Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant that causes the brain to release euphoria-inducing dopamine. The high can last for minutes or hours.

Cocaine is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. It is also a highly addictive drug.

Symptoms

Cocaine abuse can lead to a variety of symptoms, including mental health disorders. These symptoms may include paranoia, anxiety and depression.

Family members should know that a person who has an addiction to cocaine will likely have these mental health issues, even when they are not using the drug. These symptoms can be a sign that someone is in need of treatment.

Long-term use of the drug can alter the brain’s chemistry, causing the reward pathway in the brain to become less sensitive to natural reinforcers. This can make things like money, food or relationships less enjoyable.

Often, these changes occur in combination with other problems, such as financial struggles and increased risky behavior. Family members should be aware of these signs and symptoms so they can help a loved one who is abusing cocaine to seek treatment before it’s too late.

Causes

Cocaine is a potent stimulant drug that can leave a person feeling energized and alert. But it also causes long-term changes in the brain’s chemistry that can make people dependent on the drug.

Chronic cocaine abuse leads to a variety of problems, including addiction, heart disease, and premature aging in the brain. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs of cocaine abuse if you’re concerned about your loved one.

Regular use can cause a person to become tolerant to the drug and higher doses are needed to feel the same high. This can lead to an unhealthy dependency and a risk of abuse and overdose.

Regular abuse of cocaine can also lead to a variety of psychiatric effects, such as paranoia and hallucinations. This type of psychosis may also cause a person to lose touch with reality, resulting in a loss of interest in things they once enjoyed.

Treatment

Treatment for cocaine abuse focuses on addressing the physical, mental, social and familial aspects of the disease. The best treatment centers offer a residential program that lasts from 30 to 90 days and includes individual therapy and group sessions.

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that affects many different parts of the brain. It also causes changes in the brain’s reward system, which can lead to powerful cravings.

Although no medications have been approved for this addiction, behavioral therapies are widely used to treat it. These treatments include group counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing and contingency management.

The use of cocaine is linked to medical complications such as heart disease, which can lead to ventricular fibrillation and other dangerous arrhythmias. It can also trigger hallucinations and paranoia.

Prevention

Cocaine is a drug that is highly addictive. It has a long list of health risks, such as strokes and heart problems. It can also change the brain’s chemical makeup.

Getting an overdose is also very dangerous and can lead to death. Therefore, it is important to take any drug abuse seriously and seek treatment as soon as possible.

There are many ways to prevent cocaine addiction. Some of these include education, counseling and behavioral change.

Counseling can help people identify and resolve their mental triggers and develop healthier coping skills. It can also help them build healthier relationships and reduce the risk of relapse.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is another promising option. MAT is a prescription medication that can help manage withdrawal symptoms or reduce cravings. It can also help patients manage any co-occurring mental health conditions.