How Addictive is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a drug with extremely addictive properties. In fact, cocaine is one of the most used illicit drugs in the U.S., second only to marijuana. Whether it’s the first time or habitual, there are immediate and long-term effects of cocaine use that can ultimately lead to substance use disorder and even death. Cocaine-related fatalities tripled between 2013 and 2018, indicating the white powder “party drug” is anything but harmless. Here, we’ll take a look at how cocaine addiction develops, who’s most at risk, and how treatment programs can help patients overcome it.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine, derived from the leaves of the coca plant commonly found in South America, is a euphoria-producing drug with a high potential for abuse. Although cocaine is rarely used in the healthcare industry in the United States as local anesthesia, it is most commonly available as a street drug. Cocaine, also known as blow, coke, or snow, is manufactured in illicit labs outside of the U.S. and is illegal, extremely dangerous, and can be deadly.

The pure, crystalline white powder is often diluted or cut with other powders like cornstarch or talcum powder, dangerous chemicals like laundry detergent, and synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, to stretch the amount of product and increase profits for the drug dealers. The powder form of coke can be inhaled through the nose (snorting) or dissolved in water and injected into a vein.

Cocaine is further processed and combined with baking soda to create rock crystals, referred to as crack cocaine or freebase. Crack is smoked using a glass pipe.

How Cocaine Use Leads to Addiction

Smoking crack or the intravenous injection of cocaine sends the drug into the bloodstream, which quickly travels to the brain, flooding its rewards center with dopamine, a feel-good chemical. The rapid buildup of dopamine causes an immediate 'rush' of energy and feelings of extreme joy, confidence, and happiness. Snorting takes closer to several minutes to achieve the same effect, but the high can last between 10 and 30 minutes.

Short-term effects of cocaine — the surge of dopamine it causes — disrupts the brain’s circuitry and limits its natural ability to create the chemical. Thus, the brain seeks an external source of dopamine, driving the person to take more cocaine. The more often a person uses the drug, the more they crave it, and the harder it is to control the use. The mind and body become dependent on the drug, and addiction develops. Unable to resist the cravings, cocaine users must take more potent and frequent doses to achieve the same feeling of bliss and obtain relief from withdrawal symptoms.

Crack produces a higher level of dopamine, leading crack users to become quickly addicted. The immediate and powerful euphoric effect makes crack very popular among people looking for a mood-altering drug.

Stages of Cocaine Addiction

The various stages of substance use related to cocaine are not standardized, but most treatment institutions indicate there are 3-5 stages from initial exposure to addiction.

Experimentation

This stage describes the first few times a person tries cocaine. Most frequently, cocaine is initially ingested intranasally (by snorting it). The effects of nasal use last 15-30 minutes, during which time, the person ingesting the drug experiences a euphoric feeling. Negative side effects typically aren’t as noticeable at this stage, which leads some people to continue experimenting with the drug to replicate the high.

Recreational Use and Tolerance

Over time, an experimental user of cocaine will become tolerant to its effects. That means they will need to use the drug more frequently, increase the amount, or change the method to get the same high. At this point, a recreational user might begin to experiment with smoking crack cocaine, which can lead to far more severe side effects, like noticeable mood swings, high blood pressure and nosebleeds.

Disordered Use and Craving

Tolerance of cocaine will eventually lead to cravings, and even feelings of cocaine withdrawal when the drug is not accessible. There may be physical impacts and behavioral changes in the user. For those who have moved on to smoking crack cocaine, the relatively short high (5-10 minutes) may leave them looking for other ways to maintain the euphoric feeling they’re seeking, such as injecting the drug.

Dependence

At this point, a cocaine user has developed a level of dependence on the drug, and feels they must have it in order to function. They are extremely likely to feel symptoms of withdrawal if they are without the drug, and may have a deep psychological need for it. This leaves them feeling they are unable to cope with daily life, and can result in serious behavioral and physical changes. They are also at higher risk for cocaine overdose and ongoing long-term effects.

How Addictive is Cocaine?

Cocaine is highly addictive. Although you may not be addicted to cocaine after just one use, using cocaine is a gamble. Like opioids and meth, cocaine becomes harder to resist each time you use it. Cocaine's highly addictive potential is enhanced by how good you feel when high and how bad you feel after the effects wear off. Because of this “crash,” there is an increased risk of binging or taking back-to-back doses to maintain the high and limit the crash.

Who is Most At Risk for Cocaine Addiction?

The rate of how quickly cocaine addiction develops depends on a variety of factors, which include:

• Pre-existing substance use disorders

• Mental health issues

• Genetics and proclivity to substance use

• Environmental factors like socio-economic status, social media pressure, and childhood trauma

These are not the only risk factors, and not all risk factors will be present in every person who exhibits a substance use disorder. However, the greater the number of risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood they will experience and potentially become dependent on cocaine.

Signs of Cocaine Addiction

There is a wide range of indicators that someone is addicted to cocaine. Someone addicted to cocaine may be secretive about their whereabouts, spend more time in private and family and friends may notice valuables and money are missing.

Those struggling with addiction experience constant thoughts about the next time they will use cocaine and, despite their best efforts, will not be able to stop — despite the negative consequences the addiction has on their relationships and or finances falling apart. They need professional treatment to stop drug use. Below, we explore more of the behavioral and physical signs.

Cocaine’s Behavioral Impact

Even short-term use of cocaine can cause mood-altering side effects and symptoms, including:

• Euphoria

• Feeling of invincibility

• Heightened sexual interest and pleasure

• Hyperactivity and high energy

• Paranoia

• Recklessness

• Violence

Cocaine’s Physical Impact

The effects of cocaine use can lead to severe and long-lasting health conditions. The physical symptoms of cocaine addiction and use can range from uncomfortable symptoms like a runny nose to life-threatening issues like cocaine overdose and death. Physical side effects include:

• Chest pain

• Heart attack, stroke or seizures

• High blood pressure

• Increased body temperature

• Increased heart rate

• Kidney disease

• Lung damage

• Runny nose and nosebleeds

How Cocaine Affects Your Brain

Beyond the physical and mental toll substance use can take on a person, cocaine can actually rewire your brain, altering your neurotransmitters and affecting your neurological well-being. When using cocaine, the brain changes in significant ways, including:

• An overhaul of the brain’s reward system, in which the brain craves the reward (dopamine) and alters the external stimuli it seeks

• Physical deterioration of the brain, including hemorrhages and aneurysms

• Declining cognitive abilities like memory and decision-making

• Increased sensitivity of the brain’s stress receptors, leading to behavioral and personality changes

Why Choose Caron Treatment Centers for Substance Use Disorder Recovery?

Cocaine addiction doesn’t just affect the person with the substance use disorder — it affects family, friends, and coworkers. Caron Treatment Centers can help create a treatment plan that works, whether that involves intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or other treatment options. Here’s how:

Expert Care

Caron’s team of experts creates comprehensive and individualized treatment programs, including medically supervised detox and individual, group, family and behavioral therapy.

Compassionate Addiction Treatment

We are committed to innovative, evidence-based care, but that never comes at the expense of our patients’ dignity and personal autonomy. Our caregivers are understanding, empathetic and dedicated to treating the mind, body and spirit.

A Safe Space to Detox

Our numerous locations ensure ease of access to best-in-class treatment at one of our treatment facilities. We offer discretion, security and privacy in both inpatient and outpatient care.

Support Throughout Cocaine Withdrawal

We understand this is not an easy or simple process, and our team is knowledgeable and trained in dealing with the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. Detoxing is never pleasant, but we are in the trenches with you, all the way.

Management of Aftercare and Long-Term Effects

Cocaine addiction treatment doesn’t end when your time with us is over. We’ll equip and empower you with the tools and skills you need to navigate your journey to lifelong recovery.

If you or a loved one need help with cocaine addiction, we are ready to help. Call 1-833-840-0010 or contact us online to learn more about Caron’s substance abuse treatment.