The dangers of cocaine extend from damage to the nose through to long-term adverse outcomes, including substance use disorder and fatal overdose.
Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant and among the most addictive of all substances.
When you ingest cocaine, the substance impairs the ability of your brain to process neurotransmitters and chemicals associated with energy levels and mood. Cocaine directly stimulates your brain’s reward center, triggering a sense of euphoria and a rush of energy.
Most people snort powdered cocaine. Less frequently, it is ingested orally. This is an ineffective route of delivery and especially damaging, potentially leading to serious abdominal complications. The dangers of snorting cocaine, by contrast, include a deterioration in nasal tissue that could require surgery.
Some people inject cocaine intravenously, while freebase cocaine is smoked in the form of crack cocaine.
How Dangerous is Cocaine?
Cocaine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Like all drugs under Schedule II, cocaine has some limited medical utility – it can be used as a local anesthetic. Additionally, all drugs in Schedule II have a high potential for abuse, potentially leading to physical dependence and psychological addiction.
Tolerance to cocaine rapidly builds. Using more of the drug increases the chances of adverse outcomes and also becomes expensive. Cocaine can be fiercely psychologically addictive, with a cycle of compulsive use sometimes unfolding before people are aware a problem is developing.
What are the Dangers of Cocaine?
Beyond the habit-forming potential of this drug and the likelihood of substance use disorder developing with sustained use, cocaine also brings about many short-term and long-term dangers.
Short-Term
Using cocaine in any form impacts the central nervous system. This causes a variety of short-term side effects, including:
- Bloody nose
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Muscle spasms
- Erectile dysfunction
- Chest pain
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Low blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Dilated pupils
- Spine stiffness
- Paranoia
- Trouble breathing
In some cases, cocaine prompts people to act violently or otherwise irrationally.
Perhaps more concerning, though, are the long-term dangers of cocaine use.
Long-Term
The dangers of taking cocaine extend to the following long-term areas:
- High blood pressure heightening risk of heart attack and stroke
- Disorientation
- Hallucinations
- Damage to the kidneys, liver, and lungs
- Damaged nasal tissue
- Severe oral decay
- Risky behaviors
- Infertility
Distressingly, using cocaine long-term also causes damage that remains undetectable. Using cocaine long-term and in large quantities can precipitate irregular heartbeats, as well as an overall thickening of your heart muscle. Excessive cocaine use can increase the chance of heart attack.
Using cocaine also causes spikes in your blood pressure. In the case of aortic dissection or hemorrhagic stroke ,this can lead to potentially ruptured blood vessels in your brain with potentially fatal consequences.
Snorting cocaine long-term will inflame and damage the lining of your nose. If this leads to a perforation of the septum, you could require reconstructive surgery.
Over time, habitual cocaine use will trigger issues in your gastrointestinal tract. As cocaine constricts your blood vessels, this impedes blood supply to your intestines. In the worst outcome, this can cause a ruptured bowel, a condition that could even be fatal.
Long-term cocaine abuse also triggers changes in your brain. As the brain becomes accustomed to the overstimulation of dopamine, this can impair the functioning of the pleasure centers, making it hard for you to feel pleasure or happiness from anything other than cocaine.
Cocaine also increases your sensitivity to stress, causing feelings of irritability when the effects of cocaine wear off.
Cocaine use significantly increases your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Using cocaine will also heighten your risk of developing the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Psychosis
With habitual use, tolerance to cocaine quickly builds. This means you’ll need more cocaine to achieve the same effects, or you’ll need to use cocaine more often. Before long, physical dependence and cocaine addiction are liable to develop.
Cocaine withdrawal can be painful and protracted. Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Intense cravings for cocaine
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Anxiety
If you have been using cocaine to the extent that some of the above effects are disrupting your life, help is at hand.
Overcoming Cocaine Addiction at Renaissance Recovery
Here at Renaissance, our cocaine addiction treatment center will help you conquer the fiercely psychological aspect of addiction to this potent stimulant.
Unlike with opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder, there are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of a stimulant use disorder like cocaine addiction. Fortunately, there are a variety of evidence-based interventions that can help you move beyond cocaine abuse.
More good news: most cocaine addicts respond favorably to outpatient treatment, so you won’t need to deal with the cost or restriction of residential rehab.
At Renaissance Recovery Center, we offer the following forms of outpatient treatment for cocaine addiction:
- OP (outpatient program)
- IOP (intensive outpatient program)
- PHP (partial hospitalization program)
- Virtual IOP (remote intensive outpatient program)
Regardless of the type of program that best suits your circumstances, you will have access to the following therapies:
- Psychotherapy: CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is proven effective for the treatment of stimulant use disorders like cocaine addiction. Learn what triggers you to use cocaine, and implement healthier responses to life’s stressors instead.
- Counseling: With individual counseling, you’ll work closely with a counselor to explore your addiction to cocaine. Group counseling gives you the support of peers undergoing similar experiences.
- Holistic therapies: Here at Renaissance, you can access a variety of holistic therapies to supplement our evidence-based treatment.
Choosing to commit to recovery here at Renaissance will allow you to conquer the physical symptoms of cocaine dependence, and overcome the psychological component of substance use disorder. Reclaim your life today by calling the friendly team at 866.330.9449.
