Cocaine Addiction and Abuse Treatment
Heroin is one of the most addictive substances in the world. There are several different treatment plan options available, but finding the best fit for you or your loved one can be intimidating.
Cocaine abuse is becoming more and more popular, especially in young adults across the United States. This is leading to unprecedented levels of cocaine addiction.
Seeking help and treatment for substance abuse is intimidating, but it’s important to do to get your life back on track. In this guide, we’ll go over exactly what cocaine is, how it affects the body, and how to seek treatment.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a stimulant drug derived from the leaves of the coca plant. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), this drug usually comes in a fine, white powder but can also come crystallized in the form of crack cocaine.
Understanding Cocaine
ocaine is a powerful stimulant that many people use to get high and experience higher energy levels and euphoria. Many users will either snort the powder or rub it on their gums.
Cocaine increases dopamine levels in the brain, which gives the user a euphoric feeling. Over time, the dopamine receptors become damaged and tolerance builds up, meaning it takes more cocaine than normal to feel high.
Because of its ability to make the user feel energetic, many people suffering from mental disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) use cocaine as an alternative to prescription stimulants like Adderall. It’s also a common drug of choice for people with narcolepsy.
Cocaine Effects and Abuse
Cocaine has side effects similar to other types of stimulants, but the drug affects everyone differently. The most common side effects of cocaine abuse are:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Inability to fall asleep
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
- Dilated pupils
- Increased heart rate
- Irritability and mood swings
- Over-excitement
Addiction to Cocaine
While many people view cocaine as simply a party drug, it’s highly addictive, and long-term users have severe medical issues. Long-term cocaine use severely damages the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, increases blood pressure, and severely damages your cognitive function.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
There are several different types of treatments for cocaine addiction. Unlike opioids and other narcotics, detoxification from cocaine usually only takes a few days and has much less severe side effects.
Even though the detox process is mild, the addiction and cravings are strong. For those who are severely addicted, seeking an inpatient treatment program will yield the best results. There, you can receive around-the-clock supervision from medical professionals to give you all the treatment you need, including treatment for physical health and mental health.
There are outpatient treatments for cocaine addiction as well, including cognitive-behavioral therapy. You can also seek help from support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous.
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