Cocaine Information and the Effects of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a highly addictive and powerful brain stimulant. Cocaine addiction can occur rapidly and can be very difficult to overcome. Cocaine stimulates the brain's reward system and its influence frequently causes its user to repeat cocaine use. Chronic cocaine use leads to cocaine addiction and damages the brain and other organs in some cases of chronic users. A psychological dependency may develop after a single dose of cocaine. As the person develops a tolerance to cocaine, higher and higher doses are needed to produce the same effect. Cocaine users experience an intense but relateively brief feeling of euphoria, but as the cocaine wears off the euphoric feeling is replaced by severe depression.

Cocaine can be injested in a variety of ways. The most common method of ingestion for users new to the drug is snorting. When cocaine is snorted it is absorbed into the body through the mucus membranes and respiratory system. As dependency and use progresses, many users start to “freebase”, or smoke the drug. Cocaine in its pure state is a powder. When cocaine is freebased, the raw powder is cooked with other components such as baking soda to form a solid piece, or rock, that will support combustion. The solid form is then smoked which produces a more intense high faster than intranasal use. The cocaine is ingested directly into the lungs where it is absorbed into the blood stream and transported more rapidly to the brain. Eventually, some cocaine addicts start mixing the cocaine with water and injecting it with a hypodermic needle.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter naturally produced in the brain. It is commonly associated with the pleasure system of the brain and feelings of enjoyment. Dopamine is released by naturally enjoyable experiences such as food, and sex. Cocaine produces it pleasurable effects by inhibiting the natural process of the dopamine system. In natural function, dopamine is released and binds with receptors in the brain. After the dopamine has had its effect and is expended, it is recycled back into the system through dopamine transporters. Cocaine attaches to the dopamine transporters and blocks the normal recycling process, resulting in a build up of dopamine, and thus a feeling of euphoria.

As cocaine use continues and cocaine addiction occurs, the brain slows in the natural production of dopamine because it senses that it is not needed due to the flooding of dopamine caused by the cocaine use. When the cocaine wears off and the spent dopamine is returned into the system, the brain is left with little or no dopamine, causing extreme depression. The cocaine addicted person then feels the need to use more cocaine in attempt to restore dopamine presence. As the dependency spirals, there is less and less dopamine available and the depression and cravings worsen.

Cocaine and the Body

In addition to the effects on the dopamine system, cocaine can alter several other functions of the body. Cocaine use increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious and often fatal cardiovascular problems. Cocaine constricts the blood vessels and causes increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Other physical effects of cocaine addiction are convulsions, changes in breathing, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, convulsions, insomnia, cold sweats, damage of the mucous membranes and nasal septum, restlessness and anxiety.

Different methods of ingesting cocaine often have unique adverse effects. Regular intranasal users can lose their sense of smell, have sore throats, swallowing problems and nosebleeds. When smoked frequently, the user may develop respiratory problems, chronic bronchitis and a persistent cough. Intravenous cocaine users typically have scaring from needles used at the injection sites and may have an allergic reaction to cocaine or something that the cocaine has been mixed with, sometimes resulting in death.

There is a potentially dangerous interaction between cocaine and alcohol. When taken together, the two drugs are converted to a chemical that has a longer duration of and is more toxic than either drug alone. The mixture of cocaine and alcohol is the most common cause of drug related death in two-drug combinations.

Regular use of cocaine can lead to strong dependence or cocaine addiction. Cocaine dependent people who abruptly stop its use experience withdrawal symptoms that are usually severe and very unpleasant. The time necessary to detoxify from cocaine varies by individual and is usually directly related to the quantity and frequency of use during their dependency.

.Call us now for more information non-12 step cocaine addiction rehab
770-933-6846