over an extended period. The body gets used to cocaine after a while, so the user needs to inject or snort more cocaine to achieve the same, original high as the first few times. What the user does not realize is that the body can only take so much before it shuts down, but at that point, the user wants the same high and ends up taking more than is needed.
How Can You Tell Someone is Using?
- A runny nose
- Red eyes
- Depressed
- Fatigued
- Loss of interest
- Fast speech
- Higher tendency to lie
- Struggling with money
These are some of the long-termeffects that come with the user attempting to conceal their cocaine use. A runny nose and red eyes indicate physical symptoms of using the substance like wear and tear of a tire on an old car. Depression and fatigue indicate the aftereffects of using cocaine when the high has ended, and the body is physically and psychologically drained. It is not natural for the body to go from high to low states so rapidly and so often, so this could be a sign of other chemical use as well.
The increased rate of speech comes from the drug itself because cocaine is a form of stimulant, which acts to stimulate the nervous system, like how caffeine makes people jittery. The increased tendencies to lie and the struggles with money come from the user’s attempts to keep a steady supply of the drug without anyone knowing about their drug use. No one wants to risk punishment for their drug use, and some may feel ashamed, but stuck in a rut because they do not believe they can ever stop the drug without significant pain.
Asana Recovery offers an escape from these problems. If you or a loved one know anyone who may be struggling or showing these signs of drug use, please contact Asana Recovery at 949-438-4504 to learn more about our treatment programs. We understand the real psychological struggles that users experience when trying to quit a substance or overcome the adverse effects of drug use. Rehabilitation programs exist because fighting the battle alone is extraordinarily difficult and no one should have to face that battle alone.
