Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that can harm your health in many ways. The long-term effects of cocaine use can cause serious damage to your body and mind. If you use cocaine or know someone who does, it’s important to understand these risks.
Stopping cocaine use and getting help can prevent or reduce these harmful effects. Read on to learn what are the long-term effects of cocaine and how you can get effective cocaine addiction treatment.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a powerful and addictive drug that stimulates the brain. It is usually found as a fine, white powder and is a Schedule II drug, meaning it is illegal to use for non-medical purposes and is highly addictive. People can snort the powder or dissolve it in water to inject it.
There are also other forms of cocaine. One is freebase, which is made by removing certain chemicals so it can be smoked. This form is dangerous because it uses flammable chemicals that can cause explosions and burns. Freebase cocaine gives a quick and intense high, making it very addictive.
Another form is crack cocaine. It looks like small, white rocks and makes a cracking sound when heated. Crack is made using baking soda and often contains impurities. It is one of the most addictive forms of cocaine because it provides a very fast and intense high. People who use cocaine may take it repeatedly in a short period, trying to keep the high going.
Why Is Cocaine So Addictive?
Cocaine is very addictive because it makes people feel good quickly. It causes a chemical known as dopamine to build up in the brain, making those who use the drug feel happy and excited. This high can make people want to use cocaine again and again. Cocaine is highly addictive for the following reasons:
- Positive reinforcement: Cocaine makes you feel happy, energetic, and confident. These good feelings make people want to take the drug repeatedly. The brain starts to expect these rewards, creating a pattern that leads to addiction.
- Brief but intense high: The high from cocaine is very strong but doesn’t last long. People start to feel the effects quickly, but these effects fade within 20 to 30 minutes. Because the good feelings go away so fast, people often want to take more cocaine to keep feeling good.
- Mixing with other drugs: People sometimes use cocaine with other addictive drugs like alcohol, heroin, or fentanyl. This can make the effects of cocaine even stronger, increasing the desire to keep using it.
- Avoiding withdrawal symptoms: Stopping cocaine use can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms like tiredness, bad dreams, irritability, anxiety, and cravings. To avoid these feelings, people may keep using cocaine, which can lead to addiction.
How Cocaine Interacts with Your Nervous System
Cocaine has a powerful effect on your CNS (central nervous system), which includes your brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves in your body. Here’s how it works:
Boosts dopamine levels
Cocaine causes a big increase in a brain chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a feel-good chemical because it makes you happy and excited. Normally, dopamine is released when you do something enjoyable, like eating your favorite food. After that, it gets recycled back into the brain cells. However, cocaine blocks this recycling process, causing a build-up of dopamine. This extra dopamine leads to the intense high that makes cocaine so addictive.
Speeds up your brain and body
When you use cocaine, it speeds up your whole nervous system. This means your brain works faster, and so does your heart. You might feel very energetic, alert, and talkative. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases, and you might feel warm. This speed-up can feel good, but it is also dangerous and hard on your body.
Changes how you feel and act
The boost in dopamine can make you feel super happy and confident for a short time. However, once the effects wear off, you can feel the opposite – sad, anxious, and tired. This quick change can make you want to use more cocaine to feel good again. Over time, your brain gets used to the drug, and you might need more of it to get the same happy feeling – this is known as tolerance.
Affects your judgment and control
Cocaine impacts the parts of your brain that help you make decisions and control your actions. This can make you do things you normally wouldn’t do, like taking risks or behaving recklessly. It can also make it harder for you to stop using the drug, even if you know it’s bad for you.
Causes long-term damage
Using cocaine for a long time can cause serious damage to your nervous system. It can lead to memory problems, trouble thinking clearly, and mental health issues like anxiety and paranoia. Your brain might not be able to make and use dopamine properly anymore, making it hard to feel happy without the drug.
Getting help to stop using cocaine is important to protect your brain and overall health. Call 877-679-2132 for immediate assistance.
3 Physical Long-Term Effects of Cocaine
There are many long-term physical effects triggered by cocaine abuse, including heart problems, lung damage, and nose issues.
1) Heart problems
Cocaine use over a long period can severely damage the heart and blood vessels. It can cause the heart to beat too fast or irregularly – arrhythmia. This increases the risk of heart attacks, which can be fatal even in young and healthy people. Cocaine also raises blood pressure, which can lead to strokes and other cardiovascular diseases.
2) Lung damage
When cocaine is smoked or inhaled, it can damage the lungs and airways. This can lead to chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other lung diseases. People using the drug long-term may experience persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Over time, the lung damage can become severe and irreversible.
3) Nose and sinus issues
Snorting cocaine can cause serious damage to the nasal passages and sinuses. The drug can erode the mucous membranes, leading to chronic nosebleeds and a constant runny nose. In severe cases, it can cause a hole (perforation) in the septum, the tissue dividing the two nostrils. This can lead to further complications and require surgical intervention.
3 Psychosomatic Long-Term Effects of Cocaine
Chronic cocaine abuse can also cause psychosomatic effects, impacting the mind as strongly as the body.
1) Anxiety and paranoia
Long-term cocaine use can lead to chronic anxiety and intense feelings of paranoia. People may feel constantly worried or afraid, even when there is no danger. This heightened state of anxiety can interfere with daily activities and relationships. Paranoia can become so severe that some people might believe others are plotting against them, leading to mistrust and social isolation.
2) Depression
Cocaine disrupts the brain’s natural production of dopamine, a chemical that helps regulate mood. Over time, this disruption can lead to severe depression. People may feel persistently sad, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, and have difficulty experiencing pleasure. This condition, known as anhedonia, can make life feel empty and meaningless, and can sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts or actions.
3) Hallucinations
Chronic cocaine use can cause hallucinations, both auditory (hearing things) and visual (seeing things). These hallucinations can be very frightening and can cause significant distress. For example, people might hear voices that aren’t there or see people or objects that do not exist. These hallucinations can blur the line between reality and imagination, making it difficult to function normally and increasing the risk of accidents and dangerous behaviors.
Cocaine Addiction | FAQs
Are the long-term effects of cocaine permanent?
Some long-term effects of cocaine can be permanent, like damage to your heart and brain. Other effects might get better if you stop using the drug and get treatment.
How can I stop using cocaine?
You can stop using cocaine by getting help from a doctor or rehab center. Support from friends, family, and support groups also makes a big difference.
What is a good cocaine rehab near me?
To find a good cocaine rehab near you, ask your doctor for recommendations or search online for reviews. Local health departments and support groups can help you find the right place. Begin recovery at Ohio Recovery Centers. Take the first step and call: (877) 679-2132.
Get Cocaine Addiction Help Through Compassionate Treatment at Ohio Recovery Centers.
If you need cocaine addiction help, reach out to Ohio Recovery Centers. We treat all types of addiction, including cocaine addiction, in an outpatient setting. This lets you continue at home, work, or school while getting help with effective treatment. If you need help with withdrawal, we offer supervised cocaine detox.
All addictions are unique, so all treatment programs at our Cincinnati rehab offer personalized therapies, such as:
- Talk therapy
- Motivational therapy
- Counseling
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Holistic therapies
- Aftercare
To start treatment for cocaine addiction, call our recovery experts today at 877-679-2132.
