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Addiction to Cocaine

Addiction to cocaine can happen very quickly, with some people experiencing dependency to the drug after one powerful dose or after using it for as little as two weeks.

Cocaine stimulates the brain and encourages a feeling of immediate, yet brief euphoria. Its psychological effects leave the user feeling awake and energetic with a feeling of well-being, however, these feelings are coupled with a sense of anxiety and agitation.

The experience can lead to users ignoring normal survival instincts, like eating and drinking, preferring to use the drug again instead. Constant cocaine use can lead to damage of the brain and other organs, but addicts will continue to use the drug despite these harmful effects. As a user’s tolerance to the cocaine increases, higher doses will be required to produce the same levels of pleasure that they are used too.

As the drug effects abate, these temporary feelings of power are substituted by feelings of deep depression, leading to the addict ‘crashing’. They will become sluggish and tired and will frequently sleep for several days at a time.

Social problems can occur as users become isolated from friends and family due to mood swings and changes in personality. Addicts may start asking for money, selling personal belongings or even steal items to sell, in order to fund their habit. Work responsibilities may be neglected too, as might personal hygiene and health issues.

Cocaine users can experience a variety of physical problems as a result of using the drug. They may suffer cardiac problems, a breakdown of the mucous membrane, collapse of the nasal septum, a constant runny nose and drastic weight loss due to a reduction in appetite. Raised blood pressure, raised body temperature and an increase in the rate of breathing are amongst the first effects inflicted on the body.

The critical effects cocaine can have, like causing coronary arteries to tighten which reduces the blood supply to the heart, may lead to convulsions, heart attacks or even death. This can happen within a short space of time of using the drug, even within an hour.

People with heart problems or epilepsy are at particular risk of suffering major repercussions induced by cocaine, but even those without any previous history of cardiac trouble chance experiencing complications with their heart. Seizures may also occur as the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to the drug’s effects.