Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. It has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Coca leaves which cocaine is derived from, have been chewed and used for thousands of years especially by indigenous peoples living at extremely high altitudes.
Cocaine hydrochloride is a topical local anesthetic that temporarily numbs areas in the mouth, nose and throat. But it is most commonly sold on the street as a fine, white, powder, called coke, C, snow or flake. Coke dealers usually cut (dilute) it with other white powders such as cornstarch, talcum powder, sugar, or with other drug-like stimulants. Not knowing what street cocaine has been cut or laced with is an added risk. Cocaine is extremely addictive. Even after trying cocaine one time, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling when they will next use the drug and how much of it they will use.
Methods of administration
Cocaine is commonly snorted, smoked or injected. Injecting carries the added risk of infection with HIV, TB, Hepatitis B and C and other blood born viruses if the user shares a dirty needle with a person already infected. The term “speedball” refers to a combination of cocaine or crack with heroin.
Binge Use
Binging on cocaine means that an individual takes the drug repeatedly in a short amount of time. This can cause restlessness, irritability and feelings of panic. Coming down after the euphoria of a binge can feel profoundly depressing requiring more of the drug to be taken to come back up. Binge use can also trigger paranoia and drug induced psychosis. This can lead to a full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual experiences auditory hallucinations and loses touch with reality.
Freebasing
Freebasing is the term used for when cocaine is smoked. It is extremely dangerous. Not only is the drug far more addictive when it smoked causing addiction to develop sooner, but the act of freebasing is physically dangerous. Many individual have suffered severe burn when their freebase explodes.
When freebasing, cocaine reaches the brain extremely quickly in a rush, usually within seconds. This results in a sudden and intense high. But the high quickly goes away, leaving the addict with an uncontrollable urge to freebase again over and over. The dose needs to keep being increased, as does the frequency to satisfy this craving, resulting in addiction and physical debilitation.
Crack
One form of freebase cocaine is called crack or crack cocaine. Crack is a street term. Crack is not sold as white powder but as small lumps or shavings. It crackles when it is heated hence the name. Crack produces the same debilitating effects as freebasing cocaine. Crack use is a huge problem in many cities because it is inexpensive, easily moved around and sold. It usually comes in small vials or folded tinfoil.
What are the Signs of Cocaine Use?
- Bloodshot eyes
- Runny nose
- Constant nasal sniffing
- Fast pressured tangential speech when high
- Withdrawn, depressed tired when coming down
- Loss of interest in activities and change in behavior
What are the Effects of Cocaine?
Cocaine's effects appear almost immediately after a single dose, and disappear within a few minutes or hours. Taken in small amounts (up to 100 mg), cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. It can also temporarily decrease the need for food and sleep. Some users find that the drug helps them to perform simple physical and intellectual tasks more quickly, while others can experience the opposite effect.
Short-term effects
- Hyper energetic
- Loss of appetite
- Overly alert
- Increased heart rate
- Higher blood pressure
- Constricted blood vessels
- High temperature or fever
- Dilated pupils
Long-term effects
- Dependency
- Irritable and restless
- Depression or anxiety
- Paranoid
- Auditory hallucinations
Treatment
Residential and outpatient treatment has been found to be effective for cocaine addiction. Psycho-education, relapse prevention, cognitive-behavioral therapy, 12 step support groups, and group therapy can play an important role in the individual’s recovery.