How Does Cocaine Impact the Body?
You’ve probably heard about the dangerous cocaine substance, the illegal stimulant that’s recreationally used. But how does cocaine impact the body? Cocaine is addictive, and taking it creates an elevated feeling and mental alertness. However, the rapid rush of joy comes at the expense of your health. Despite its illegality, cocaine is a widely used substance.
The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) revealed that more than 5.2 million Americans, 12 and upwards used cocaine in 2019. Cocaine is the third most used illegal drug in the U.S., with an estimated 15% of Americans reported to have used it once. Cocaine addiction takes a heavy toll on the user.
Cedar Oaks Wellness Center is a Cincinnati drug and alcohol rehab center that offers high-quality cocaine addiction treatment. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
Who is At Risk?
Young and older adults are the most susceptible to cocaine use, although the rates have slightly reduced since the millennium. About 5.3% of young adults between 18 and 25 used cocaine in 2020. That’s a significant improvement from the 6.7% in 2002. Conversely, only 16.5% of older adults used cocaine in 2020, against 17.3% in 2019.
How Does Cocaine Impact the Body?
Cocaine impedes the body’s processes and forces us to ingest more when the effects fade. We may not know the quantity consumed until we act differently and make costly mistakes. The nervous system is typically responsible for the body’s responses and regulating emotions. With cocaine consumed, these natural body processes are suspended, with the substance taking over operations.
Dopamine concentration in the brain reaches the climax and disrupts communication between the nerve cells. With communication cut off, the body is put in a suspended state. That’s why users always feel high when they take cocaine. Over time, the brain develops tolerance to the drug, needing you to take a larger quantity to feel the same way.
The effects of this disruption manifest in the body organs, such as the heart, stomach, lungs, etc. Cocaine impacts the heart by:
- Constricting the vessels, which develops to stroke
- Raising blood pressure
- Increasing heart rate
- Muscle inflammation
- Chest pain
The effects of cocaine on the stomach include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Poor blood flow to the small intestine (ischemia)
- Intraperitoneal hemorrhage
- Bowel issues
Effects on the lungs include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing
- Edema
- Bronchial inflammation
These effects can be acute or chronic. Either way, seeking medical help is the only way forward. The effects can be fatal, and you wouldn’t want to lose your life to this abuse. No quantity of cocaine is safe. The safest way to avoid consequences is to quit. Medical experts can help you achieve that.
Treating Cocaine Use
If you or someone you know is addicted to cocaine, there’s still hope for such an individual. Substance abuse treatment is available, and it’s also effective. Using cocaine doesn’t make you a bad or weak person. You can come out of it successfully, just like the millions who recovered from addiction.
The first step to recovery is detoxification. This is where the medical experts remove the cocaine from the body and manage the withdrawal symptoms that ensue with medications. Detoxification is challenging; you’ll need an excellent support network to progress to the phase. This process lasts two weeks but could last longer, depending on the severity of the case.
Therapy follows detox. Medical experts employ various techniques and methods, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and EMDR, to change the behaviors that induce addiction. Therapy is usually long-term. You should be clean and ready to integrate into the world upon completion. Building a sound support system will help you cope with demanding day-to-day life.
Cedar Oaks Offers Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Cedar Oaks Wellness Center is here to help you recover your life and fulfill your dreams. It is equipped with the latest facilities and amenities and experienced staff to ease you into recovery. Call us and one of our trained doctors will answer even if it regards the already discussed question, ‘how does cocaine affect the body.” Don’t wait any longer!
