Health and Wellness Store

Addiction to Cocaine – A Tough Battle to Win

Ever heard of snow, blow, crack, or coke? Chances are if you haven’t been living under a rock most of your life, you have – whether during your teens or on the TV screen where you see people snorting up a white powder (usually in fancy-shmancy bathrooms).

What it is

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that’s used mostly for recreational purposes. There is a plant called coca in South America, and cocaine is made from its leaves.

Once a user takes it, they feel quite alert and energetic. This drug is so potent that many users claim they got addicted after its very first use. Some users at the center for drug rehab Utah say that they physically craved cocaine once they had snorted it on a few occasions.

Ways to take it

Users take cocaine via several methods. These are:

  • Injecting it into a vein
  • Inhaling it through the nose
  • Via genital or rectal routes
  • Smoking crack cocaine

How users feel after they take cocaine

Most users that seek drug detox for cocaine say that it intensely stimulates the body. The user gets strong feelings of euphoria, pleasure, and satisfaction once they take it. They find themselves feeling more alert, with a diminished desire to sleep or eat. Some users feel they think better and work more efficiently after a dose.

However, all of these are the precursors to the dangerous side effects of the drug. As the body gets used to the effects of a particular dose, it starts craving more to create the same effects. And then the user starts taking more and more quantities, which ultimately leads to addiction.

Effects of cocaine

Here are a few psychological and physical effects of cocaine:

  • Panic and hallucinations
  • Irritability and anxiety
  • Aggression and paranoia
  • Nausea
  • Massive weight loss
  • Stroke
  • Seizures
  • Heart arrhythmia and heart attack

Some users face medical conditions too, such as hepatitis, gangrene of the bowels, compromised immune system, etc.

Addiction symptoms

You must call a drug addiction hotline if you feel someone you know is showing any of the symptoms mentioned below:

  • Inability to reduce or stop the dosage
  • Hallucinations and psychosis
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Spending exorbitant sums on drug purchase

Seeking help

There are several treatment methods for cocaine addiction. This is a complex disease with several mental, physical, and psychological factors involved in it. Most users prefer residential treatment as it provides round-the-clock assistance, which almost all of them require.

The second important factor is some users have family or environmental issues that lead them to become addicted in the first place. Once they are out of those situations, they can avoid the triggers for drug use or relapses.

Some treatment plans last over a year to help the user develop strong feelings of revulsion for the drug. This helps them to avoid its use once they are out of the treatment facility. They are also taught valuable life skills that help them to become independent and constructive members of society.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *