In some cases, receiving treatment for cocaine use may be able to prevent further damage. When a person with a cocaine use disorder abruptly stops, they will likely what happens after taking cocaine once side effects and safety experience severe withdrawal symptoms that impact the mind. The severe nature of cocaine withdrawal means that you should put yourself in the hands of a medical professional when detoxing. Dependencies and drug withdrawals are dangerous, and the medical approach is to undergo often detoxes supervised around the clock by doctors, nurses, and mental health practitioners.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Mixing cocaine with other substances, such as heroin or alcohol, can also be life threatening. This article explains what may happen after a single dose of cocaine, including the risks of death and addiction and what to do if an overdose occurs. The sustained increase of dopamine results in feelings of well-being and euphoria, a key part of how cocaine addiction can develop.
Supported living
But we need much more research into whether the vaccine is safe and effective over the long term. At the same time, you might develop what’s called sensitization to the drug. That means it takes less of it to cause negative effects like anxiety and convulsions.
- Legal guidelines range from state to state the place marijuana is now authorized for leisure or medical use.
- Cocaine-related deaths can occur as a result of cardiac arrest, seizures, and cocaine-induced strokes and comas.
- There are quite a few known interactions between cocaine and other substances, including over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications and other drugs.
- How you decide to ingest cocaine can dictate what side effects you may experience as a result of your cocaine use.
Side Effects of Cocaine on the Body
These centers provide a comprehensive approach, offering tailored treatments, therapy, and counseling that address addiction’s multifaceted nature. Another potential risk of long-term cocaine use is malnourishment because cocaine is an appetite suppressant. Other long-term risks include severe paranoia, hallucinations, and movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. In 2019, around 3,800 people received treatment for a cocaine use disorder in California. The good news is that recovery is possible, and with help, you can break free from the chains of addiction. Pacific Sands Recovery Center is a small facility with a 6-client maximum and private rooms, which allows us to focus on your unique needs.
Addiction Treatment Should Focus on Individuals, Not Drugs of Choice
This one-time experiment can become a lifelong struggle if not addressed promptly. Medications like disulfiram and topiramate may be considered to manage cravings. Inclusion in a comprehensive treatment program encompassing medical, psychological, and social support enhances the likelihood of successful recovery. Scientifically informed approaches prioritize addressing the multifaceted nature of cocaine addiction for more effective outcomes. Regular and long-term use of cocaine can cause a person to build up a tolerance to the drug, where more of it is needed in order for them to feel the same effects.
Along with the physical risks, cocaine use can affect your life in other ways. Instead of using baking soda as you would with crack, you add ammonia to “free” the cocaine base from its natural form. For this reason, you might hear the terms “crack” and “freebase” used interchangeably. To make cocaine, the leaves are chemically processed and treated to form a powder.
A cocaine binge is when someone uses cocaine repeatedly in higher and higher doses. People may take the drug until they run out or become exhausted. When injected, it goes directly into your bloodstream for a very strong and near-instant effect. For example, large doses of cocaine may cause unpredictable or violent behavior.
Counseling and other types of therapy are the most common treatments for cocaine use disorder. Sessions with a trained therapist can help you make changes to your behaviors and thought processes. You may need to stay in a rehabilitation center (also known as rehab) for intensive therapy and support. If you do attend rehab, continuing treatment afterward (aftercare) is important to help you avoid relapse. Some of the side effects of cocaine depend on how you take the drug. If you snort it, you might have nosebleeds, loss of smell, hoarseness, nasal irritation, runny nose, or trouble swallowing.
Some experience restlessness, irritability, anxiety, panic, paranoia, tremors, vertigo, and muscle twitches. Drug trends change over time, and it is important to monitor such trends, as doing so helps inform public health policy and treatment efforts. As cocaine abuse becomes more prevalent across America, people should become informed of the short- and long-term effects of using cocaine.
What happens to the body after using cocaine?
On top of that, cocaine is known to trigger mental illnesses or worsen the condition of someone struggling with depression, anxiety, or bipolar. As addiction’s grip becomes tighter, breaking free becomes an uphill battle, one that underscores the expertise and support of professionals. Timely intervention is crucial to halt the cascade of devastating consequences. Your chances of getting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are higher if you use cocaine. Some research has suggested that cocaine damages the way immune cells work in your body, which could make HIV worse.
- You may need to stay in a rehabilitation center (also known as rehab) for intensive therapy and support.
- That means it takes less of it to cause negative effects like anxiety and convulsions.
- If people have concerns about cocaine use in themselves or others, they can contact a healthcare professional, substance use disorder helpline, or support group.
- This stimulant rapidly floods the brain with dopamine, the pleasure and reward neurotransmitter.
- People there have chewed and eaten coca leaves for thousands of years to help them stay alert and lessen their appetites.
The health effects of using cocaine, even just once, are also extremely concerning. Users often experience harmful cardiovascular effects, such as disturbances in heart rhythm and even heart attacks (which can easily be fatal). It’s also common for users to experience neurological effects, including headaches, seizures, strokes, and coma.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy addresses maladaptive patterns, while contingency management reinforces abstinence. Comprehensive treatment models encompass medical and psychosocial components, optimizing outcomes. In early tests, a vaccine helped reduce the risk of relapse in people who use cocaine. The vaccine activates your immune system to create antibodies that attach to cocaine and stop it from making its way into your brain.
