Author: Gary Jackson

Cocaine Abuse & Addiction

Intravenous cocaine users may also experience an allergic reaction, either to the drug, or to some additive in street cocaine, which can result, in severe cases, in death. Because cocaine has a tendency to decrease food intake, many chronic cocaine users lose their appetites and can experience significant weight loss and malnourishment. But it carries many risks, including overdose and serious physical and mental side effects as well as addiction. If you or someone you know has problems with cocaine use, seek help from a doctor or mental health professional.

  • When you heat the rock crystal and breathe the smoke into your lungs, you get a high that’s almost as fast and strong as when you inject it.
  • In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter.
  • Furthermore those with mental disorders have been known to have returned to them after long periods of using the drug.
  • Intravenous cocaine users may also experience an allergic reaction, either to the drug, or to some additive in street cocaine, which can result, in severe cases, in death.
  • Smokers tend to develop an addiction more rapidly than those who snort.
  • Those who take cocaine may feel as though their personal standpoint has improved.
  • Sessions with a trained therapist can help you make changes to your behaviors and thought processes.

It removes people’s appetite therefore it has caused many celebrity appeal thus causing others to seek to imitate their behaviour. Those who take cocaine may feel as though their personal standpoint has improved. Cocaine has an effect upon their status within their own social group. Making the drug even more difficult to kick and making it more appealing to others thinking about starting. Cocaethylene prolongs the euphoric effects of cocaine and makes them more intense.

Bloodborne infections

The scientists believe that the basal ganglia were already enlarged before the addiction began. This would suggest that some people might be more vulnerable to the addictive effects of cocaine. The effect is intense and virtually immediate, as with injected cocaine, but the “high” lasts only around 5 minutes.

This buildup of dopamine produces the rush of euphoria people experience when they use cocaine. While this may not seem dangerous at first, with time and repeated cocaine abuse, a person’s brain can no longer produce dopamine, or pleasurable feelings, on its own. At first, people may snort powdered cocaine, believing this to be the ‘safest’ method. However, with continued cocaine abuse and developing a drug addiction, they may begin injecting cocaine to get a faster onset of desired effects. Cocaine is an illicit stimulant drug people commonly use for its effects on the central nervous system, like increased energy and feelings of self-confidence.

How long do the effects take to kick in?

They may also use medication to treat other complications you have. A typical dose of snorted cocaine is between 30 and 70 milligrams. A cocaine binge is when someone uses cocaine repeatedly in higher and higher doses. People may take the drug until they run out or become exhausted.

why do people use cocaine

Injecting cocaine increases a person’s risk of infections at the injection site and contracting certain diseases from shared needles, such as HIV and Hepatitis C. If you’re worried about your cocaine use and want help, you have options. Consider talking to your primary healthcare provider if you’re comfortable doing so.

Psychological effects

People use coke for its intense psychological effects, like euphoria and boosted confidence. But it can also produce some not-so-pleasant psychological and physical effects. Once this has overcome you it is almost impossible to even get out of bed in the morning without the drug. The intense feeling of depression one feels after they have taken cocaine.

  • Physical symptoms may include chest pain, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, convulsions and coma.
  • Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.
  • The effects generally last between 15 and 30 minutes, but shorter with crack.