Cocaine Abuse
What is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant with high abuse potential. Originally, cocaine was used in many different things, be it by doctors to block pain, or even in the early formulas of Coca-Cola. Of course, we now know that it is a highly addictive, dangerous drug that can alter brain function and cause severe physical effects if consumed in great quantities. What makes the drug most dangerous, is that the powder form is typically mixed with other substances. Sometimes corn starch, talcum powder or sugar, though other times it can be mixed with amphetamines and other chemicals. When obtained on the street, it is impossible to determine what the powder was mixed with, causing a potentially dangerous experience that can lead to physical damage or death.
Cocaine Use
Cocaine use tends to range from occasional to repeated use, to full on addiction. Administration may lead to bodily absorption of toxic levels of the drug. This may cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and sudden death. Injecting cocaine greatly increases risk of addiction, as well as even more serious behavioral or physical side effects. It is even more intense than snorting the drug. As is typically with substance abuse, prolonged cocaine abuse can alter the brain’s physical composition and create tolerance and dependence.
There are many ways that cocaine abuse can physically and mentally affect the body. Below are just a few things that may change about you or your loved one if they use cocaine for an extended period of time:
Short-term effects of cocaine use may include:
- Constricted blood vessels
- Dilated pupils
- Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
- Tremors
- Violent behavior
- Anxiety
Long-term effects of cocaine use may include:
- Tolerance
- Nasal irritation or damage
- Lung damage or failure
- Risk of bloodborne infection such as HIV/Hepatitis C
- Heart inflammation or failure
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Stroke
- Brain hemorrhaging
Identifying Cocaine Abuse
Addiction hurts. Substance abuse to any chemical can have a painful impact on your life, health and well-being. Cocaine abuse can have an extremely dire effect on the body, and to your loved ones. Do you think you or someone you love may have a problem with cocaine? Identifying drug abuse use is not always easy. The warning signs may be nearly imperceptible if the user mostly only abuses in a recreational setting. Even infrequent or recreational use of potent drugs can cause physical side effects, such as dependence, or reduced overall health.
Signs of Cocaine Abuse May Include:
- Planning activities around cocaine use or being unable to participate in activities without using first
- Engaging in other high-risk behaviors
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Continuing to use despite negative side effects
- Withdrawal symptoms and/or cravings when not using
- Financial struggles due to spending income on cocaine
- Excessive or explosive energy – more than usual
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or others, you may have a cocaine problem and require medical help to safely detox.
Withdrawal from Cocaine Abuse
To overcome cocaine addiction, proper treatment is absolutely critical. Without the medical supervision and assistance a certified and accredited detox facility provides, serious complications may result from cocaine withdrawal. Because We Care, Royal Life Detox is committed to providing the safest, most effective medication-assisted cocaine detox. It is important to us that our guests have the easiest time that they can, detoxing comfortably with proper supervision. After that, treatment is followed by carefully structured, individualized medical regiments, an intensive therapy program both group and one on one, and extensive aftercare options.
Withdrawal from cocaine abuse is mostly psychological, meaning it can be as emotionally taxing as physically. Symptoms may be felt as soon as 90 minutes after the last usage and may be felt for as long as seven to ten days. Withdrawal duration is generally influenced by the length of use and size of the drug dose. Your body’s overall health, age and history may also play a factor into the severity of withdrawal. Our goal at Royal Life Detox is to make detoxification from cocaine as smooth as possible, which is why our guests are monitored through and after detox and our medical staff is on site 24/7 to ensure safety and comfort.
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms May Include:
- Exhaustion
- Decreased cognitive ability
- Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
- Depression
- Tremors and muscle pain
- Increased appetite
- Vivid dreams
- Cravings
On Going Cocaine Abuse Recovery
Following medical detox at Royal Life Detox, guests will begin a comprehensive, collaborative approach to substance abuse treatment designed to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. We offer a variety of detox options for treating drug addiction beyond just cocaine. Our program helps to promote a lasting, sober lifestyle through sobriety and beyond. Our addiction specialists, from our therapists and case managers to our facility staff, are dedicated to providing the best in care and support. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions. We use other holistic methods, such as art, music and animal therapy to help our guests to learn to express themselves and communicate. At Royal Life Detox, we believe that emotional healing is just as important as physical healing. Our treatment features state-of-the-art activity, movement, and adventure therapies to create one program that treats mind, body, and spirit.
Guests may begin their recovery journey in our residential inpatient program and continue with us through PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living at our graduate housing residences. At Royal Life Detox, the guest is always our top priority, and we consistently do all we can to effect lasting change, that they might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after they have left our care. This is not just our goal, but our mission.
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