While drugs like cocaine can create euphoric feelings, the high from these stimulant drugs only lasts a short time. There are serious long-term effects that come with repeatedly using cocaine, and being aware of these can help put into perspective the risks of cocaine addiction.
Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Cocaine Use
Cocaine causes several immediate effects aside from the high described earlier. Some of the immediate side effects of cocaine include:
Increased Energy and Alertness
Because cocaine is a stimulant, using it can lead to an immediate increase in energy levels and alertness. Cocaine users can sometimes feel mentally sharper after taking the drug, causing some people to become hyperactive, restless, or jittery.
The use of cocaine can also cause some people to become more talkative and sociable. This can make people who are high on cocaine more outgoing.
Decreased Appetite
Using cocaine can suppress a person’s appetite. This leads to decreased feelings of hunger. This side effect can lead to potential weight loss and malnutrition with long-term cocaine use. You may see cocaine users lose a lot of weight in such a short amount of time because of this side effect.
Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Given that it is a stimulant, cocaine can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. These effects can be especially pronounced in those using purer strains or higher doses of cocaine or those with preexisting cardiovascular conditions.
The drug can constrict the blood vessels, which can reduce the supply of blood to the body. This can lead to complications such as reduced oxygen supply to parts of the body as well as the cardiovascular problems described above.
Increased Body Temperature
Cocaine can also increase body temperature (hyperthermia). This can be extremely dangerous when a person engages in physical activity or is in a hot environment. People experiencing hyperthermia are at risk of dehydration and losing consciousness because the body becomes so overwhelmed with heat.
What Are the Effects of Long-Term Cocaine Use?
Cocaine abuse also has long-term side effects. Some of the effects of long-term use of cocaine include:
Tolerance
One of the most serious side effects of long-term cocaine use can be developing a tolerance. The more that a person uses cocaine, the more their body becomes acclimated to it.
When the body develops a tolerance, an addict has to use more amounts of cocaine to achieve the same high. This can significantly increase the risk of overdose, and a cocaine overdose can have serious consequences if a person is not given immediate medical attention.
Dependence and Withdrawal Symptoms
Another side effect of being addicted to cocaine is dependence. This dependence makes it so that if a person tries to stop using cocaine or goes too long without using it, then they may begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can include:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Increased appetite
- Vivid dreams
- Cognitive impairment
- Headaches
- Muscle pains
- Tremors
- Chills
- Sweating
Withdrawal from cocaine can also cause people to experience a ‘crash.’ This is characterised by a sudden and profound loss of energy, low mood, and lack of motivation. This crash can be difficult to navigate and contribute to depression and lethargy.
Respiratory and Nasal Problems
One of the most prominent health risks of smoking crack cocaine is that it can cause respiratory problems like a chronic cough. Smoking cocaine can also decrease lung capacity and make a person more vulnerable to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia.
Snorting cocaine can also irritate the nasal passages and lead to physical deformation of the nose as it can erode the nasal septum, which is the thin layer of cartilage between the nostrils.
Legal and Social Consequences
Cocaine is an illegal substance. Because of this, being caught possessing it can have serious legal consequences. Depending on how much cocaine a person is caught with, they may face life in prison.
Cocaine use can also strain a person’s relationships with friends and family. Since cocaine use can lead to unpredictable or deceptive behaviours, loved ones may lose trust in the person using cocaine.
Cocaine is often associated with wealth and status, but the high price of the drug can also put a person in financial trouble. Many workplaces can also levy consequences for those who fail drug tests, and cocaine can last up to 4 days in the urine after the last use.
Cardiovascular Issues
Because cocaine’s side effects may include increased blood pressure and heart rate, long-term abuse can put a person at risk for health complications such as heart attack, cardiomyopathy (damage to the heart muscle), stroke, arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), and an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Why Is Cocaine So Addictive?
Cocaine is so addictive because it’s a drug that affects the brain’s neurotransmitter systems. The drug blocks the reuptake of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure and reward.
Normally, dopamine is reabsorbed into the neuron that released it in the first place. However, cocaine blocks this reuptake and increases the level of dopamine in the synapses. This increase in dopamine levels leads to feelings of euphoria, which is the ‘high’ of cocaine.
Once a person experiences the ‘high,’ it can be so enticing to the point that they’ll use the drug again. However, once people who use cocaine develop a tolerance, it can lead to addiction wherein someone will need to use cocaine just to function daily.
Risk Factors for Cocaine Use Disorder
Cocaine has a high rate of abuse in Australia, with over 13.5% or 2.9 million people in the country admitting they’ve used the drug in their lives. However, addiction affects everyone differently, with the following risk factors increasing the possibility of developing an addiction:
- Genetics and Family History: One of the most prominent is a family history of addiction. People with a family history of substance abuse have a higher risk of becoming addicts themselves.
- Psychological Factors: There are also psychological factors that can lead a person to drug use. Stress, trauma, or an unaddressed mental health concern can lead to addiction as people may turn to drugs as a coping mechanism.
- Environmental Influences: A person’s environment can also play a role in cocaine use and addiction. In most places, drug use is frowned upon if not prohibited outright. However, there are areas in which using drugs is prevalent, and being in these environments can encourage someone to start using drugs themselves. In the same vein, peer influence can also be a risk factor for substance use as having friends or close acquaintances who use drugs increases the likelihood of a person using drugs themselves.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine (cocaine hydrochloride) is a stimulant drug that is derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is native to South America. Indigenous people used it for ritual and medical purposes, but it has since become a popular recreational drug, particularly for those with significant financial resources, as it tends to be rather expensive.
Cocaine commonly comes in the form of white powder, and people usually snort it. However, there is a type of cocaine known as crack cocaine, or just crack, which is made by mixing cocaine with baking powder or another base and then heating it until it forms what resembles small, tan rocks.
Smoking cocaine allows it to reach the brain quicker, which can intensify its already potent effects. Some people also inject it, but injecting cocaine carries the risk of spreading diseases such as HIV and hepatitis as many addicts share needles.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment Options
A cocaine high is euphoric, and this can lead to addiction, and it’s this same high that can make addressing addiction difficult. However, there are a few treatments for cocaine use disorder that can help people overcome the need to use cocaine.
Some of the treatment options for people struggling with cocaine use include:
Detox
One of the first ways to help people who abuse cocaine stop taking the drug is to detox them. A medical detox is when a medical professional oversees and handles safely eliminating the drug from your body.
Stopping cocaine use can lead to withdrawal symptoms with negative side effects, but since medical detox is done under the supervision of medical personnel, they can help make the process as painless as it possibly can be.
Dual Diagnosis
For some people, cocaine usage is the result of coping with an untreated mental health concern. It should also be said that cocaine use often exacerbates existing mental health disorders.
Since addiction and mental health disorders often co-occur, Dual Diagnosis treatment is necessary to address both conditions. Addiction can often mask the symptoms of certain health disorders and vice-versa, but Dual Diagnosis helps provide the proper support for a better chance at long-term recovery.
Therapeutic Interventions
Individual and group counselling are both important facets of addiction treatment. They can give a recovering addict a safe space to talk about their feelings, share their struggles, and develop coping mechanisms to manage their cravings.
Evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) can help people understand the root causes of their addiction and develop skills for long-term recovery.
We’re to Help You Stop Cocaine Misuse
Cocaine may feel good at first, but because its effects include things that can be devastating, those addicted find themselves wishing they could stop. The problem is that many can’t stop without getting the proper help.
We know that trying to stop cocaine use can be very difficult, but we’re here to guide and assist you. At Sivana Bali, we want to give you the help you need to overcome substance use disorders like cocaine addiction.
Our team has years of experience in providing professional addiction treatment for those who want to live a more fulfilling, substance-free life. If you’re ready to get help for a better life, reach out to us today. Our lines are always open.