Side Effects of Cocaine Addiction

The health effects of using cocaine, even just once, are also extremely concerning. Users often experience harmful cardiovascular effects, such as disturbances in heart rhythm and even heart attacks (which can easily be fatal). It’s also common for users to experience neurological effects, including headaches, seizures, strokes, and coma.

Short-Term Effects

Counseling and other types of therapy are the most common treatments for cocaine use disorder. Sessions with a trained therapist can help you make changes to your behaviors and thought processes. You may need to stay in a rehabilitation center (also known as rehab) for intensive therapy and support. If you do attend rehab, continuing treatment afterward (aftercare) is important to help you avoid relapse. Some of the side effects of cocaine depend on how you take the drug. If you snort it, you might have nosebleeds, loss of smell, hoarseness, nasal irritation, runny nose, or trouble swallowing.

Mixing cocaine with other substances, such as heroin or alcohol, can also be life threatening. This article explains what may happen after a single dose of cocaine, including the risks of death and addiction and what to do if an overdose occurs. The sustained increase of dopamine results in feelings of well-being and euphoria, a key part of how cocaine addiction can develop.

Recovery from cocaine addiction

In some cases, receiving treatment for cocaine use may be able to prevent further damage. When a person with a cocaine use disorder abruptly stops, they will likely experience severe withdrawal symptoms that impact the mind. The severe nature of cocaine withdrawal means that you should put yourself in the hands of a medical professional when detoxing. Dependencies and drug withdrawals are dangerous, and the medical approach is to undergo often detoxes supervised around the clock by doctors, nurses, and mental health practitioners.

Irish towns struggle with drug issues as cocaine addiction soars

• The most important part of any treatment plan is to give up the drug right away.
• However, a 2018 review suggests that environmental and genetic factors may affect a person’s risk of developing a cocaine addiction.
• People may take the drug until they run out or become exhausted.
• For example, cocaine addicts struggle with anxiety, dilated pupils, increased heart rate, paranoia, and restlessness, all of which can occur during and after cocaine use.

Even if you stop using it for a long time, you could still have cravings for the drug. This cycle can lead to cocaine use disorder, in which you have trouble controlling how much and how often you use the drug even when it has negative effects on your life. This makes you compulsively crave or use substances like cocaine. Let’s look at how cocaine can affect you after one or many uses, what to do in case you or someone you know overdoses, and how to reach out for treatment for a cocaine addiction. If people have concerns about cocaine use in themselves or others, they can contact a healthcare professional, substance use disorder helpline, or support group.

• If you inject cocaine, you could get a very quick high that lasts for a shorter period of time, as a outcome of the substance will peak sooner and depart the body faster.
• Drug screenings are generally used to detect the presence of medication in the physique.
• That means you have to use more and more of the drug to get high.
• However, it also induces vasoconstriction, leading to elevated heart rate and blood pressure.

This one-time experiment can become a lifelong struggle if not addressed promptly. Medications like disulfiram and topiramate may be considered to manage cravings. Inclusion in a comprehensive treatment program encompassing medical, psychological, and social support enhances the likelihood of successful recovery. Scientifically informed approaches prioritize addressing the multifaceted nature of cocaine addiction for more effective outcomes. Regular and long-term use of cocaine can cause a person to build up a tolerance to the drug, where more of it is needed in order for them to feel the same effects.

The Scope of Cocaine Addiction in the U.S.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy addresses maladaptive patterns, while contingency management reinforces abstinence. Comprehensive treatment models encompass medical and psychosocial components, optimizing outcomes. In early tests, a vaccine helped reduce the risk of relapse in people who use cocaine. The vaccine activates your immune system to create antibodies that attach to cocaine and stop it from making its way into your brain.

A safe and effective recovery from cocaine is possible with the right help and intervention.

On top of that, cocaine is known to trigger mental illnesses or worsen the condition of someone struggling with depression, anxiety, or bipolar. As addiction’s grip becomes tighter, breaking free becomes an uphill battle, one that underscores the expertise and support of professionals. Timely intervention is crucial to halt the cascade of devastating consequences. Your chances of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are higher if you use cocaine. Some research has suggested that cocaine damages the way immune cells work in your body, which could make HIV worse.

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. When injected, it goes directly into your bloodstream for a very strong and near-instant effect. For example, large doses of cocaine may cause unpredictable or violent behavior.

Along with the physical risks, cocaine use can affect your life in other ways. Instead of using baking soda as you would with crack, you add ammonia to “free” the cocaine base from its natural form. For this reason, you might hear the terms “crack” and “freebase” used interchangeably. To make cocaine, the leaves are chemically processed and treated to form a powder.

Long-Term Health Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Many issues what happens after taking cocaine once side effects and safety play a role, including other mental health disorders,  your background, and your environment. Taking cocaine once may cause short-term effects, such as euphoria, hypersensitivity, and paranoia. A trusted healthcare professional can suggest local support groups and offer further resources to help a person overcome addiction. Review authors suggest that genetics is a significant risk factor for addiction in every major class of addictive drugs and is one of the main risk factors for cocaine addiction. Cocaine can affect judgment, which can result in high risk or dangerous behaviors. However, experiences may vary since cocaine can affect each person differently.

These centers provide a comprehensive approach, offering tailored treatments, therapy, and counseling that address addiction’s multifaceted nature. Another potential risk of long-term cocaine use is malnourishment because cocaine is an appetite suppressant. Other long-term risks include severe paranoia, hallucinations, and movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. In 2019, around 3,800 people received treatment for a cocaine use disorder in California. The good news is that recovery is possible, and with help, you can break free from the chains of addiction. Pacific Sands Recovery Center is a small facility with a 6-client maximum and private rooms, which allows us to focus on your unique needs.