Cocaine Information & Statistics
Cocaine is a stimulant classified by the federal government as being at high-risk of addiction and dependency. As a stimulant, cocaine heightens the awareness and the energy of the individual when used. There are primarily three ways cocaine is abused: injecting, smoking and the most popular method, snorting.
Why is cocaine addictive? The addictive quality of cocaine is explained by how the brain processes chemicals when cocaine is present:
- Dopamine is the receptor in the brain chiefly responsible for the experience of pleasure in the body.
- In the brain’s normal communication process, dopamine is released into the synapse, where it binds with dopamine receptors, and then is recycled back.
- When cocaine is present, the normal dopamine recycling process is blocked.
- The buildup of dopamine results in an influx of pleasure, which explains why cocaine is so addictive.
Slang terms for cocaine include:
- Blow
- Candy
- Coke
- Cola
- Lady
- Powder
- Snow
- Sugar
The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports these statistics about cocaine use in the U.S.:
- 4.8 million people reported using cocaine sometime during 2015.
- Nearly 39 million people reported using cocaine sometime in their lifetime.
- Twice as many men as women reported having used cocaine in the last month.
However, the Monitoring the Future Survey that polls Americas Youth on drug and alcohol trends has shown a continual decline in the use and abuse of cocaine. Significant declines have happened from 2008 to the current year.
Are crack and cocaine the same thing? Crack is a form of cocaine which is combined with other ingredients to create a crystalized form of the drug, which is smoked. You can read additional information on crack addiction here.
Signs & Symptoms of Cocaine Abuse
Symptoms that someone is using cocaine may include:
- Hyperactivity
- Quickness to agitation
- Loss of inhibition
- Unrestrained enthusiasm
- Increased nose bleeds or runny nose
- Uncontrolled muscle tics
- Noticeable personality changes from anxiety and paranoia to irritability
Cocaine addiction occurs as a result of continuous use. The more it is abused; a higher tolerance to the drug is developed. For the addict, this means that to get the same result, more and more cocaine has to be used. This results in addiction and greater health problems.
Cocaine addiction is a difficult issue to deal with, and it can be extremely difficult to overcome without the help of a drug rehab program. Drug treatment can become a life saving measure when dealing with the long-term effects of cocaine abuse with what it does to the body.
Short-Term Effects of Cocaine Abuse
The short-term effects of cocaine include:
- Euphoria and reckless behavior
- Increased and/or irregular heart rate
- Decreased need for sleep
- Decreased appetite
High levels of the drug can increase risks of erratic behavior and psychosis, like anxiety or paranoia. Even the first-time use can lead to overdose, cardiac arrest or stroke. This can happen initially with first use, or even for a period afterwards
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 increases the risk of death.
Short-term effects can lead to long-term problems, which can be very troublesome.
Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Abuse
The long-term effects of cocaine include:
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Memory Loss
- Aggressive Behavior
- Violent Outbursts
- Weight Loss
- Severe Dental Issues
- Significant Alterations to Brain’s Chemistry
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Severe Dental Issues
Cocaine abuse can frequently lead to cardiovascular (heart problems) and brain effects such as a stroke, seizures and in some case coma.
There are a number of long-term effects that can be attributed to cocaine abuse, physically and psychologically. The biggest long term concern is that of drug addiction.
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug with intensified cravings. Studies have shown that even after periods of abstinence that the triggers to abuse cocaine can still be overwhelmingly intense.
Addicts to this specific drug have a high tendency of relapse. Drug rehab programs can be a start to getting the individual off of the drug. From there long-term treatment and programs should be utilized to maintain abstinence.
Long-term abuse does its damage. In the brain, a tolerance to drug is developed. More cocaine is needed to experience the fleeting amount of pleasure.
Over time, the dopamine system of the brain is also affected and damaged by this abuse, due to the growingly high levels of toxicity in the brain. These high levels of toxicity can also lead to developing psychological complications. Common complications include anxiety, violent behaviors and paranoia.
The methods of abusing cocaine also do their own damage to the body. This is what cocaine does to the body when snorted:
- Irritations to the nasal cavities and the lungs
- Damage to heart muscles, including cell death in the heart muscles, resulting in serious heart conditions or heart failure
- Destruction of the olfactory sensors in the nasal passages resulting in loss of the sense of smells
- Greater number of intestinal and bowel problems, which may include gangrene the digestive tract
- Changes to brain chemistry associated with psychotic symptoms and new-onset Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Those who inject this drug run the risks that come from intravenous drug abuse.
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
When cocaine abuse is stopped, an addicted individual can experience withdrawal over a period of time.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense Cravings
- Restlessness/Agitation
- Fatigue
- Increase Appetite
- Depression
Unlike other drugs and alcohol, stimulant withdrawal most times does not manifest itself with physical symptoms (vomiting, hot/cold flashes, the shakes, hallucinations). One of the strongest of withdrawal symptoms is the intensified craving.
Cocaine is a stimulant and suppresses the appetite. When the drug is no longer in the system, adverse withdrawal begins to manifest with feelings of fatigue, relentless behaviors, onsets of depression and an increase of appetite.
Without proper help, cocaine addiction can be fatal. Overdose is always a risk with the abuse of cocaine. Although it is highly addictive, it is treatable. With the help of a drug rehab center or treatment service one can develop the skills needed to address cravings from this drug.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
The most effective programs for cocaine provide more than one approach to drug addiction treatment. It consists of intensive therapy, behavioral therapies and supportive programs for long-term relapse prevention.
Addiction treatment should also be individualized to address the personal needs of the addict. When it is completed, continuing programs and services should be in place to offer support and additional treatment. One non-profit worldwide organization that offers additional programming and services for cocaine abuse is Cocaine Anonymous (CA).
For those seeking a private and exclusive rehabilitation facility that deals with cocaine addiction and abuse, we encourage you to call us. We are a nationally recognized, health care accredited drug rehab facility.
The focus of treatment is on the individual, with therapy and programs that address their personal struggles with addiction. This is coupled with a long-term plan of action to continue care when treatment is completed. We encourage you to call today for an assessment at 1-800-582-0709.
