Signs of Cocaine Addiction

When a person has cocaine in their system, they will display any number of symptoms. Some of the symptoms of cocaine addiction are as follows:

• Varying degrees of euphoria with a lessening of pain
• Increased energy, excitement, and sociability
• Less hunger and/or fatigue
• An increased feeling of strength mentally and physically
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vertigo
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Emotional instability
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Cold sweats
• Tremors
• Teeth grinding
• The inability to sit still
• Twitching of small muscles
• Muscle jerks
• Hallucinations
• Cocaine psychosis (this resembles paranoid schizophrenia and can bring on paranoia, mania, and/or psychosis)

As mentioned, these are only some of the symptoms of cocaine use and abuse. Although there is no standard overdose amount, it is lethal, so please take action if you are addicted or recognize some of these symptoms in a friend or loved one. Recognizing addiction can help save lives.

Unfortunately, cocaine addiction is not easy to break. Cocaine’s addictive power is so strong because of how it affects the brain. When a person uses cocaine, particles of the drug block neural receptor sites long after someone’s first use. Therefore, it takes more cocaine, even after only one time using, to achieve the same level of high as before. Bearing that in mind, understand that breaking an addiction will not be simple. However, you can’t put a price on a clean brain.

Cocaine Addiction Advice

Sometimes the first step is emergency care. Take yourself or a friend to the ER if you recognize some of the following symptoms:

• Rapid nosebleed that cannot be stopped for ten minutes
• Facial pain with a headache and fever
• Severe chest pain with a difficulty in breathing or a shortness of breath
• Vaginal bleeding, labor pains, or suspicion of miscarriage
• Swelling at the injection site or red lines leading from the injection site
• Severe abdominal pain and/or persistent vomiting

Again, if you recognize the symptoms, get yourself or a friend the ER immediately.

It is possible that a cocaine addict may have a dual diagnosis, meaning that he or she is struggling not only with substance abuse but also an underlying mental disorder. Dual diagnosis treatment programs are highly effective because they address all aspects of an addiction.

Having friends and family follow up with someone trying to break addiction is also beneficial. Receiving support and encouragement can be influential and pivotal for someone breaking an addiction. Drug counselors and specialists can also help break the cycle of addiction as well as prevent future use.

Cocaine Abuse and Dependence Help

Our office is open 24 hours a day and our number is toll-free. We are available to answer any questions you may have about cocaine addiction and treatment, and we want to find the best rehab option for you. You can’t put a price on a clean life—call us today.

Effects of Crack Cocaine

The smokeable form of cocaine allows users to experience a “high” quicker than when the drug is snorted or injected. In less than ten seconds, a “high” can occur; however, the effects are short-lived. The drug reaches the brain within three to five minutes through snorting, fifteen to thirty seconds through injection, and almost immediately through smoking. Because of the severity of the high, the intensity of the “crash” can be serious and may cause users to return to the drug to escape the dreadful effects of withdrawal.

Crack cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that increases levels of dopamine. Dopamine is a brain chemical associated with pleasure and movement in the brain’s “reward” circuit. It is a means of communication between neurons in the brain. In its normal function, dopamine responds to a pleasurable signal by one of these neurons (e.g., the smell of good food). It is then recycled back into the cell that released it, shutting off the signal between neurons. Cocaine works counter-productively to this cycle by preventing the dopamine from being recycled. This causes large amounts of dopamine to build up, augmenting the message, and thus disrupting normal communication. This excess is the cause of for the euphoric effects experienced when taking cocaine. When the drug is repeatedly used, the long-term effects change the brain’s “reward” system and other systems in the brain as well, which inevitably can lead to addiction. Tolerance also occurs with repeated use, meaning that more of the drug is required to achieve the initial effects. In an attempt to prolong the euphoria and maintain the “high,” some users will increase their dose; but this can also increase the risk of adverse psychological or physiological effects.

Crack Cocaine Usage Statistics

All issues surrounding the use of crack cocaine are severe because of the seriousness of addiction and the harmful effects of its use. There is heightened concern about use among high school students. According to the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Survey, in the United States alone, almost 4% of high school seniors had used the drug at least once in their lifetime, and more than 1% had used the drug in the past month.

The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that individuals of all ages have been reported to use crack cocaine. Studies estimated that over six million U.S. residents aged 12 and older used crack at least once in their lifetime. It also showed that roughly 150,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and over one million individuals aged 18 to 25 had used the drug at least once.

Cocaine Addiction Help

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to crack cocaine, please call our toll free number. Someone is available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you may have about cocaine addiction treatment. We can help. Please make the call today.

How widespread is cocaine addiction?

In 1997, there were approximately 1.5 million regular cocaine abusers.

• One-tenth of the population (over 22 million people) has tried cocaine.
• Each day 5,000 more people will experiment with cocaine.
• Cocaine is a $35 billion illicit industry now exceeding Columbia’s #1 export, coffee.
• One in 10 workers say they know someone who uses cocaine on the job.
• The annual number of new cocaine users has generally increased over time. In 1975, there were 30,000 new users. The number increased from 300,000 in 1986 to 361,000 in 2000.
• The average age of cocaine initiates rose from 17.2 years old in 1967 to 23.8 years old in 1991 and subsequently declined to approximately 20 years old from 1997 to 2000.
• Cocaine addiction was responsible for 14 percent of the 1.6 million admissions in 1999 to publicly funded drug addiction facilities.

Adults 18 to 25 years old have a higher rate of current cocaine use than those in any other age group. Overall, men have a higher rate of current cocaine use than do women. Also, according to the 1997 NHSDA, rates of current cocaine use were 1.4 percent for African Americans, 0.8 percent for Hispanics, and 0.6 percent for Caucasians.

Cocaine addiction can occur very quickly and can be very difficult to break. Researchers have found that cocaine stimulates the brain’s reward system inducing an even greater feeling of pleasure than natural functions. In turn, its influence on the reward circuit can lead a user to bypass survival activities and repeat drug use. Chronic cocaine use can lead to a cocaine addiction and in some cases damage the brain and other organs. An addict will continue to use cocaine even when faced with adverse consequences. Dependency can develop in less than two weeks. Some research indicates that a psychological dependency may develop after a single dose of high-potency cocaine. As the person develops a tolerance to cocaine, higher and higher doses are needed to produce the same level of euphoria.

Physical Signs of Cocaine Abuse:

There are some physical signs of cocaine abuse that often to lead to addiction, and these signs are key to know in order to spot the addictive behavior. The physical warning signs of cocaine abuse can vary, depending on the person.

• Eyes: Quite often the eyes are a good indicator of cocaine use. A person will appear wide and or bloodshot eyes and the pupils are dilated.
• Heart: Stimulants, like cocaine, increase heart rate and blood pressure so heart irregularities can be a warning sign.
• Speech: Cocaine users often have an elevated speech pattern so speech irregularities are a warning sign.
• Appetite: Cocaine is an appetite suppressant so people that use cocaine regularly will often lose weight or are not hungry at meal time.
• Sleep Patterns: Because cocaine is powerful stimulant, people who use cocaine often will have a difficult time falling asleep or suffer from disruptive, inconsistent sleep.

Continued signs of addiction to cocaine include cardiac problems, neglect of family responsibilities, social isolation, mood swings, neglect of body needs and hygiene and ignoring job demands. The effects of cocaine are immediate, extremely pleasurable, and brief. Cocaine produces intense but short-lived euphoria and can make users feel more energetic. Like caffeine, cocaine produces wakefulness and reduces hunger. Psychological effects include feelings of well-being and a grandiose sense of power and ability mixed with anxiety and restlessness. As the drug wears off, these temporary sensations of mastery are replaced by an intense depression. The drug abuser will then “crash”, becoming lethargic and typically sleeping for several days.

Addiction is very serious and not easily predicted. It is safe to be aware of the physical signs of cocaine use that can lead to addiction. If you or someone you know needs help with a cocaine addiction, we are here to help. Please call our toll free number. We are here to answer your questions on cocaine treatment and recovery.

Cocaine Withdrawal’s Physical Effects

Unlike heroin or alcohol where physical symptoms such as vomiting or shaking are evident, cocaine’s withdrawal symptoms are generally psychological and therefore require intensive psychological counseling and/or rehab. However, there are common physical indications of withdrawal to be aware of when helping or observing someone going through withdrawal.

A cocaine addict is likely to experience chest pain occasionally due to severe coughing at the time of withdrawal. Phlegm released during coughing is normally black in color. If blood appears along with phlegm then it is considered to be a serious problem. By taking proper medicines and a good amount of water and fluids, the patients can alleviate the condition.

People normally become nervous and weak as soon as they withdraw from the use of the drug. Giving them confidence is very important at that stage. Addicts are ready to forego any thing like food, shelter and sleep in order to get the drug. As they are mentally weak, they get mild headaches, which may lead to insomnia. Excessive anxiety and fear prevail due to inefficiency. Such panic disorders are quite common during the withdrawal period.

Medical Treatment for Cocaine

At the present time, there is no proven pharmacological therapy for cocaine addiction but there are several pharmaceutical drugs that help in the detoxification of cocaine by helping to treat symptoms of withdrawal. Antidepressant drugs such as Desapramine help to reduce the withdrawal symptoms such as depression and anxiety. With severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms, Amantadine, may reduce cocaine craving. Bromocriptine, a drug that works on the brain’s dopamine system, has been used to decrease the craving for cocaine during detoxification and to reduce mood disturbance. Propanolol, may be useful for severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms, as it inhibits the effects of adrenaline, thereby calming the body’s “fight or flight” response to stressful situations. Propranolol’s lessening of symptoms such as palpitations and sweating has helped to reduce cocaine craving associated with such symptoms.

To break down the process of recovery, there are four stages of withdrawal for a cocaine addict. Symptoms and behaviors will vary and change as an individual progresses to each stage.

Stage 1: Withdrawal (0-15 days)

You may sleep more, act impulsively, or feel depressed, anxious, shameful, fearful, confused, or full of self-doubt. Cravings to use cocaine are strong, and you may have trouble concentrating or coping with stress. You may become irritated easily with other people.

Stage 2: Honeymoon (16-45 days)

You begin to feel better physically, your energy increases, and you feel more optimistic and confident about your life. You may even begin to feel your cocaine problem is under control or over, and, as a result, you may want to drop out of treatment early or stop your recovery activities, such as attending NA, CA, or AA meetings or stop following the disciplines of recovery.

This may contribute to your use of cocaine or other substances again.

Stage 3: The Wall (46-120 days)

This is seen as the major hurdle in recovery. You become more vulnerable to relapse as you feel reduced physical or sexual energy, depressed, anxious, irritable, or bored; have trouble concentrating; and feel strong cravings or thoughts about using cocaine.

Stage 4: Adjustment (121-180 days)

If you get through the previous stages, you may feel a great sense of accomplishment. Life begins to feel like it’s getting back to normal as you adjust to changes in your lifestyle.

Although your mood improves, you still continue to feel bored and may even feel lonelier than you did before. Cravings for cocaine occur less frequently and intensely, and you may begin to question whether you have an addiction. You may even put yourself in high-risk situations that increase your relapse risk.

For this reason and the intensity of these withdrawal symptoms, patients detoxing from cocaine have the highest relapse rate.

The good news is that these symptoms from withdrawing from cocaine can disappear completely over time. On the flip side, however, if the abuse has been chronic, the prominent symptoms of intense cravings and depression can last for months. Research has also shown that those who experience cocaine withdrawal frequently try to self-medicate themselves with anti-anxiety medications such as valium, alcohol, sedatives or hypnotics.

If you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of cocaine, treatment is available. To learn more about cocaine rehab, please call our toll free number. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you might have about cocaine treatment.

Models of Intervention

There are two concurrent and sometimes overlapping models of intervention. One (The Johnson Model) demands the breaking of an ingrained and seemingly impenetrable system of denial and the other (Motivational Interviewing) states that denial is inessential to the central issues.

The Johnson Model of Intervention
Vernon Johnson, founder of the Johnson Model of Intervention, based his work on the idea that forceful confrontation is necessary to penetrate the barriers and defenses of the denial system inherent in individuals with AOD problems. The interventionist may attempt to break through this denial system by dramatic, emotionally charged and dynamic means. The interventionist typically uses the family and peers that are close to the individual in a confrontational meeting to show the individual the damage they have caused and hopefully in the process illicit the realization that the person must take action before it is too late. It is this “raising of the bottom” concurrent with a belief that all people with alcohol and drug problems have a strong system of denial that marks the Johnson techniques and what is meant to be accomplished by its processes.

Often once a cocaine abuser is to the point of intervention they don’t have the insight to seek their own treatment. Victims of this addiction disease do not typically submit to treatment out of spontaneous insight. Typically, addicts come to their recognition scenes through a buildup of crises that crash through their almost impenetrable defense systems. They are forced to seek help or asked to seek help by an interventionist.

Motivational Interviewing
Later, after the Johnson Institute had long been the established authority on interventions, a more research-oriented approach came to be. William Miller and co-author Stephen Rollnick released their book, Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People to Change Addictive Behavior in 1991 and set out to acknowledge that clients may not be readily open to such direct techniques favored by the Johnson school of intervention.

Miller and Rollnick had challenged the viewpoint that all alcohol and drug addiction clients had an inherent “system of denial” that was a major barrier to treatment. They proposed that confrontational techniques elicited a normal reaction of denial and labeled such as abnormal and symptomatic of a chemical dependency issue. Therefore, they set out the idea that it is the behavior of the counselor that is the preceding object to resistance and denial in the client.

What Miller and Rollnick instead proposed was a methodological approach that looked at stages of change in the client and in determining the specific desire or willingness of a client to change, thereby prescribing the counselors appropriate course of action. Where clients in the action stages would respond well to confrontation, those that are merely contemplating the idea that they have a problem, or are wholly unaware will react with resistance to any attempts to treat the addictive problem. The main point of motivational interviewing is that “client resistance is a therapist problem”; not a client problem. The point of view then is that professionals must change their behavior according to that of the client.

When is the Right Time for an Intervention?

This is perhaps the most often asked and the most often unanswered question that families and peers have when confronted by a loved one with an addiction problem. The best answer is as soon as a drug problem has been identified. Through consultation with a treatment professional or intervention specialist and within a relatively short period of time, you and the person interviewing you will know whether or not intervention is necessary. The truth is that most cases do not require a full intervention. Intervention can be a great asset to getting someone the help they desperately need, however done without the advisement of a treatment professional or intervention specialist can lead to resistance in the client.

If you or someone you know needs help with a cocaine addiction, we are here to help. Please call our toll free number. We are here to answer your questions on cocaine treatment and recovery, as well as intervention.

Cocaine’s Effects on the Body

The reality of this highly addictive stimulant hits after the high. As cocaine travels through the blood, it affects the whole body. Cocaine harms the brain, heart, blood vessels, and lungs — and can even cause sudden death. Cocaine is responsible for more U.S. emergency room visits than any other illegal drug.

The effects of addictive cocaine use travel all through the body. Here is what happens in the body:

• Cocaine is very bad for the heart. It increases heart rate and blood pressure while constricting the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The result can be a heart attack, even in young people without heart disease. Cocaine can also trigger a deadly abnormal heart rhythm called arrhythmia, killing instantly.
• The harmful effects of cocaine once it hits the brain include causing strokes due to constricting of blood vessels. Cocaine causes seizures and can lead to bizarre or violent behavior.
• Snorting cocaine can cause damages in the nose and sinuses, and regular use can cause nasal perforation.
• Smoking crack cocaine irritates the lungs and, in some people, causes permanent lung damage.
• Cocaine can also cause long term effects in the gastrointestinal tract.
• The results of oxygen starvation can cause ulcers, or even perforation of the stomach or intestines.
• Cocaine can cause sudden, overwhelming kidney failure through a process called rhabdomyolysis.
• In people with high-blood pressure, regular cocaine use can accelerate the long-term kidney damage caused by high blood pressure.

Dependence and Psychological Effects of Cocaine

There are also psychological effects of cocaine use. Cocaine acts in the deep areas of the brain and these are the ones that reward us for “good behavior.” Those activities lead to food, sex and healthy pleasure. And it can create a powerful craving to use more cocaine.

Repeated cocaine use leads to tolerance, dependence, and addiction. Many cocaine users fall prey to addiction and life threatening consequences. There is no “safe” frequency of use for cocaine. It’s impossible to predict whether a person will become physically or psychologically dependent on cocaine. When dependence is present, stopping cocaine suddenly leads to withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal from cocaine are more psychological than physiological.

Typically, cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

• Depression and anxiety
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Inability to feel pleasure
• Increased craving for more cocaine

Physical symptoms can include aches, pains, tremors, and chills. Cocaine withdrawal is rarely medically serious. In certain people, withdrawal from cocaine may cause suicidal thoughts. Typically, withdrawal symptoms from cocaine addiction resolve within one to two weeks.

There are two distinct categories of cocaine effects: short-term effects and long-term effects. Even if a person has only used cocaine once, he/she can experience short-term cocaine effects. Long-term cocaine effects appear after increased periods of use and are dependent upon the duration of time and amount of cocaine that has been consumed. Some short-term cocaine effects first time users experience includes increased energy, decreased appetite, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Dilated pupils, increased temperature and mental alertness are also signs to immediate cocaine use. People who try cocaine often get hooked to the short-term cocaine effects, namely feeling as though they have increased energy. The quick high keeps users feeling energetic and able to endure longer in physical activities. New cocaine users often try cocaine to increase productivity at work and in other areas of their lives so that they can work longer and harder. While these results may seem promising in the beginning, increased tolerance and dangerous life choices often follow repeated cocaine use. This leads to the more long term effects listed above.

If you or someone you know needs help with a cocaine addiction, we are here to help. Please call our toll free number. We are here to answer your questions on cocaine treatment and recovery.

Cocaine is a stimulant with characteristics very prone to abuse. Cocaine users not only habitually use cocaine but also increase their dosage over time in a futile attempt to repeat or exceed the initial ‘high.’ Not being able to do so, engrossed users step up their intake, forgetting that these will ultimately and inevitably lead to social and health-related problems in the future. Drug overdoses occur when a person takes more than the medically recommended dose. An overdose of cocaine, or any drug or chemical, can be either accidental or intentional. Cocaine usage in any amount is not considered normal usage, and is an illegal narcotic. The effects of prolonged and chronic use can manifest themselves even when the user takes small amounts. It’s dangerous, and not even the doctors can tell what amount and what frequency of use could be the last usage.

Cocaine overdose is potentially lethal. Cocaine, being a stimulant, has major effects on all organs and systems of the body but primarily complicates the heart, brain, and lungs. In pregnant woman, it can have devastating effects on the fetus of congenital abnormalities and can induce spontaneous abortions.

Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Overdose

The signs and symptoms of cocaine overdose are related to the psychologic and stimulant effects of the drug. The classic signs are:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) with a fast pulse (tachycardia) and an increased rate of breathing (tachypnea).
• This occurs with agitation, confusion, irritability, sweating, and hyperthermia (increased temperature). Sometimes seizures may occur.
• An overdose can also present as a heart attack with chest pain. This is thought to result from “spasm” of the coronary arteries that feed the heart muscle or from insufficient supply of blood flow to meet the needs of the stimulated heart muscle.
• Stroke, seizures, fever, infection, kidney failure, liver hepatitis, pneumonia, thrombophlebitis (clotting of the veins), and HIV are other potential complications of cocaine use and cocaine overdose.

Cocaine is an illegal and highly addictive recreational drug. Excessive doses of the drug can result in various symptoms and even death in severe cases. Cocaine is a deadly drug, and its capacity to kill an individual increases with constant use. Cocaine affects you the way it should do. It attacks all part of your body, but it focuses much of its attack on the body’s nervous, circulatory, respiratory, and digestive system.

Physical Effect of Cocaine Usage

It is very important to watch for the signs of cocaine use in order to help prevent a cocaine overdose that could result in death. It is very important to get immediate medical attention to a victim of cocaine overdose. There are several effects of cocaine usage to watch out for which include hyper-alertness, lack of fatigue/sleeplessness, panic, seizures from high doses or bad reaction, white powder seen on face or clothes from usage and extremely talkative; fast speech.

It is important to keep in mind that any usage of cocaine is not a normal dose. Your weight, height and metabolism plays a key factor in how one will react to cocaine usage. Being aware of the signs of cocaine usage can lead to proper prevention of an overdose. If you can get help for someone with a cocaine substance abuse problem in the early stages of abuse, than it significantly lowers the chance of death due to overdose. Death is the most extensive symptom of a cocaine overdose. Because one cannot predict how much usage is too much for your own body, it is the best decision to not begin this highly addictive drug. In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter.

Physiological Impacts of Cocaine Usage

While some of the impacts of cocaine may not be as visible to the eye, the impact to various organ systems is enormous. When one body system does not work within tolerable ranges, it not only affects that particular organ group but also the entire body becomes “on alert” knowing that something is out of balance in the entire system.

While symptoms of cocaine usage obviously affect the eyes, throat, blood vessels, and the heart, other body systems are impacted as well.

• Brain – with its initial use, cocaine affects the pleasure centers in the brain and actually interferes with, alters, and may even damage these specialized cells
• Central Nervous System – impacting your blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and respiration, extended use of cocaine can actually cause stokes, brain seizures, respiratory failure, even death
• Liver and Bladder – the ability to detoxify your blood is the primary function of the liver. The bladder regulates urine flow. Cocaine usage causes instability in the bladder and damages the liver’s ability to do its job, and a distressed liver can lead to hepatitis and other serious ailments.
• Intestines – cocaine reduces the blood supply and can cause nausea, diarrhea and inflammation
• Reproductive System – not only does cocaine negatively effect a person’s desire to have sex but it also decreases performance, and may lead to impotence and infertility

If you or someone you know needs help with a cocaine addiction, we are here to help. Please call our toll free number. We are here to answer your questions on cocaine treatment and recovery.

Physical Signs of Cocaine Usage

The warning signs of a person using cocaine can vary from person to person. The best indicator to determine usage is quite often the eyes. A person will appear to have wide and/or bloodshot eyes and the pupils are dilated. Other physical signs of usage are:

• Runny nose
• Nose bleed
• Tremors
• Chills
• Sniffing
• Perspiration
• Hyper activity

Since cocaine is more commonly sniffed, if someone has a “cold” indefinitely, this is a possible warning sign.

Other behavioral warning signs include:

• Elevated speech pattern

• Cocaine is often used as an appetite suppressant, therefore skipping meals or weight loss can be a sign.
• Because it’s a powerful stimulant, users typically have problems falling asleep or suffer from disruptive, inconsistent sleep patterns.
• They generally are then lead into having a disregard for personal hygiene—showering, shaving or keeping one’s appearance neat. They essentially stop caring about their physical well being or cleanliness.

Emotional Effect of Cocaine

Emotional or psychological signs that someone is possibly using cocaine are:

• Isolation
• Changes in friends
• Change in work or school performance
• Suicidal
• Missing work/school
• Stealing
• Lying
• Withdrawing from normal activities

They are continually “busy” or “not in the mood” when it comes to spending time with friends and/or family. And new friends that are dramatically different from the usual circle of loved ones are a strong indicator of cocaine use.

Substance abuse is most commonly accompanied by symptoms of depression or may be a way for a loved one with depression to self-medicate.

Warning Signs of “Crashing”

Cocaine addicts have a sense of being “on top of the world” and exhibit feelings of power and a sense of well-being. However, they will crash at some point and at this point the warning signs are completely different. Most often than not, coke addicts will sleep for long periods of time, days in some cases, becoming depressed and non-responsive. The intense craving for more cocaine will escalate as a response to these despondent feelings brought on by the drug itself. Until the addiction has been fed, a user will demonstrate feelings of paranoia, anxiousness, irritability, agitation and others.

Physical Evidence of Cocaine Usage

As one begins to investigate the possible usage of cocaine by a loved one, there are physical pieces of evidence that one could look for as well:

• White powder found on the clothes and/or face
• Small spoon-like items used for snorting
• Mirrors and razors blades used for making lines
• Rolled dollar bills
• Small bottles with screw on lids used for storing
• Possession of small plastic packets with white residue

Cocaine is an expensive drug. Users are typically propelled into financial problems as a result thus justifying their decision to isolate themselves. They may repeatedly ask for money in order to finance their habit or sell personal belongings of sentimental value to feed their addiction.

Someone You Know May Be Using Cocaine

In 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuses reported that 5.3 million Americans age 12 and older had abused cocaine. Of that group over 9 percent were teenagers as young as 8th grade.

With these types of statistics, if you suspect that someone may be using cocaine, you don’t want to ignore your suspicions. Even first time users can become addicted. Psychologists report that teens are more likely to become addicted more quickly than older people. The reason is that the brain is not fully developed until the early 20s, so influences such as drugs can alter brain chemistry permanently.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, counselor, minister or a friend, you want to approach the person and explore what is going on in further detail. You may feel awkward or nosy or that you are not responsible, but you need to put those feelings aside because you could be saving a life.
Psychologists, rehabilitation counselors, and even former addicts suggest that you take the time to discuss the problem openly but try to avoid anger, guilt, judgment or blame. By taking the time, speaking candidly but not abrasively, the person knows that her/his well-being is important to you, that they matter to you, and that while you may hate what they are doing, you do not hate the person.

As you might imagine, you may encounter reluctance when you approach the person you suspect of cocaine usage. Don’t let that unwillingness discourage you. Seek help from drug treatment referral and assessment centers, doctors, school counselors or any other person who you feel has experience with this situation.

Take the first step because the sooner you act, the sooner the person can start on the road to recovery. This journey begins with a single step – allow yourself to be the first step for someone you love.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of cocaine, treatment is available. To learn more about cocaine rehab, please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6495. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you might have about cocaine treatment.