Cocaine Addiction Early Warning Signs and Symptoms

Cocaine Addiction: Signs and Symptoms. Sounds like a heavy read. It is a serious subject but easy to understand. Let our experienced addictions clinicians give you an overview.

If you need Cocaine Addiction Help, call and speak with an experienced addictions clinician. If you need help with Crack Cocaine Addiction or just need Free 24 Hour Addiction Help: Call or email. We treat all callers with the strictest of confidence. Our advice is impartial and always free.

Cocaine is not a harmless party drug. A stimulant, derived from coca plants it is extremely addictive. While it is illegal to possess it, dealers are easy to find. Indeed, in cities, it is quicker to get Cocaine delivered to your house than a pizza.

You might think you can take it once and forget about it: Some people can. Sadly, most people can’t and you will soon develop a crushing addiction to Cocaine. It will change your brain chemistry and it will change your behaviour. If you are able to recognise the early signs, you may be able to help someone get into treatment.

Cocaine Addiction : Signs and Symptoms

Understanding Cocaine Addiction

As with other addictions, when someone uses Cocaine, they do know even though they know the damage it is doing. The drug works on the brain by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. When this happens, the brain has an excess of these chemicals, as well as Dopamine.

These chemicals account for the pleasurable effects that you will feel when you take Cocaine. The problem is that the effects are very short lived. While it takes effect you will have boundless energy, heightened sexual desires, feel as if you don’t need sleep and on top of your game.

The effects aren’t all positive. When you use Cocaine you will loose your appetite and may need to use the toilet more often. Your heart may beat so fast it makes you feel ill and a raised body temperature is also common.

Cocaine Addiction : Signs and Symptoms

Cocaine can make you feel very paranoid as well as anxious. Feelings of panic are often common. Your feelings of superior energy and capabilities can be so high that you may put yourself at extreme risk. It is not unknown for people, high on Cocaine, to think they can jump from tall buildings to another building or take on a larger opponent in a fight only to end up injured or dead.

Addiction to Cocaine is a complex problem. Those who are addicted to it know they are putting themselves at risk but simply can not stop. When you use Cocaine you are altering your brains reward system. The “feel good” elements can be incredibly intoxicating. Because the effects are so short lived, users need to constantly take the drug.

If loved ones, friends, colleagues and employers are able to see the signs early, they may well be able to work with the person to get them into treatment. Any use is problematic, but continued use can lead to serious outcomes: Even death.

Behavioural Signs of Cocaine Addiction

Drug use changes peoples behaviour and Cocaine is no different. One of the most telling signs is that the person becomes fixated on getting hold of it. Managing to buy some becomes all encompassing. Work, studies, relationships will become secondary to getting a fix. Cocaine becomes the world they revolve around. Sadly, for many, if they don’t have the money to buy it they will steal from their employers, friends, family or anyone they can in order to pay for it.

Dealers are not the kind of people you want to owe money to. They may let you buy on credit, but this is just putting the inevitable on hold. When they want their money, Dealers do not stop at niceties.

Cocaine Addiction : Signs and Symptoms

Denial and Secretive Behaviour

When someone is struggling with Cocaine use they become experts at hiding their use (or at least they think they are). They become adept at lying about their behaviour and will become argumentative and defensive when challenged about drug use.

Changes in Social Interactions

When you user Cocaine you are going to favour being around others who use it and don’t ask questions rather than those who don’t and do ask. This is not good as this circle of users simply enable and encourage you to use. If you associate with others who use you are likely to use more and maybe even use Cocaine in ways you had not done before, such as injecting.

Increased Aggression and Risk-Taking

When you use Cocaine you are going to be more aggressive, irritable and experience rapid mood swings. You may do things that are extremely dangerous such as driving under the influence or put yourself at risk of sexually transmitted disease because of your increased sexual drive.

Cocaine Addiction : Signs and Symptoms

Financial Irregularities

Cocaine costs money. As it is not something you can buy in a shop, you have no control over the purity of the product or the cost. Users find themselves in severe financial difficulties and may start to sell possessions to pay for it.

Physical Signs of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine abuse doesn’t just affect your nose, it will cause you to loose very significant amounts of weight as well as make your pupils dilate. Your sleep will also be affected which just makes your irritability worse. Some people will try and counter this with Ketamine which is beyond dangerous.

You will encounter very frequent nosebleeds as well as a constant streaming in your sinuses. Physical damage to your septum is a very common sign of Cocaine use.

When you use Cocaine your nervous system is overstimulated meaning you will sweat far more than normal. You may also experience a tremor in your hands and face.

High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Issues

People die from Cocaine use. Usually because of the strain placed on the heart and blood vessels supplying it. Strokes are also not uncommon. Infections around the heart muscle is also common when using cocaine as Cocaine is often contaminated.

Cocaine Addiction : Signs and Symptoms

Cognitive and Psychological Symptoms

As with using other drugs , Cocaine will significantly affect your mental wellbeing. Your memory will be affected and you will appear very confused. Even when you stop using, these symptoms can persist for a time.

As the drug affects your Central Nervous System (CNS) you will experience heightened anxiety and paranoia. This can lead to very dangerous situations. Your emotions will be impossible to manage and your mood will swing from low to high in short bursts. You will be very unpredictable which will put others on edge.

Above all, the cravings will be extremely debilitating. You will be consumed with the need to get hold of Cocaine 24/7. No amount of distraction or breathing techniques will stop them. The brain simply can not cope. It is not weakness: It is science.

If you need Cocaine Addiction Help, call and speak with an experienced addictions clinician. If you need help with Crack Cocaine Addiction or just need Free 24 Hour Addiction Help: Call or email. We treat all callers with the strictest of confidence. Our advice is impartial and always free.

Mental Health

If you have mental health conditions before you use Cocaine, it is going to make them worse. On occasions, it can cause you to need compulsory hospital treatment because o the risk you pose to yourself or others. Using Cocaine to try and abate the symptoms of pre-existing mental health problems simply won’t work. You will only make them worse.

Ignoring the Signs

While there are people who can use Cocaine only on a Friday night after they get paid, these cases are rare. You might be introduced to it at a party but you will soon find yourself having to meet your dealer in an alleyway at three AM.

The sooner you can get someone into treatment, the better the chances of recovery and the lower the incidence of serious health problems. Cocaine kills. It can be the first time you use it or the hundredth.

Cocaine Addiction : Signs and Symptoms

How Can Find Me a Rehab Help?

Our experienced addictions clinicians have helped hundreds of people dependent on Cocaine in private rehabs, statutory services, prisons, private hospitals and the NHS. We do not charge for advice or for making referrals.

If you need Cocaine Addiction Help, call and speak with an experienced addictions clinician. If you need help with Crack Cocaine Addiction or just need Free 24 Hour Addiction Help: Call or email. We treat all callers with the strictest of confidence. Our advice is impartial and always free.

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