Effects of Cocaine Use
By Jill Gonzalez
Approximately 14 percent of adults in the United States have at least tried cocaine once, but there are about 2 million people who use cocaine on a regular basis.
Cocaine is a drug with strong appeal. Many people view it as an exotic drug that is widely used by wealthy people, so it carries a type of prestige and status. The reality, however, is that cocaine is an extremely powerful drug that can have a number of negative effects.
Cocaine can be snorted, injected, smoked or sniffed. Regardless of how a person uses cocaine, it enters the bloodstream rapidly and has almost instantaneous effects on the brain. Once in the brain, cocaine interferes with neurotransmitters (or chemical messengers) that our nerves use to communicate. The resulting chemical buildup between the nerves causes a euphoric high.
In addition to feeling euphoria, however, a large number of cocaine users also report experiencing some less pleasant feelings, such as:
- Anxiety
- Dilated pupils
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Paranoia
The effects of cocaine usually only last for about 30 minutes, but in some people they may last as long as a couple of hours.
Cocaine's Effects on the Body
In addition to having the capability to cause sudden death among users, cocaine has negative effects on every part of the body.
- Brain - cocaine constricts blood vessels in the brain, which can cause a stroke or seizure. This can happen to anyone, regardless of age.
- Sexual function - chronic cocaine use has been shown to cause sexual dysfunction in women and men.
- Heart - heart rate and blood pressure increase when cocaine is used. The drug also restricts the arteries that supply blood to the heart, which can cause a heart attack in people of any age, including those who do not have any type of heart disease.
- Kidneys - cocaine can cause sudden kidney failure, or it can lead to long-term kidney damage.
- Respiratory system - snorting cocaine causes damage to the sinuses and nose, including nasal perforation. Smoking cocaine, or crack, causes lung damage.
- Gastrointestinal system - cocaine causes the blood vessels that supply the gut to constrict, which results in oxygen starvation. This leads to perforation of the intestines or stomach and may also cause ulcers.
Psychological Effects of Cocaine Abuse
Using cocaine harms not only the body, but also the mind. The drug causes mental, emotional and psychological damage that can be very difficult to overcome.
The parts of the brain that cocaine directly affects are the areas that reward us, such as the areas associated with good behavior, sex, food or other healthy activities. This is why using cocaine feels so good to most people, and why it is a highly addictive drug that causes intense cravings, tolerance, dependence and ultimately addiction.
Once a person is dependent on cocaine, it is very difficult to quit. In fact, addiction professionals do not recommend that people try to stop using cocaine on their own, as the withdrawal can be psychologically demanding, causing many people to abandon their efforts to stop using the drug altogether.
The most difficult part of cocaine withdrawal is the psychological symptoms that people experience, which can include:
- Difficulty focusing on the tasks at hand
- Increased cravings for the drug
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty experiencing pleasure
Cocaine Treatment Options
For many cocaine addicts, the best treatment option is a residential treatment facility. The reason this type of treatment works best for many people is that cocaine addiction is so complex. Since it involves physical and psychological addiction, it is often best addressed in a residential program where patients can receive a complete course of therapy that addresses both of these issues.
Individual counseling is probably the most important component of a treatment program for cocaine addiction, and it is a process that requires a good deal of time. People who have an addiction to cocaine should not expect to go into therapy and be "cured" in a matter of days or weeks. The entire therapy process involves stabilizing the addicted individual and then helping them learn healthier behavior patterns that will enable them to lead a life that is free of drugs.
Often, group therapy sessions are also included in treatment programs for cocaine addicts, as group therapy offers patients the opportunity to learn about the experiences of other addicts, which can help them to feel less alone in their struggle to stop using cocaine.