Am I Addicted to Cocaine?
Cocaine has been connected to nightlife, wealth, and celebrity culture for years. It’s often used in order to stay up for long periods of time, such as before going out to a nightclub or studying for an important exam.
Even though it’s glamorized, cocaine has many dangers. It’s a highly addictive stimulant that can cause a slew of mental, emotional, and physical problems.
These can be:
*heart attack
*paranoia
It may be hard to determine when one has developed a cocaine addiction. Below we’ll explore four ways to determine if you’re addicted to cocaine.
4 Signs You Are Addicted to Cocaine
Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs of abuse. It disrupts the dopamine reward system in the brain. After prolonged use, other natural and positive sources of dopamine are discarded by the brain, and cocaine cravings settle in.
The pleasurable effects of cocaine wear off within five minutes to an hour. This causes cocaine to be used in high doses, leading to cocaine abuse and addiction. Symptoms of cocaine addiction can manifest in many ways, such as:
*drastic physical changes
*high tolerance
*experiencing problems with responsibilities
*mental health changes
Let’s take a closer look at each of these, so you can better determine if you are addicted to cocaine.
Physical Changes
Cocaine greatly affects your appearance, your body, and overall physical health. It can be snorted, smoked, injected, and also rubbed into the gums.
Each of these different routes of administration has different effects on the body. Smoking and injecting, compared to snorting, will produce effects quicker and stronger, and can cause addiction faster.
Physical changes from cocaine use include:
*nose bleeds
*runny nose
*clogged nose
*nasal septum perforation leading to problems with tasting, smelling, eating, and drinking
*track marks
*red bloodshot eyes
*pupil dilation
*grinding jaws
*moving jaws back and forth uncontrollably
*chipped, broken, loose, and deteriorated teeth
*twitching
*damaged lungs
*baggy eyes
*pale skin
Regardless of how cocaine is ingested, it will affect your overall health. Also, cutting agents used in the cocaine manufacturing process have their own set of risk factors.
The long-term effects of cocaine on the body are:
*tears and ulcerations from reduced flow of blood to gastrointestinal areas
*weight loss or weight gain
*overall malnourishment
*clogged vessels
*inflammation of the heart
*chest pain
*bleeding in the brain
Tolerance Build
Cocaine wears off quickly and, like with many drugs of abuse, tolerance builds quickly. It takes more cocaine to feel the desired effects after the abuse has gone on for a while.
The withdrawal symptoms of cocaine use are uncomfortable. In order to avoid these unpleasurable symptoms, a person might continue to increase their cocaine intake.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:
*chills
*aches
*fever
*trouble concentrating
*fatigue
*irritability
If you feel you are constantly buying more cocaine than before to reach the desired high, and are experiencing harsh withdrawal symptoms when not using cocaine, you may have developed an addiction.
It’s suggested to detox from severe cocaine addiction symptoms in the safety of a detoxification center or rehabilitation facility.
Problems with Responsibilities
Addiction is not a cheap lifestyle. Even though drugs have become cheaper over the years, once someone is physically dependent on a substance, they might spend more and more money to stay high.
This may mean bank accounts, cars, and electronics are sold in order to buy cocaine. Some ask loved ones for money, and others may commit crimes to obtain funds. Bills may not be paid, and each check from work might disappear quickly. If you are in school, grades can suffer because of a preoccupation with cocaine.
If you have done any of these, you may have a cocaine problem.
Mental Health Changes
As well as bodily changes, cocaine can change the way you act, think, and relate to others. It greatly disrupts certain parts of your brain that control motivation, judgment, and critical thinking.
Harsh withdrawal symptoms from cocaine abuse cause erratic behavior, affecting relationships, mood, and personality.
Mental health changes from cocaine can cause:
*anxiety
*paranoia
*depression
*secrecy
*lying
*isolation
*disconnection from friends and family
*aggression
*violent behavior
*skipping out on work, appointments, or other duties
*defensiveness
Displaying any of these actions due to cocaine use can indicate a substance use disorder and getting the help you need via rehab is extremely important.
Finding Treatment for Cocaine Addiction
If you or a loved one relate to any of these signs, you may want to seek treatment for cocaine addiction. There are a number of treatment approaches for drug addiction that can jumpstart the path to recovery.
So, don’t be hesitant to reach out for support if you should need it. While there are many programs and treatments available, a rehab center may be the best option if you’re struggling to cope with addiction alone. Rehab centers offer a supportive and controlled environment, and you can explore this link healtreatmentcenters.com/do-rehab-centers-allow-cell-phones-rehab-dos-and-donts/ if you have any concerns about cell phone usage during your rehabilitation.
