Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It can be taken in three ways: snorting, injecting, and smoking. Each of these methods has its own set of risks and consequences to consider. In this post, we will explore the dangers of snorting, injecting, and smoking cocaine so you can make an educated decision before using it for recreational purposes.
What is cocaine made of, and what are the dangers?
Cocaine is made from an extract of the coca leaf. It can be ground up and snorted, which sends it to the bloodstream through your nasal cavity. This fast-acting drug creates a short but intense high that leaves you craving more when it begins to wear off. Snorting this powerful stimulant puts you at risk for severe consequences, including:
- Addiction
- Heart problems
- Mental health issues like anxiety or depression
- Damage in the septum (the cartilage between the nostrils)
- Overdose
- Stroke
- Respiratory failure if too much is inhaled into one’s system all at once due to how quickly cocaine enters the brain with this method of ingestion
Why is cocaine so addictive?
Curiosity and peer pressure lead many people to try cocaine, but once they do, the substance hijacks their brain chemistry.
Cocaine creates a rush of dopamine in your system that makes you feel incredible — powerful, euphoric, and energized all at the same time.
After that initial high wears off, though, the brain works to recover its normal chemical balance. The more often you use cocaine, the more desensitized your brain will become to dopamine.
Eventually, you will need more and more cocaine in order to feel good at all — a potentially dangerous addiction has begun.
The dangers of cocaine are related to the method of use
There are multiple ways to use cocaine, each with its own set of risks. The most common ways to use cocaine are snorting, injecting, and smoking it. Each of these methods has its own set of risks and consequences to consider.
Snorting cocaine
The dangers of using powdered drugs like cocaine include potential issues such as sinus problems or even respiratory failure if too much powder gets into your system. Sniffing powdered substances up into your nose through an unsterile surface (like a dollar bill) or directly off something that could have drug residue on it from previous uses can also lead to infection.
When you snort cocaine, there is a high risk for damage in the nasal cavity due to the brain sending less blood to the nose. When people do not take proper precautions by using new, clean bills or sterile surfaces to line the insides of their nostrils with cocaine, they are at risk for contracting hepatitis C, which can be very dangerous if left untreated.
Snorting cocaine can also lead to a loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, and irritation in the nasal passage.
Injecting cocaine
When you inject any substance intravenously, there is a high chance you could contract infectious diseases. Since the drug doesn’t go through other processes in our bodies first before it gets to our brains, there’s an increased risk of overdose and vein damage through direct injection of cocaine. Injecting also puts users at a higher risk for developing health issues such as depression or anxiety.
Injecting cocaine can lead to scarred or collapsed veins; infections at the injection site; abscesses (pus-filled lesions); risky sexual behavior, which could put someone at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS; or hepatitis C due to sharing needles that may not be sterile between uses.
Smoking cocaine
Smoking cocaine puts users at risk for lung damage, respiratory failure, or even heart attack. It can also cause cocaine powder to build up in the lungs and lead to death from overdose. Cocaine is most often smoked as crack cocaine because it’s easier to smoke than regular powdered cocaine.
People who smoke crack often suffer from burns on their fingers and respiratory issues like coughing and wheezing when they use this method frequently.
Effects of cocaine on the brain and body
People who use too much cocaine can potentially have seizures or even blackouts and lose consciousness due to how quickly it enters their bodies. Cocaine also damages the tissues surrounding blood vessels due to constriction, which is why people may experience strokes if they take high doses frequently enough. This should be taken seriously when considering the potentially dangerous side effects of using large amounts at once.
Cocaine does not stay in the body long, but its symptoms can last, such as increased heart rate and changes in mood. Anxiety and depression become more likely after repeated usage.
Effects of cocaine on the brain and body include:
- Irritability and mood swings.
- Hallucinations (can be auditory, visual, or tactile).
- Fear of losing control in social situations. This can lead to paranoia when cocaine is not available for use.
- Damage or even death to tissues surrounding blood vessels.
- Constriction of blood vessels, which can lead to strokes if used in large amounts frequently enough over time.
- Loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds.
- Respiratory failure if too much is inhaled into one’s system all at once due to how quickly cocaine enters the brain with this method of ingestion.
Cocaine and long-term adverse effects
Cocaine can cause long-term neurological damage if it is abused. This can be a result of direct exposure to the drug, as well as poor decisions made while under the influence of cocaine that lead to injury from falls or motor vehicle crashes. Other health consequences include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Heart attack
Using cocaine while pregnant
Avoid the use of any drug while pregnant at all costs. The dangers of using cocaine when pregnant are significantly heightened since the baby will be affected by exposure to the drug. Cocaine can cause problems with fetal development throughout pregnancy, which can put both the mother and baby involved at high risk for health complications. The health risks associated with using cocaine while pregnant include:
- Premature birth
- Anemia (which is a condition where red blood cells aren’t appropriately produced)
- Low birth weight
- Other symptoms as a result of experiencing any form of substance abuse during pregnancy
These symptoms can include tremors, seizures, irritability, respiratory distress syndrome (a breathing disorder), eclampsia (a sudden and dangerous rise in blood pressure), a higher chance of needing a C-section, as well as having an increased risk for developing cocaine addiction later on that could lead to using more harmful drugs like meth or heroin. Cocaine use during pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage or stillbirths if it is used frequently enough.
Using drugs such as alcohol or marijuana with cocaine
Using other substances along with cocaine makes the negative consequences of using cocaine even worse. Cocaine use with alcohol is hazardous because it can lead to heart failure and other similar cardiac issues. Both drugs affect your cardiovascular system in very negative ways. These effects put people at risk for high blood pressure, elevated body temperatures, and experiencing seizures or convulsions if they’re used together frequently, which could be deadly.
Withdrawal symptoms of cocaine use
One of the worst things about using cocaine is that it can lead to withdrawal symptoms. The dangers of withdrawing from any drug are significantly heightened when you use drugs like cocaine because it could cause seizures, extreme depression, or suicidal thoughts if someone withdraws without proper medical supervision.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Tremors, muscle aches, or spasms
- Cravings for cocaine
- Depression
- Headaches or migraines
- Extreme fatigue
Continuing to use the drug at this point is extremely dangerous since it could lead to a relapse in someone who’s trying to recover if they don’t have access to medical supervision.
Cocaine as a gateway drug
Cocaine could become a gateway drug to more problematic substances. This is especially dangerous because someone could start using cocaine with alcohol or marijuana more frequently. Then they could eventually become addicted to the drug and end up taking something like meth, heroin, or other substances that are even more difficult to quit.
Signs that someone might be using cocaine
There are many signs that someone might be using cocaine. These signs include:
- Paranoia or anxiety when they’re withdrawing from the drug
- Elevated body temperature because of a lack of oxygen to their brain caused by increased blood pressure and heart rate. These are due to cocaine’s negative effects on your cardiovascular system
- Pale skin
- Dilated pupils
- Nosebleeds
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Mood swings that make it difficult for them to maintain relationships with friends and family
How to help a loved one who has an addiction to cocaine
If someone you love is addicted to cocaine, the best thing you can do for them right now is to support them and let them know they’re not alone. There are many drug rehab centers where professionals will help your friend or family member overcome their addiction. This person must get treatment as soon as possible because of the dangers associated with using drugs like cocaine, whether on its own or alongside other substances.
Tips to help someone get off cocaine are:
- Identify the triggers that lead to your loved one using cocaine.
- Having a plan of action if they feel an urge or craving to use drugs will help them resist temptation. Keeping things like healthy snacks, calming music, and relaxing activities on hand can make it easier for someone suffering from addiction to avoid relapse.
- Helping this person find new hobbies is also essential, and spending time with family members & friends who are supportive of their recovery efforts.
- Try to get them professional help immediately.
- Get rid of all the cocaine in the house.
Treatment options for those struggling with an addiction to cocaine
Treatment options for those struggling with an addiction to cocaine often involve detox, residential treatment, or outpatient treatment.
Popular treatment options include:
Treatment centers
This is often the most common option if someone’s drug use has escalated to a point where they are at risk of overdosing or having intense withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult for them to get through recovery without some form of medical intervention.
Hospitalization
If someone needs help managing their addiction, intensive treatment options may be available in the hospital, which will likely continue with outpatient treatments once they have fully detoxed from cocaine.
12-step programs
These meetings can provide support and encouragement during recovery while meeting up with people who know what you’re going through because of their own experiences.
Outpatient rehabs & therapy sessions
Many addicts choose group therapy, individual counseling, family therapy, or even holistic treatments like acupuncture or massage therapy to supplement their addiction rehab program.
Conclusion
Cocaine is a dangerous drug, and it can be deadly if the person who uses cocaine continues to abuse it over time. We hope this post has given you valuable information about the dangers of cocaine and the treatment options to recover from an addiction fully. If you’re looking for more information on the dangers of cocaine and treatment options to recover from cocaine addiction please feel free to call us at (855) 430-9439 or visit our site at the link here.
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