Understanding Cocaine Addiction and Treatment

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant made from the coca plant.1 Use of this stimulant drug can result in euphoria, increased energy and talkativeness, and may trigger some dangerous physiological responses, like increased heart rate and blood pressure.2 Read on to learn about the short- and long-term effects of cocaine use, what cocaine abuse looks like, and what treatment options are available to those struggling with addiction.
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About Cocaine

What Is Cocaine?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes cocaine as a stimulant that affects the central nervous system primarily by increasing active levels of dopamine—a neurotransmitter important in brain processes that control pleasure/reward and movement.

Cocaine exerts its effects by blocking the usual reabsorption of dopamine and a few other neurotransmitters back into the neuron that originally released them, resulting in a net increase in the activity of these neurotransmitters, the subsequent stimulus of various physiological processes, and an accompanying rush or high.5

Cocaine vs Crack Cocaine

The powder form of cocaine is commonly inhaled through the nose or dissolved in liquid and injected. Crystalized cocaine—crack or crack cocaine—is heated to produce vapors that are then inhaled.5

Injecting or smoking cocaine is dangerous and it results in the substance being delivered very rapidly into the bloodstream and then to the brain, which contributes to its highly addictive nature. Some people who use the drug will binge on the substance, using it repeatedly within a limited timeframe to sustain the high they feel. This can increase the risks associated with drug use and lead to addiction.5

Short-Term Effects of Cocaine Use

Cocaine can have many effects on both the mind and body. Short-term effects of cocaine use may include:6

  • Euphoria.
  • Increased energy.
  • Feeling talkative
  • Mental alertness.
  • Increased sensitivity to sights, sounds, and touch.
  • Decreased appetite and need for sleep.

Physiological effects of cocaine in the short-term include:2

  • Dilated pupils.
  • Increased body temperature.
  • Constricted blood vessels.
  • Increased blood pressure.
  • Increased heart rate.

Large doses of cocaine can intensify the short-term effects of the drug and also cause erratic and violent behavior, and some users have reported feeling restless, irritable, anxious, and paranoid.7

Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use

Users who regularly snort cocaine can see side effects such as:8

  • Diminishing sense of smell.
  • More frequent nosebleeds.
  • Issues swallowing.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Irritation of the nasal septum leading to a chronically inflamed, runny nose.

When crack cocaine is ingested via smoking, it can cause damage to the lungs and also make asthma or other respiratory conditions worse.7 Repeated cocaine injections can result in vascular inflammation and infection, as well as leave “track marks” at the site of injection, often on the forearms.9

Chronic use of cocaine can lead to consistently diminished appetite and eventual malnourishment. Cocaine has significant cardiovascular toxicity and can greatly increase the risks for heart attack and stroke, both acutely and over time. Deaths caused by cocaine are often the result of cardiac arrest and cessation of breathing.8

People who abuse cocaine are also at a heightened risk for contracting HIV and other infectious diseases. Individuals who use the drug intravenously can contract diseases by sharing needles or other equipment. Drug use can also lead to risky behaviors like unsafe sex, which can lead to disease exposure.8

Repeated use of cocaine can cause long-term or permanent changes to the central nervous system, which can accompany the development of addiction and other problems. Frequent use can also lead to tolerance, meaning an increasingly larger dose of the drug must be used to achieve the same effects previously felt after smaller doses. This increases the risk of toxicity and overdose, as well as the risk of permanent damage to the brain and body.8

Overdose Dangers

Cocaine Overdose Dangers

The consequences of cocaine overdose can be devastating. Symptoms of an overdose can range from trouble breathing and high body temperature to hallucinations, agitation, and anxiety. Cocaine overdoses can cause an irregular heart rhythm, heart attacks, seizures, and strokes—each of which can result in death. When cocaine use is combined with other drug use or alcohol use, the chance of an overdose can be heightened.5

Currently, there are no medications that can reverse a cocaine overdose.5 Treatment for an overdose will depend on what the effects of the overdose are. For example, medical professionals will try and restore blood flow to the heart in the instance of a heart attack.

Fentanyl Laced Cocaine Overdose

Cocaine overdose deaths continue to rise, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This uptick in cocaine-related overdose deaths is due in part to the increasing amounts of cocaine laced with fentanyl and other opioids.

The CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) tracks overdoses and overdose deaths from 29 reporting jurisdictions. According to their data for 2020:

  • There were 38,048 overdose deaths reported.
  • The most common stimulant involved in overdose deaths was cocaine, accounting for 9,598 deaths.
  • Of the opioid-related overdose deaths reported, 12.8% of those involved fentanyl-laced cocaine.
How to Treat Cocaine Addiction

Treatment Options for Cocaine Addiction

cocaine addiction therapy groupAbout 6% of all admissions to drug abuse treatment programs in 2013 were a result of cocaine use.10

Although there continues to be ongoing investigation of potential pharmaceutical treatments for cocaine dependence, there are currently no FDA-approved medications available for either cocaine withdrawal management or longer-term treatment of cocaine use disorders. Consequently, the primary treatment for cocaine abuse comes in the form of behavioral interventions.10

Read on to learn about a few of the types of treatment that can be successful in reaching recovery for cocaine addiction.

Support for Cocaine Detox

When someone suddenly stops using or significantly cuts down their use of cocaine, uncomfortable withdrawal effects can occur. While these symptoms are not typically dangerous, they can lead to depression and, in some cases, suicidal ideation. Additionally, the cravings that often occur during withdrawal can increase the risk of relapse if someone attempts to quit “cold turkey” with proper support. Should the person be at risk of withdrawal from multiple substances (such as cocaine and alcohol or cocaine and benzodiazepines), withdrawal may be further complicated and may require additional medical oversight.13 A treatment professional can help you determine whether inpatient medical detox is needed or if outpatient detox is a viable option.

Our Mississippi medical detox program helps individuals struggling with substance dependence safely and comfortably go through the withdrawal process. Detox is not considered a standalone treatment and is considered the first step in the treatment process. It is often recommended that individuals enter into longer-term drug rehab programs to continue their recovery journey.

Contingency Management

By using stimulus control and positive reinforcement, medical professionals can help those with substance use disorders begin recovery. For example, a patient who has a drug-free urine test would be given a voucher that can be exchanged or a prize that focuses on healthy living.10

According to a study in the Current Drug Abuse Reviews, contingency management “(1) increases cocaine abstinence, (2) improves treatment retention during and after group-based or individual psychological treatment, (3) is of benefit in pharmacotherapy trials, and (4) may act synergistically with pharmacotherapy.”11

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Addiction

Used in the treatment of many substance use disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help patients cultivate important skills that aid in long-term recovery and abstinence. Those in treatment who receive CBT will learn how to identify and adjust problematic behaviors. An important tenant to this therapy is teaching patients how to anticipate problems, and help the patient improve his or her self-control by providing a range of coping mechanisms.12

Professional Rehabilitation Programs

Treatment facilities like Oxford Treatment Center offer professional rehabilitation services—in both inpatient/residential and outpatient settings—that will provide ample counseling and therapy sessions that incorporate evidence-based approaches such as contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy, among others.

Treatment centers will often offer patients a continuum of care, customizing the length of program or treatment depending on a patient’s circumstances, needs, and recovery progress made over the course of treatment. An important component of many formal rehabilitation programs is aftercare planning, which helps a patient transition from the safety of a treatment program to sober living or their daily routine.

It’s never too late to reach out for help. If you or someone you love is struggling with the devastating side effects of addiction and are unsure of where to turn, call us today at . Oxford Treatment Center, American Addiction Centers’ Mississippi drug treatment center, is ready to help you get the treatment you need today.

Sober Living

Once a patient has completed his or her time in a treatment program, sober living or drug-free residences might be the right next step. On top of providing an atmosphere that encourages recovery, many sober living facilities also include vocational rehabilitation and other helpful services.

Get Help

Help for Cocaine Addiction at Oxford Treatment Center

Entering treatment can help lay the foundation for lasting recovery. Whether you or someone you love is struggling with addiction to cocaine, it can be challenging to know how to start the recovery process or where to turn to turn for help. Fortunately, the experienced and knowledgeable addiction treatment team at Oxford has the expertise and tools to help you build a life of long-lasting recovery.

At our inpatient rehab in Mississippi, Oxford Treatment Center offers addiction-focused healthcare and evidence-based treatment for addiction to cocaine and other substance use disorders. We offer safe medical detox, inpatient drug and alcohol treatment and sober living options that can help you get started on the path to recovery. If you are interested in learning more about rehab admissions, what to expect in inpatient rehab, or want to discuss paying for addiction treatment please contact one of our caring admissions navigators at any time of day or night.

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