Cocaine Abuse and Addiction
While cocaine is typically linked with the 1990s- and 1980s-party scenes, the stimulant substance is still popular today. Cocaine abuse is widespread, with users of all socioeconomic backgrounds seeking its cognitive benefits. Cocaine is very addicting and challenging to quit using without professional help. Physical signs of cocaine addiction are a reliable indicator that it is time to get assistance for a drug abuse problem.
Call Mallard Lake Detox Center immediately if you or someone you care about has a problem with cocaine and wants help. Our comprehensive cocaine addiction treatment in Houston includes various outpatient services that assist our patients in becoming self-sufficient.
What is Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is a popular stimulant that comes in a white powder form. It alters brain chemistry in the same way that other stimulants do. Cocaine speeds up the brain’s communications with the body, leading to a deluge of feel-good dopamine once it reaches circulation. The brain produces a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which leads to states of pleasure, exhilaration, and drive. This drive has a heightened alertness that contributes to a rise in cocaine addiction. Cocaine also induces euphoria, a high state of awareness, and a sense of dissociation from one’s surroundings. It has the potential to boost one’s self-esteem, encourage more communication, and encourage more social interaction. While some people may enjoy cocaine’s dopamine rewarding and stimulant effects on a casual basis, many others quickly develop a tolerance to or dependence on the drug.
Physical Side Effects of Cocaine Addiction
In 1970, cocaine was included in Schedule II of the controlled substances list. Cocaine is the most often used illegal substance in the United States and is unlawful for medical and recreational use.
Cocaine’s stimulating impact occurs instantly, leaving the user ecstatic, intellectually alert, energized, and chatty. The outcomes vary depending on the approach used. For instance, the effects of snorting cocaine are not as intense as those of smoking or injecting it, but the rush lasts longer. The “crash” that follows after the drug’s effects wear off causes feelings of depression and exhaustion, which drives users to seek out more of the substance. In this way, the spiral toward addiction starts.
Psychological Effects of Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine addiction has psychological severe consequences in addition to its numerous physical ones. Chemical changes occur in the brain when pleasure centers are repeatedly stimulated. Once the brain associates positive emotions with drug abuse, psychological dependence develops. The body concludes that continued cocaine abuse is necessary for either immediate or long-term happiness. Cocaine addiction alters how a person thinks and how they interact with others. Problems in sustaining good relationships may be exacerbated by extreme mood swings, anger, and agitation. The effects of long-term abuse on everyday functioning might be so severe that users cannot handle their duties, which can cause more strain on interpersonal connections. There may also be mental repercussions, such as depression; panic attacks; extreme anxiety; hallucinations; paranoia; aggressive and violent behavior. Cocaine addiction may also cause schizophrenic-like personality changes with prolonged abuse.
Get Help Today at Mallard Lake Detox Center in Houston
Please contact Mallard Lake Detox Center in Houston, Texas, if you or a beloved one are ready to begin a cocaine addiction treatment program that emphasizes individual and collective recovery. Call Mallard Lake today for more information or to set up an appointment.
