Cocaine Addiction: Signs & Symptoms of Cocaine Use

As previously mentioned, a growing number of cocaine overdoses also involve opioids, like fentanyl. Combining cocaine with alcohol and other substances also increases the risk of addiction. The more you use an addictive substance, the more at risk you are of developing an addiction. Over time, you can develop a tolerance, which means you’ll need to take more of the drug to achieve the same high.

Is it important to get professional detox help?

Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol. In reality, the stimulant causes the body to use more oxygen, while the depressant reduces the rate of breathing. This “push-pull” reaction can lead to stroke, aneurysm, uncoordinated motor skills and fatal consequences, like respiratory failure. If you or a loved one is addicted to cocaine, reach out to a doctor, or someone else you trust who may be able help you explore treatment options and find other sources of support.

• Research shows that combining addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy ensures the best chance of success for most patients.
• In these cases, holding a professional intervention may be an effective option to encourage someone to get professional assistance.
• To understand the powerful nature of cocaine’s actions, it is helpful to realize that dopamine pathways in the brain are very old in evolutionary terms.
• Having drug paraphernalia, or other items for using cocaine in your home or apartment can be a sign of addiction too.
• Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

How does cocaine work in the brain?

Sometimes an intense effect is achieved by using more powerful forms of the drug, such as crack, or using other drugs in addition to cocaine. As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to drug use and addiction.

• This makes you compulsively crave or use substances like cocaine.
• Substituted cathinones, also called “bath salts,” are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine.
• Many people who have substance use disorders will try to detox on their own because they believe that they can do so without support.
• With that said, studies have suggested that some groups are at the highest risk.
• If a person uses as much of the drug as they did before quitting, they can easily overdose because their bodies are no longer adapted to their previous level of drug exposure.

Mental health issues

• This addiction can be difficult to treat, and the majority of those seeking treatment for cocaine addiction are polydrug users (use more than one drug recreationally).
• Dopamine then accumulates in the synapse to produce an amplified signal to the receiving neurons.
• In the author’s University of Texas laboratory, investigators have been studying cocaine’s effect on one particular genetic component, a protein called ΔFosB.
• As previously mentioned, a growing number of cocaine overdoses also involve opioids, like fentanyl.

cocaine addiction treatment is not considered a behavioral problem—it is classified as a substance use disorder in which biological, psychological, environmental, and genetic factors are thought to predispose a user to addiction. By recognizing the signs of addiction, those who are addicted can identify the problem, seek professional treatment, and experience lasting recovery. But it carries many risks, including overdose and serious physical and mental side effects as well as addiction. If you or someone you know has problems with cocaine use, seek help from a doctor or mental health professional.

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Cocaine is a vasoconstrictor, which makes the heart pump faster while narrowing the blood vessels. There are many  addiction treatment options available to help people struggling with cocaine addiction. Treatment can take place in an inpatient or residential center that provides room and board and around-the-clock supervision and support.

Signs and Symptoms

What are the effects of cocaine?

What are the long-term effects of cocaine use?