How Much Cocaine Will Cause an Overdose?

Cocaine, a powdered extract from the coca plant, is an illegal stimulant drug that can be snorted, injected or smoked. The faster the drug is absorbed into the blood stream, the more intense the high. People become addicted to cocaine due to a psychological dependence on the feelings the drug produces. Those...

How Cocaine Affects Sleep

Cocaine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant. It targets cells in the brain that regulate mood, pleasure and wellbeing, and it affects these cells quite strongly. Someone who uses cocaine may feel euphoric, energetic and alert while under the influence, but this drug can also decrease the need for food...

Hepatitis and Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine abuse comes with a heavy price: many cocaine addicts face consequences in their relationships, finances, mental wellbeing and physical health. Among the many risks of cocaine abuse is the possibility of contracting or developing hepatitis. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and it can be caused...

Cocaine Dependence after Surgery

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that increases levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical associated with pleasure. Cocaine prevents dopamine from being absorbed in the brain, leaving excesses in the brain and causing a sense of euphoria. What is not commonly known is that the professional...

How Does Narcissism Relate to Cocaine Addiction?

Narcissism is a personality disorder marked by extreme confidence, self-regard and a lack of concern for others. Cocaine abuse can heighten feelings of power and invincibility, making it the ideal drug for an individual with narcissistic tendencies. What Is Narcissism? In psychology narcissism is used to...

Addictive Personalities and Cocaine Addiction Development

An addictive personality disorder can cause an immense amount of stress to an individual. Individuals with addictive personality disorder act on impulse, despite negative consequences. Impulses can vary and can include shopping, eating or using drugs, such as cocaine. Addictive Personality Disorder Having...

Stigmas Related to Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction changes people for the worse and affects everyone around the users. This means that other people can easily make snap judgments about the causes of cocaine abuse without considering the addict’s personal story. By doing this, stigmas can form and spread to people all over the country....

Nature vs Nurture: What Makes a Cocaine Addict?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the risk factors for drug addiction include the following: Family history of addiction Being male Having another psychological problem Peer pressure Lack of family involvement Anxiety, depression and loneliness Taking a highly addictive drug This list of factors suggests that...

How Cocaine Addiction Affects Communities

Cocaine is second only to narcotic painkillers when it comes to drug-related emergency room visits. According to the government’s 2010 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report, cocaine accounted for twice as many medical emergencies as heroin and led all illicit drugs with nearly half a million...

Using Cocaine to Cope with a Loved One’s Illness

When a loved one develops a chronic illness, that disease can inflict havoc on an entire family and community of friends. If a loved one is seriously ill, you and your family must change schedules, determine treatment options, talk to an army of doctors and decide who will be responsible for ongoing...

Unintentional Cocaine Dependence

The initial use of cocaine makes people feel euphoric and energetic, but even the first use can yield a wide range of side effects including the following: Runny nose, nose bleed and sniffing Tremors and chills Perspiration Hyper activity Elevated speech pattern A suppressed appetite Difficulty falling...

Why Does Cocaine Addiction Escalate?

People who use cocaine do not generally begin this habit to become addicted. They believe they can limit their consumption and maintain self-control. However, despite these intentions, cocaine abuse tends to create an addiction, and there are a number of biological reasons for this progression. How Cocaine...

Potential High-Dose Risks of Cocaine

Cocaine is a stimulant, and its effects are the opposite of central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol, opiates and barbiturates. CNS depressants slow down physical and mental functions and can cause overdose death through suppression of breathing. Stimulants excite the nervous system and produce...

How to Manage Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

Cocaine is a stimulant taken from the coca plant. The leaves are processed into a few different forms, including a salt and a basic powder. These can be taken orally, snorted, smoked or taken in a tea-like herbal infusion. Cocaine has extreme effects on the body, exciting the nervous system and resulting in...

How Common Is Cocaine Overdose?

Like with many drugs, a user’s body quickly habituates to cocaine which leads in many cases to exponential increases of dosage and frequency. Especially if one has been abusing the drug for a long time, he will have to take a dangerous amount of the drug to achieve the desired state of pleasure. This...