Cocaine is a highly addictive illegal substance that falls under the stimulant category. Untreated, cocaine addiction can lead to serious and lasting effects, and can even lead to fatal overdose. Treatment for cocaine addiction is possible through rehab and detox. Read below to find out more about the symptoms, side effects, risks, and addiction potential for cocaine.
- Cocaine is derived from coca leaves, most commonly grown in Central and South America. The leaves are chemically treated and processed to be turned into the powdered white substance sold as cocaine. Read here for more on how cocaine is made.
- Cocaine abuse causes euphoria to occur by affecting the central nervous system and producing high levels of dopamine. The intensity and speed of cocaine's effect on the mind depend on how it is taken. Read here for more on how cocaine is taken.
- For powdered cocaine, there are a variety of risk factors that determine how likely a person is to become addicted. Read here for the warning signs of cocaine abuse.
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Understanding cocaine
Cocaine, most widely recognizable as a white powder substance, is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system (CNS), causing feelings of euphoria as well as increased energy and sociability.
Ingestion of cocaine is most commonly done nasally, by snorting, but it can also be smoked (usually as crack cocaine) or dissolved in water and taken intravenously. Cocaine is widely used in the US and across the globe as a party drug and is highly addictive in nature.[1][2]
Cocaine origins
Cocaine is derived from coca leaves, most commonly grown in Central and South America. The leaves are chemically treated and processed to be turned into the powdered white substance sold as cocaine.[1][2] Almost 90 percent of the cocaine that comes into America is produced in Colombia, and almost all of it is smuggled across the Mexican border by members of dangerous drug cartels.
Related blog: Colombia Could Decriminalize Cocaine, as President Says The War on Drugs Has ‘Failed.’
Cocaine is rarely pure and is often cut to increase profits. Sometimes, it is cut with dangerous drugs or chemicals that can be toxic to the brain and body and can even lead to accidental poisoning or overdose.[2]
Read here to learn more about where cocaine comes from and how it is made.
Cocaine street names
Cocaine has many street or slang names, derived from multiple sources, including the substance's appearance, origin, wordplay on cocaine, and its effect. Some of the most common cocaine street names include:
- C (or 'big C')
- Blow
- Bernice
- Coke
- Peruvian snowflake
- Snow
- Charlie
- Columbian flake
- Gold dust
- Foo foo
- Yesca
- Yayo
- Nose candy
- Blanca
Effects of cocaine use
Cocaine affects the central nervous system by stimulating high levels of dopamine, a neural chemical associated with pleasure and reward. Prolonged use of cocaine hurts the entire body, and the potential for severe adverse side effects is high if taken for long enough. It can cause permanent changes to the brain and also has the potential to damage vital organs, and an increased risk of heart problems and stroke.[2]
Read here for the warning signs of cocaine abuse.
Short-term effects of cocaine use
Cocaine abuse provides euphoria to occur by affecting the central nervous system and producing high levels of dopamine. The intensity and speed of cocaine's effect on the mind depend on the way in which it is taken. Smoking or intravenous injection causes cocaine to reach the brain in a matter of seconds, with a rapid build-up in intensity. This causes the ‘rush’, the rapid onset of euphoric sensations.
The duration of the rush from cocaine also differs depending on the type of cocaine used, with snorting normally lasting a total of 30 minutes and smoking or intravenous injection only 10 minutes. This short duration of effect is what commonly drives the user to take cocaine frequently and can lead to overdose (more so when injecting than snorting).
Short term adverse effects of cocaine use include:[1][2][4]
- Restlessness, agitation, and irritability.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Insomnia or trouble sleeping.
- Twitching and muscle spasms.
- Irregular or fast heart rate and increased BP.
- Paranoia or heightened anxiety.
- Feeling alert, happy, or euphoric.
- Increased impulsivity and risky decisions.
- Extreme alertness and hypersensitivity to touch, light, and sound.
- Extreme overconfidence or an inflated sense of ego.
- Raised body temperature.
- Nausea or GI upset.
- Dilated pupils.
The high from cocaine is often short-lived, and the substance is processed by the body rapidly. However, many factors can affect how long cocaine stays in your system.
Long-term effects of cocaine use
The brain develops a tolerance to cocaine quickly, meaning people who abuse cocaine regularly will require more for it to take effect. Using more cocaine to overcome tolerance increases the risk of becoming addicted to the drug.
Once a cocaine addiction forms, it is difficult for a person to stop using on their own, especially without treatment. Once addicted, people tend to experience negative effects on their physical and mental health, as well as at work, in relationships, and in other important areas of life.[5]
Long-term psychological effects of cocaine use
Long-term use of cocaine can cause paranoia, irritability, insomnia, mood swings, and other mental health problems.[2] The crash or come down from cocaine is usually experienced as physical and mental exhaustion, intermittent sleep, and depression, often lasting a few days or a week.[6]
After they come down, users often experience cravings to use the drug, making it difficult to quit, especially once dependence has formed. Many people also experience trouble focusing and concentrating, and difficulty thinking clearly when withdrawing from cocaine. Some users will experience these symptoms for a few days to a week, while others may find their symptoms linger for months or even longer after stopping.[6]
Long-term physical effects of cocaine use
The long-term consequences to the body caused by prolonged cocaine use are more severe, including:[1][2][4]
- Heart problems, irregular heart rate, and increased risk of stroke and heart attack.
- Coughing, asthma, pneumonia, and lung conditions (for people who smoke crack).
- Nosebleeds, a running nose, and problems swallowing (for people who snort cocaine).
- Increased risk of infections like HIV and Hepatitis (especially for those who inject).
- Bowel decay or G.I. problems (for oral users).
- Increased risk for addiction and overdose (especially for heavy users or polydrug users).
Cocaine dependence & Addiction
Cocaine is highly addictive, and it is not always apparent when an addiction has formed. Ignoring the come down that occurs after cocaine usage and then craving it again are strong indicators of addiction. Once addicted to cocaine, it is very difficult to stop taking it. This is because the increased levels of dopamine caused by taking cocaine can permanently change the reward system in the brain.
This is classed as a psychological addiction and is very hard to overcome, though the physical symptoms of cocaine addiction are undeniably challenging as well. Frequent cocaine use will very easily become a dependency, meaning the user will require cocaine to feel a sense of normality. As the effects of cocaine are short-lived, it is not always easy to spot the warning signs of addiction and abuse.
Diagnosing a cocaine addiction
Cocaine use disorder (the clinical name for cocaine addiction) can only be diagnosed by a licensed health, mental health, or addiction specialist during a formal assessment. Cocaine use disorder is diagnosed using 11 criteria that are detailed in the DSM-5. A cocaine user will often be diagnosed with a use disorder if they display two or more of the following criteria:[5]
- Hazardous cocaine use.
- Social or interpersonal problems related to cocaine use.
- Neglected major responsibilities to use cocaine.
- Experiencing cocaine withdrawal symptoms.
- Developing a tolerance.
- Using larger amounts.
- Repeated attempts to quit or control cocaine use.
- Excessive time spent using cocaine.
- Physical or psychological problems related to cocaine use.
- Activities replaced by cocaine use.
- Cocaine craving.
Causes of cocaine addiction
Risk factors do not guarantee a person will become addicted to drugs such as cocaine, but their presence statistically increases the likelihood. For powdered cocaine, there are a variety of risk factors that determine how likely a person is to become addicted. These include:
- Environmental factors like community crime and unemployment rates.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Social factors, such as cocaine exposure from friends or partners.
- Minority status, like discrimination and generational assimilation.
- Family dynamics, like parental cocaine abuse and parental neglect.
- Behavioral factors like low self-esteem and delinquency.
- Untreated mental health conditions.
Treating a cocaine addiction
Like any drug addiction, cocaine addiction can be hard to overcome, especially alone. Though some people can stop and conquer cocaine addiction on their own, most will require rehab or a cocaine detox treatment program. Cocaine addiction treatment greatly increases the likelihood of overcoming an addiction to cocaine, and several options may be available to you, some at little or no cost.
Reaching out to an addiction treatment center or licensed addiction specialist is the best way to determine your options for cocaine treatment and help you find the right one for you.
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