The main component of this drug’s level of addictiveness is its role in dopamine production. Dopamine is essentially the chemical in the brain that is responsible for granting people feelings of happiness and pleasure. As the user’s neurological reward system coincides with the drug, it will begin to adapt to its presence. This phenomenon attributes itself to the high level of addictiveness that cocaine is infamous for. The less sensitive someone is to a drug’s effects, the more of it they will need to experience the high that they crave.¹

There are a number of effects that cocaine use can result in, such as:

• – Feelings of euphoria or intense happiness
• – Insomnia
• – Nausea and vomiting
• – Severe paranoia
• – Dizziness
• – Difficulty concentrating
• – Inflamed sinuses
• – Coma
• – Stroke
• – Risk of overdose

Cocaine can be ingested in a variety of ways. The most well-known is snorting it as a fine white powder through the nose. It is also common practice for drug dealers who are selling powdered cocaine to dilute it with corn starch, talcum powder, and even flour in order to gain more profit. Users may also elect to dissolve the powder and inject it straight into their bloodstream. Finally, a crystallized form known as crack cocaine can be heated up, from which the vapors are inhaled to produce an even more concentrated high.

Many cocaine addicts will elect to binge on the drug, meaning they consume a lot at one time in order to prolong the high as much as possible. There are a number of reasons that can explain why this is so common, but a particular factor to consider could be how unpleasant withdrawals can be. This is why we offer substance-specific treatment at our Legacy Detox center, in order to aid patients in managing the often overwhelming symptoms of cocaine withdrawals.

Signs of Cocaine Use and Addiction

There are numerous physical symptoms that could indicate cocaine abuse, including:

• – Bloodshot and watery eyes
• – Nausea and vomiting
• – Bloody or runny nose
• – Rapid heart rate

Because cocaine acts as an appetite suppressant, sudden or extreme weight loss is also an especially poignant sign of this kind of drug abuse. Many people that are under the influence may not feel the need to eat or sleep. This does not mean, however, that they have some kind of superpower. It is just the brain overestimating itself and its own needs, and sadly the rest of the body can begin to feel the effect. Additionally, ceasing use can result in gaining back weight at a rapid rate, which often leads people to relapse.

There are also behavioral changes that can indicate a problem, such as:

• – Rapid speech patterns
• – Irritability, including defensiveness relating to patterns of drug use
• – Mood swings
• – Difficulty remembering things
• – Breakdown of relationships
• – Superfluously spending money 

If you or someone you care about is exhibiting one or more of the symptoms listed above, Legacy’s Pompano rehab offers cocaine addiction treatment to aid patients in overcoming their dependency on this dangerous substance.

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