Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is an addictive illegal drug that produces feelings of extreme happiness and energy. However, cocaine abuse can also lead to serious consequences, including devastating effects on mental and physical health, relationships, and financial stability.

If you or a loved one have been affected by cocaine addiction and its side effects, Summit at Harmony Oaks may be able to help you make a change. Our specialists can give you more information about financial assistance options, our treatment programs, and more.

What to Know About Cocaine Addiction

Made from the leaves of the coca plant, cocaine is a highly addictive substance that blocks the reabsorption of dopamine. This neurotransmitter (brain chemical) is vital in regulating pleasure and reward pathways in the brain. 

The blockage results in elevated dopamine levels, leading to intense euphoria and increased energy. Over time, repeated cocaine use can lead to compulsive drug-seeking behavior. It also causes tolerance. 

Tolerance is when a drug user experiences a reduced response to the drug and needs increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effects. This greatly raises the risk of cocaine overdose.

If you or a loved one are experiencing addiction to use of cocaine, Summit at Harmony Oaks can help. We provide substance abuse treatment and mental health services in Chattanooga, Tennessee, including substance abuse partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help. We have a wide range of interventions, including residential and outpatient programs.

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Common Causes of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction is a complex issue influenced by various factors. Here are the most common causes of cocaine addiction:

  • The method of cocaine consumption significantly influences how addictive it can be for the user. Snorting cocaine results in longer-lasting effects compared to smoking or injecting, which produce more immediate and intense highs. The intensity and quick highs that people can get from smoking or injecting can lead to quicker addiction.
  • Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can predispose people to substance use as a form of self-medication. The temporary relief provided by cocaine’s euphoric effects may encourage repeated use among those struggling with these disorders.
  • Social environments play a crucial role in cocaine addiction. Exposure to drug use in social circles or communities with high availability increases the likelihood of initial experimentation and eventual dependence.

Who Is at Risk of Cocaine Addiction?

Cocaine addiction affects a wide range of people. However, the following risk factors can increase the risk of cocaine addiction:

  • Genetic predisposition: People with a family history of substance abuse may have a higher chance of developing cocaine addiction due to genes affecting brain chemistry and behavior.
  • Environmental influences: Exposure to environments where drug use is prevalent can increase susceptibility. This includes peer pressure during the teen years or living in areas where getting drugs is easy.
  • Mental health disorders: Those experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety or depression may turn to cocaine as a form of self-medication. The temporary relief from symptoms can lead to dependence and tolerance, increasing the risk of addiction.
  • Age and developmental stage: Adolescents and young adults often face peer pressure to try drugs, making them more vulnerable to cocaine addiction.
  • Social and economic factors: Stressful life circumstances, including unemployment and social isolation, can push people toward substance use as a coping mechanism. Over time, this can lead to cocaine addiction.

Signs & Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction can cause a range of signs and symptoms. These are:

  • Compulsive drug-seeking behavior: People addicted to cocaine often spend excessive time and resources acquiring the drug, neglecting responsibilities and relationships.
  • Development of tolerance: People addicted to cocaine need higher doses over time to achieve the euphoria they experienced before.
  • Mood swings: Cocaine addiction causes frequent changes in mood, such as euphoria during use to depression during withdrawal periods.
  • Anxiety: Users may experience heightened feelings of unease, nervousness, or panic attacks.
  • Depressive symptoms: The emotional low that follows the high experienced during cocaine use can be extreme, leading to significant depressive episodes.
  • Other mental health disorders: Cocaine addiction frequently co-occurs with other mental health disorders. Accordingly, people with cocaine often have a dual diagnosis, which means they struggle with conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in addition to substance abuse. Signs of their mental health issues may appear in addition to any side effects of cocaine use they are experiencing.

If you have noticed these symptoms in a loved one or yourself, please reach out to Summit at Harmony Oaks in Chattanooga, TN. We will listen to your story and work to find the right treatment fit for your needs.

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As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.

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Effects of Cocaine Addiction

People with a cocaine addiction will experience various short-term and long-term effects.

Short-term effects include heightened energy, euphoria, and increased alertness. These pleasurable sensations can motivate people to use cocaine repeatedly, leading to addiction. 

However, users will also experience negative short-term effects, such as:

  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Increased heart rate
  • Dilated pupils
  • Increased body temperature
  • Constricted blood vessels
  • Feelings of panic, irritability, restlessness, and paranoia
  • Vertigo
  • Tremors
  • Muscle twitches
  • Weight loss
  • Loss of smell, nosebleeds, nasal irritation, and runny nose if you snort cocaine
  • Hepatitis or HIV if you inject cocaine

Over time, the consistent use of stimulant drugs like cocaine can lead to severe health issues and psychological dependency.  

Long-term effects include:

  • Cardiovascular complications such as heart attack due to prolonged strain on the heart
  • Cognitive impairments affecting memory and decision-making
  • Neurological disorders resulting from changes in brain function
  • Psychosis and hallucinations
  • Gastrointestinal complications, including nausea and abdominal pain
  • Sudden death as a result of seizures or cardiac arrest

Risks of Mixing Cocaine with Other Drugs

Combining cocaine with alcohol can be fatal. The two substances produce cocaethylene when mixed, which can increase the toxic effects of alcohol and cocaine on the heart.

Mixing cocaine with opioids like fentanyl or heroin is extremely dangerous. People often combine these drugs to counteract cocaine’s stimulating effects with the sedative properties of opioids. 

However, this can lead to unknowingly consuming a dangerously high dose of the opioid. Since cocaine’s effects wear off more quickly, this increases the risk of an opioid overdose.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Summit at Harmony Oaks

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Our newest facility, Summit at Summit at Harmony Oaks in Chattanooga, TN, offers a wide range of cocaine addiction treatments for people with addiction and their families. These include the following.

Cocaine Detox

Detox is the first step in an addiction treatment program. It refers to the process of clearing a substance — in this case, cocaine — from your body.

During detox, our healthcare providers will monitor your vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure. We may also prescribe medications that can help with intense and severe withdrawal symptoms.

Residential Programs

Once you have successfully finished a detox program, you may move to an inpatient or residential treatment program

This treatment program requires you to live at the treatment center, and healthcare professionals will help you manage a routine so you can live without being affected by triggers.

As a participant in our residential program, your schedule will likely include both group and individual therapy, daily required tasks, recreational activities, and support groups.

Outpatient Programs

The next step after an inpatient or residential program is to move on to an outpatient program, which is less intensive than an inpatient one.

Outpatient programs can be divided into three levels of intensity: 

  • Partial hospitalization programs (PHP), which are the most intense and involve multiple days of treatment per week, for several hours each day
  • Intensive Outpatient programs (IOP), which are the second-most intense and involve a few days of treatment per week for a few hours each day
  • General outpatient programs, which are the least intense.

Mental Health Treatment

Addressing mental health is important for treating addiction, because mental illness is often the reason someone becomes addicted to a behavior or substance. Treating the mental health problem can help the person overcome their addiction.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an example of an effective mental health treatment. It empowers individuals to spot and modify harmful thought patterns associated with cocaine use. 

By fostering healthier coping mechanisms, CBT enhances emotional resilience and minimizes the chance of relapse.

Find Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Summit at Harmony Oaks

Contact Us

If you or a family member have been living with an addiction to cocaine or another type of drug, keep in mind that you are not alone in this battle. There are many options to guide you to sobriety and peace of mind.

Summit at Harmony Oaks in Tennessee is dedicated to helping people achieve a sober life. Talk to an admission specialist today to learn more about our services and how we can help you. Our medical experts will listen to your story and help you create a customized treatment plan.

Cocaine Addiction FAQs

Does cocaine cause withdrawal symptoms?

Yes. Cocaine produces uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when someone stops using it. Common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Intense cocaine cravings
  • Anxiety and irritability
  • Increased appetite

Is a cocaine addiction hard to break?

Yes, cocaine addiction is hard to break. 

Several factors make breaking cocaine addiction difficult:

  • Neurological factors: Cocaine has a powerful influence on the brain’s reward system. 
  • Tolerance development: As people consume cocaine over time, their bodies adapt and require increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effects. This can increase drug dependency.
  • Withdrawal symptoms: Cocaine withdrawal causes negative symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and intense cravings, which can discourage people from quitting.

Can you cure cocaine addiction?

While there is no definitive cure for cocaine, healthcare providers can help people struggling with addiction achieve sobriety. 

They can help by providing the following approaches and services: behavioral and drug-assisted therapies, support systems, and comprehensive rehabilitation programs

Contact Summit at Harmony Oaks to learn more about how our compassionate staff can help you achieve sobriety and freedom from addiction.

Sources

  1. American Psychological Association. “Substance use, abuse, and addiction.” Retrieved from: Substance use, abuse, and addiction (apa.org) Accessed on October 13, 2024.
  2. Mayo Clinic. “Drug Addiction (Substance Use Disorder).” Retrieved from: Drug addiction (substance use disorder) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic Accessed on October 13, 2024.
  3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Cocaine.” Retrieved from: Cocaine Accessed on October 13, 2024.
  4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Treatment and Recovery.” Retrieved from: Treatment and Recovery | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov) Accessed on October 13, 2024.
  5. PubMed. Addiction Science Clinical Practice. Retrieved from: The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction Accessed on October 13, 2024.
  6. Yale Medicine. “How an Addicted Brain Works.” Retrieved from: How an Addicted Brain Works > News > Yale Medicine Accessed on October 13, 2024.
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