Cocaine Addiction Advice
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that drastically alters a user’s mental state as well as physiologically affects a user’s brain. Cocaine is so addictive that, when tested on animals in lab experiments, rats and monkeys have chosen cocaine over food to the point of starvation, or pressed a feeder bar over 12,000 times for one more hit. Recognizing signs and symptoms of addiction coupled with seeking the correct form of treatment can help free an addict from such a destructive drug. (see cocaine facts.)
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 and get cocaine rehab treatment 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.
