cocaine addiction

Cocaine Addiction Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

The abuse of cocaine has been a significant problem in many parts of the world. Regular use of this drug builds tolerance, dependence, and full-blown addiction over time.

The prevalence of cocaine addiction is a multifaceted issue shaped by its accessibility, cultural tolerance, socioeconomic conditions, and individual susceptibility, among other factors.

This article will provide comprehensive information on cocaine addiction, including how addiction develops, how to tell if you’re addicted to cocaine, and how to overcome the addiction.

How does cocaine addiction occur?

Coke, otherwise known as ‘blow’ or ‘crack,’ is a highly addictive illegal drug created from the leaves of Erythroxylum coca bush. This high-priced drug is used for recreational purposes as it stimulates the brain’s reward system.

Cocaine can be smoked, snorted, or injected with immediate effects lasting between 30 minutes to 2 hours after use. Once it is ingested, it floods the brain with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that triggers feelings of euphoria, resulting in an intense high.

Repeated use makes the brain’s reward system less sensitive to its natural dopamine, building tolerance. This means more and more of the drug will be required to produce the same high.

The user will then experience a pattern of intense cravings and urges to use the drug to achieve pleasurable feelings. This denotes addiction.

How do you know if you’re addicted to cocaine?

The first sign of a problem is if you’re having trouble controlling your coke intake. Cocaine addiction is subtle compared to other clamorous addictions that leave one with hangovers and reeking of alcohol or marijuana.

But when and how do you know if you’re addicted to cocaine? We’ve prepared some self-assessment questions to check your status or ask your loved ones to flag an existing addiction.

Self-assessment questions

  1. Has your cocaine urge significantly increased than before?
  2. Has your use caused sinus problems or nosebleeds?
  3. Are you having financial problems due to your cocaine use?
  4. Does it feel exhilarating thinking about a cocaine fix?
  5. Has your cocaine use brought conflict in your relationships?
  6. Do you use cocaine in inappropriate or dangerous situations?
  7. Have you neglected your obligations to chase a high?
  8. Do you continue to use cocaine despite its negative consequences?

If most of your answers to the above questions are yes, you have a cocaine problem.

Consequently, it might not be easy to assess or recognize cocaine addiction from individuals other than yourself. Below are some common signs and symptoms of the addiction you should watch out for.

Signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction

Behavioural signs

  • Often looking for a cover-up story about cocaine usage.
  • Making false promises to quit using.
  • Being overly cheerful when on the ‘high’ combined with impulsive behaviour.
  • Persistent abuse of cocaine.
  • Replacing hobbies and activities once enjoyed with a cocaine ‘fix.’

Psychological signs

  • Anxiety
  • Euphoria
  • Paranoia
  • Irritability and agitation when off the ‘high.’
  • Mood swings, especially when the drug wears off.

Physical signs

  • Frequent nosebleeds from snorting coke.
  • Intense cravings for a ‘fix.’
  • Reduced appetite, followed by significant weight loss.
  • Insomnia
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Rapid heartbeat.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Dilated pupils.
  • Runny nose.
  • Experiencing withdrawal when off the drug for longer hours than usual.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms

Cocaine addiction withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal is the psychological and physical symptoms that the absence of cocaine may trigger in a user’s body. These symptoms may occur when you stop using or significantly reduce your dosage. They include:

  • Depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
  • Psychosis often leads to hallucinations, delusions, and jumbled speech.
  • Intense cravings for snacks.
  • General fatigue.
  • Muscle and body aches.
  • Chills
  • Seizures
  • Nightmares and night sweats.

The intensity of these symptoms depends on several factors, such as individual body metabolism, daily dosage, and frequency of use, among other factors. More often than not, withdrawal symptoms manifest about 6-12 hours after last use and peak within 2-3 days.

Nonetheless, these symptoms can last for weeks or even months.

Statistics on cocaine addiction

Statistics reveal that cocaine is the second most trafficked illicit drug globally after heroin. It is also the second most abused illegal drug in Europe, with over 7.5 million people aged between 15 and 34 using it at least once, according to a 2014 European Monitoring Center on Drugs and Drug Addiction survey. In 2019, the tally was at 18.1 million people.

The National Institute on Health reports that over one in three drug abuse-related emergencies were connected to cocaine addiction; this equals 40 percent of drug-related emergency room visits in the US.

The highest cocaine users are men between 18 and 25 years, who’ve also significantly contributed to more than 3,000 overdose deaths, while female overdoses accounted for 1,000 deaths in 2014.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimated an overdose death rate of 24,486 people involved with cocaine in 2021. With such alarming statistics, it is crucial to recognize the risk factors for early identification and intervention.

Causes and risk factors of cocaine addiction

  • Genetics – studies suggest genetics play a role in determining an individual’s response to cocaine. Those exposed to a first-degree user (an addicted parent) are more inclined to use the drug.
  • Environmental factors – exposure to the drug within the family or social circle, neighbourhood, or past trauma may predispose one to develop an addiction.
  • Peer pressure and social norms – an individual surrounded by peers who abuse cocaine increases the risk of their initiation. Celebrities have also sensationalized this high-priced illegal drug to shape societal attitudes and perceptions in its favour.
  • Accessibility – due to a prevalent drug market and limited law enforcement on the use of cocaine, there have been higher rates of drug trafficking injecting the drug into the masses.
  • Co-occurring disorders – underlying mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder, gambling, bipolar or PTSD increase the risk of abusing cocaine to cope with these disorders. Using cocaine may be seen as a means of self-medicating.

The aforementioned factors predispose one to cocaine addiction but do not guarantee its development. Different combinations of these factors can also influence your decision to use cocaine.

Effects of cocaine addiction

Cocaine addiction does not only harm the body and the brain but also negatively affects families and other social and professional relationships. Legal problems can stem from using cocaine while at work or reporting high. These consequences predispose one to arrest and serve jail time.

The situation may snowball into bigger legal issues that warrant heavy fines, putting a financial strain on families. Since cocaine is a high-priced drug, it is expensive to sustain the high, and addicts may sometimes steal money or make poor financial decisions in desperation.

Addicts also neglect their work, school, or family obligations, leading to loneliness and resentment from their loved ones.

Intervention for cocaine addiction

Despite the adverse health and social consequences of cocaine addiction, there’s still hope to recuperate. The first step is to seek help and commit to it.

Intervention for cocaine addiction

There are various interventions available for cocaine addicts. The best choice depends on the specific needs of an individual and the prevailing circumstances. From behavioural therapies to creating an encouraging environment, successfully treating a cocaine addiction involves much more than cleaning cocaine out of your system.

The healing from addiction starter pack should have the following;

  • Practice self-care – eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep. Protect your mental health.
  • A sworn commitment to sobriety.
  • Identifying the triggers that make one cocaine thirsty.
  • A support system and group to encourage the addict on their journey to sobriety.
  • Overcoming addictions takes time and a few setbacks, but with persistence and patience, healing is possible.

Medical detox program

A supervised medical detox program is recommended for addicts with severe withdrawal symptoms or underlying medical conditions. This kind of help is provided in a treatment center or a hospital.

It involves medical-assisted treatment (MAT), where medications are used to reduce cravings and the possibility of relapse and improve mood and cognitive function. MAT also reduces the risk of overdose and death.

Behavioural Therapy

This therapy focuses on changing the addict’s behaviour and thoughts for effective treatment. It can be delivered in a variety of settings, from individual therapies to group therapies or outpatient treatment programs. Common types of behavioural therapies include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT involves equipping addicts with coping mechanisms when faced with their triggers. They learn to correct their self-defeating thought pattern and resolve the psychological causes of their addiction disorders.

They also learn how to respond when in stressful situations.

Contingency Management

CM uses rewards and punishments to help people change their behaviour. This therapy leverages motivational incentives to encourage addicts on their sobriety journey. For instance, when one turns in a clean urine test, they are rewarded with tokens redeemable as restaurant passes or shopping vouchers.

Motivational Interviewing

MI is a collaborative, person-centred counselling approach that helps addicts resolve the internal conflicts they may have about changing their behaviour.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR is tailored for trauma-related triggers of cocaine use. It is a psychotherapy approach for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and involves addressing underlying traumatic experiences or emotional episodes that contribute to addictive behaviours or relapses.

It is undertaken by integrating some elements of CBT with bilateral sensory stimulation, typically through eye movements, hand taps, or auditory tones.

Takeaway message

It is worth noting that none of these therapies is a cure-all solution. Some people may need a collaborative approach that combines therapies and MAT to recover.

Support groups provide a support system of peers who have gone through the same predicaments and can offer guidance to struggling addicts. These may include Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other self-help groups that implement a 12-step program for sobriety.

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