Cocaine addiction impacts millions of people worldwide. If you suspect someone may have an addiction or needs help with cocaine addiction, you should know the symptoms of addiction first.
Symptoms of cocaine addiction in an addict
Cocaine is a stimulant that is known for being highly addictive. The drug can be swallowed, injected or snorted, and it is often taken to make a person feel more alert and energetic. Additionally, users will also experience a euphoric feeling.
Over time, the drug may also cause the person to become irritable, restless and paranoid.
Physical signs of use include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Erratic behavior
- Pupil dilation
- High blood pressure
- High body temperature
- Loss of appetite
Some individuals will also develop hypersensitivity to sounds, light and even touch. If you’re looking for symptoms of cocaine addiction in someone, you’ll likely notice that their sleep patterns change, they’re paranoid and moody and they start engaging in risky behavior. They may also start to lie and become secretive.
Also, the person may begin to ignore their normal hygiene and lose interest in the activities that they once enjoyed.
How to treat cocaine addiction
Treatment for cocaine addictions requires helping the body return to a state of balance. Neurochemical and biochemical deficits will exist and need to be repaired. You can expect a multiprong approach to treatment, including:
- Pharmaceutical
- Psychotherapy
Multiple treatment options will be offered, but treatment should always start with a complete assessment of the person. An assessment will determine the person’s physical health and allow for a comprehensive treatment plan to be developed.
First, the treatment will include Neuro-Jet and infusion. An infusion aims to restore a person’s appetite and strength by providing a multitude of minerals and vitamins to the individual. Neuro-Jet treatment may be offered to stimulate the body’s production of:
- Dopamine
- Endorphins
When these two neurotransmitters are produced, it will lower the feeling of a person going into crisis mode while dealing with their symptoms.
Next, treatment will focus on the psychological aspect of addiction and will include psychotherapy. A psychologist will work closely with the addict to determine common triggers that lead to cocaine use and also break the desire for drug use.
Aversive therapy, physiotherapy and additional treatments may be necessary to break free from addiction.
Finally, once a person’s initial treatment is successful, they’ll need to continue with outpatient treatment. Outpatient therapy will last for at least a year and will help the addict adjust to life outside of a treatment center without cocaine.
Cocaine treatment is ongoing, but the consequences of continuing with your drug use are too high.
Consequences of using cocaine
Cocaine has short-term and long-term side effects. While the initial consequences of cocaine abuse may be minor, they’ll continually progress over time.
The first consequences deal with mood swings, paranoia, nervousness and irritability.
Over time, a person may begin to eat less, lose weight and experience high blood pressure. When abuse is ongoing, the long-term consequences include:
- Asthma
- Nosebleeds
- Difficulty swallowing
- Respiratory infections
Multiple infection risks rise with long-term use, such as greater risk of airborne disease, HIV and even hepatitis. Heart disease risks also rise, heart rates increase and chest pain occurs as well as fever and blurred vision.
In severe cases, a person may suffer from cardiac arrest or seizures.
If a person smokes cocaine, it will also impact them differently than someone who snorts it. These individuals may experience:
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain
- Hoarse voice
- Much more
If a person stops taking cocaine and attempts to beat their addiction, it’s common to experience severe cocaine withdrawal. The side effects of withdrawal can include extreme restlessness and paranoia, nightmares, fever, depression, thoughts of suicide and intense cravings.
Everyone’s withdrawal symptoms are different, but one thing remains the same: professional treatment can help.
Treatment facilities are best equipped to help any addict control their addiction. Additionally, these facilities can help calm a person’s withdrawal symptoms to allow them to overcome their addiction with as little discomfort as possible.
Whether seeking cocaine treatment for yourself or a loved one, the first step is always admitting there’s a problem.
Once a person realizes they have a problem, they can realign their focus on how to beat cocaine addiction. Beating the cravings and addiction alone is difficult. But a professional treatment center can help.
