Understanding Cocaine Addiction

Learn About Cocaine Addiction & Abuse

Made from the leaves of the South American coca plant, cocaine is a powerful drug that most often appears as a white powder. Cocaine also comes in the form of a crystal rock, known as crack or crack cocaine.

Cocaine is a stimulant, which means that when a person ingests it, it increases the activity of certain regions of the brain. The results of cocaine use include feelings of pleasure, excessive energy, invincibility, and euphoria. The high from cocaine tends to be relatively short-lived, typically lasting no more than 30 minutes, so individuals who abuse this drug often take multiples over periods of hours or days. This behavior, which is known as bingeing, is one reason that individuals who struggle with cocaine abuse can quickly become addicted.

Statistics

Cocaine Abuse Statistics

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), indicates that about 0.3% of individuals 18 years or older meet criteria for cocaine use disorder, which is the clinical term for cocaine addiction, in a given year. Cocaine abuse is four times more common in males (0.4%) than in females (0.1%) and is least common among adults ages 45 to 64 (0.1%).

Causes & Risks

Causes and Risk Factors for Cocaine Abuse

The DSM-5 indicates that the following are among the risk factors that can increase a person’s risk for engaging in cocaine abuse:

Genetic: Certain genetically influenced personality traits, such as impulsivity, may increase an individual’s risk of cocaine abuse. In addition, other mental health disorders that are linked to genetics, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can also increase a person’s risk of cocaine abuse.

Environmental: In addition to genetic factors, certain environmental factors can also cause certain individuals to be at a greater risk for cocaine abuse. People who were exposed to cocaine in utero, as well as those who are raised by parents who abuse cocaine, are more likely to abuse the drug. Other environmental factors, such as exposure to community violence, living in an unstable home environment, and associating with dealers and other users, can also increase a person’s risk of cocaine abuse.

Risk Factors:

Personal history of mental illness
Personal history of substance abuse
Family history of substance abuse
Impulsivity
Living in an unstable home environment
Exposure to community violence
Associating with dealers and cocaine users

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine abuse is often evidenced by some or all of the following signs and symptoms:

Behavioral symptoms:

Failing to keep up with major obligations at home or work
A history of unsuccessful attempts to reduce use
Continuing to use cocaine despite knowledge of adverse physical, occupational, social, or psychological consequences of use
Using the drug in situations where it is physically hazardous to do so, such as while driving or at work
Neglecting important social, occupational, or recreational activities in favor of using cocaine
Spending a lot of time acquiring, using, or recovering from use of cocaine
Taking more of the drug, or taking the drug over a longer period of time, than one intends

Physical symptoms:

Changes in heart rate
Chills
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight loss
Irregular heart rate
Dilated pupils
Agitation or restlessness
Slowed movements
Muscle weakness
Trouble breathing
Seizures
High or low blood pressure
Sweating
Experiencing tolerance with continued use or withdrawal when attempting to stop using

Cognitive symptoms:

Slowed or rapid thought processes
Having strong desires or cravings for the drug
Excessive alertness
Confusion
Impaired judgment

Psychosocial symptoms:

Continuing to use cocaine despite experiencing interpersonal difficulties, such as conflict or estrangement, as a result of use
Social withdrawal
Blunted emotions
Anger or aggressiveness

Lasting Effects

Effects of Alcohol Abuse

If left untreated, there is virtually no area of a person’s life that cocaine abuse cannot negatively affect. Potential effects of cocaine abuse include the following:

Loss of child custody
Social isolation
Polysubstance use, addiction, or chemical dependency
Damage to nasal mucous membranes from snorting
Decline in work performance leading to demotion or being fired
Financial difficulties
Being a victim of violence related to drug trafficking
Strain on social relationships
Separation or divorce
Involvement with legal system, possibly including incarceration
Damage to arteries or veins from repeated injections
Onset or worsening of mental health symptoms
Contracting HIV or other sexually-transmitted infection from using unclean needles

Co-Occurring Disorders

Cocaine Abuse & Co-Occurring Disorders

Sadly, people struggling with cocaine abuse often meet criteria for other mental illnesses. Some of the most common co-occurring disorders among those with cocaine use disorder include:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Antisocial personality disorder
Gambling disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Other substance use disorders, especially involving substances with sedative properties that counteract the effects of cocaine

Withdrawal & Overdose

Effects of Cocaine Withdrawal & Overdose

Effects of cocaine withdrawal: When a person uses cocaine for a long period of time, his or her body acclimates to the presence of the drug. Since a person’s body becomes used to the presence of cocaine, any attempt to stop using the drug can result in a series of extremely uncomfortable experiences known as withdrawal. The following are among the more common effects of cocaine withdrawal:

Increased appetite
Insomnia
Oversleeping
Vivid and unpleasant nightmares or dreams
Fatigue
Depressed mood

Effects of cocaine overdose: In the process of pursuing a high, it is possible for someone who uses cocaine to ingest more than her body can take. When this happens, the person will experience an overdose, which is a dangerous and potentially fatal condition. Some indicators of overdose can include:

Dizziness
Agitation or aggression
Fever
Nausea
Confusion
Hallucinations
Irregular heartbeat
Vomiting
Sweating
Tremor or shaking
Seizure
Stroke

Fortunately, there is treatment available for those who seek it, and it is possible to end one’s addiction to cocaine once and for all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Cocaine Addiction

What causes cocaine addiction?

Cocaine addiction is caused by repeated use of the substance. Once you have consumed the drug, your body begins developing a tolerance to it, which means that you have to consume more of it in order to achieve the same effects. The more you consume, the more likely you are to become physically dependent on it, ultimately leading to the development of an addiction.

What are signs of cocaine dependence?

The most prominent sign that someone is physically dependent on cocaine is the ongoing need to consistently consume the drug. If the drug is not consumed, the person will enter a state of withdrawal as his or her body attempts to adjust to functioning without the drug present in his or her system.

What are the symptoms of cocaine addiction?

There are many signs that, when they remain persistent, may indicate that a person is addicted to cocaine. Examples of such signs can include the following:

Decreased appetite and weight loss
Continuing to abuse cocaine despite having a desire to quit
Stealing in order to have money to purchase the drug
Nausea, dilated pupils, elevated body temperature, chest pain, and rapid heartbeat
Pervasive paranoia
Heightened states of agitation and irritability

Can cocaine cause bipolar disorder?

No. Abusing cocaine cannot directly cause the onset of bipolar disorder. If someone is genetically predisposed to developing this mental health condition, however, the use of cocaine can lead to a rapid onset of symptoms.

What are the social effects of cocaine?

If you are using cocaine, your behavior will inevitably change. Your speech will likely become rapid, your thoughts may race, and you may experience feelings of grandiosity that can be confusing to those around you. Additionally, unprovoked aggression, irritability, and agitation can result from cocaine use, causing problems to develop within important relationships.

What are some cocaine abuse statistics?

The office of the National Drug Control Policy reports that an estimated 3.6 million people in the United States use cocaine on a regular basis. The American Psychiatric Association states that approximately 0.3% of the population suffer from cocaine use disorder, the clinical diagnosis for cocaine addiction.