Cocaine Addiction

Cirque Lodge is a nationally recognized alcohol and drug rehab program. We focus on providing the finest treatment for substance abuse. Cocaine addiction is a difficult issue to deal with, and we at Cirque Lodge are willing to help with a cocaine problem. For information or immediate help, please call us at 1-877-997-3422. Cocaine is classified as a stimulant. In the brain's normal communication process, dopamine is released into the synapse, where it binds with dopamine receptors on neighboring receptors, and then is recycled back. When cocaine is present, it blocks this normal recycling process. The buildup of dopamine results in a pleasurable effect, which explains why the use of cocaine is so addictive.

Cocaine addiction occurs as a result of continuous use. The more cocaine is abused, a higher tolerance to cocaine is developed. For the drug user, this means that to get the same result, more and more cocaine has to be used. This results in addiction. Break free today with drug rehab at Cirque Lodge and our cocaine abuse program.

Short-Term Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Some of the short-term effects of cocaine abuse include dilated pupils, increased blood pressure and heart rate. Other short-term effects include increased energy, a loss of appetite, or increased body temperature. Large amounts of cocaine consumption may also result in violent behavior, paranoia, and anxiety. Death can result, even for first-time users, as cocaine-related deaths are usually the result of cardiac arrest, or seizures that are followed by respiratory arrest.

For individuals and families concerned about cocaine addiction, Cirque Lodge, located in Sundance, Utah, provides an individualized drug treatment to help overcome the addiction of cocaine. Our location in the mountains of Sundance, Utah is the ideal place to begin the road to recovery. We offer a unique drug rehab program and treatment protocol that includes both the traditional 12-step modality along with a comprehensive experiential therapy program.

Long-Term Medical Effects of Cocaine Addiction

The most obvious long-term medical effect of cocaine abuse is death. As with all addiction to drugs, unless the user stops, it will almost certainly lead to death. During the addiction cycle, cocaine produces some very damaging physical effects. The most common physical complications from cocaine abuse concern the heart. These include ventricular fibrillation, or an erratic heart beat, and heart attacks. Respiratory effects from cocaine abuse include chest pain and full respiratory failure.

As cocaine directly affects the brain and neurological system, some of the most common long-term medical neurological effects include strokes, which are caused by the constant restricting of blood vessels. Headaches and seizures are also common. Other medical complications from cocaine abuse include nausea, muscle spasms, and significant weight loss caused from a loss of appetite.

The most dangerous effect of cocaine use is when it is combined with alcohol. This combined usage results in the body manufacturing cocaethylene, which intensifies the euphoric effect of cocaine, and significantly increasing the risk of death.

Cocaine Use Statistics

According to the latest data from the government, approximately 1.5 million people in the US are addicted to or dependent on cocaine, and over 2 million who are using cocaine at some level. First-time users of cocaine have steadily increased over the last decade. The age group most affected by addiction to cocaine is adults 18 to 25. Of this group, men constitute a larger percent of cocaine users than women. One piece of data that is troubling is that emergency room visits from cocaine abuse increased by one-third in a recent seven year reporting period. On a positive note, cocaine use among teens has decreased in the last several years after a decade-long increase. Even though these figures are beginning to show a decline in usage, twelfth-graders reported an increase in the availability of cocaine in the past two years.

Treatment for the Addiction of Cocaine

The addiction to cocaine is one of the more common addictions handled by drug treatment and cocaine addiction treatment centers such as Cirque Lodge. The majority of individuals seeking treatment are smoking crack cocaine. This type of cocaine is in the form of a rock crystal that has not been neutralized by an acid that turns cocaine into the hydrochloride salt (powder). Crack cocaine is heated and the vapors are smoked. The high induced by smoking crack cocaine is typically shorter, approximately five to ten minutes, than the high induced from snorting the powdered form of cocaine, which can last up to thirty minutes. Depending on the severity of addiction to cocaine, the symptoms may be more or less severe.

In order to develop an effective and individualized addiction cocaine treatment program, a comprehensive assessment is taken prior to intake. This survey allows the addiction treatment staff at Cirque Lodge to understand the needs of the individual and structure a program that will help the resident best overcome his or her addiction to cocaine, and to provide a platform on which to build a successful long-term recovery.

For more informattion on prescription drug addiction visit our OxyContin Addiction page. For alcohol related articles visit or Alcohol Rehab section.