Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a strong stimulant to CNS and highly addictive drug, most commonly used for recreational purpose. It is extract from leaves of coca plant and processed into 3 different forms:

• Cocaine hydrochloride: white crystalline powder
• Freebase: white powder with less impurity
• Crack: in white to cream color crystal

Other street names of cocaine are snow, powder, white dust, coke and candy.

How is cocaine used?

• Snorting: inhalation through nostrils, where it is through nasal tissue absorbed in to blood stream.
• Oral use: rubbing on gums
• Injecting: cocaine powder is dissolve in water, and injecting it (intravenous)
• Smoking, Inhalation: inhale the vapor, which cause rapid absorption in bloodstream.

 How does cocaine work in brain?
Cocaine raises the dopamine level in the brain, which is natural chemical founded in brain and responsible for pleasure, body movement and reward. However, cocaine stop the recycling of dopamine, flood our brain with dopamine, which block the natural communication between the brain cells. This increase level of dopamine in brain’s reward circuit reinforces the addiction of cocaine and become less sensitive to it. Eventually, individuals start taking frequent cocaine’s dose to get the same pleasure, as they experienced first time.

Short-Term Effect of Cocaine:

Cocaine’s effect on human brain and body depends upon the amount of dose and method of use. Generally, cocaine effect produce instantly and last for few minutes to an hour. Smoking and injecting cocaine produce a quicker and strong effect but last for short time period than snorting. The high from smoking last for 5 to 10 minutes and snorting may last for 15 to 30 minutes.

• Euphoria, increased energy
• Intensify the senses, alertness of mind
• Anger & irritability
• Paranoia

High dose of cocaine can lead to bizarre and violence in behavior.

Other health effects of cocaine are:

• Increased body temperature & blood pressure
• Nausea, Constricted blood vessels
• Fast heart rate & restlessness
• Tremors and twitching of muscles

Long-Term Effects of Cocaine:

Different methods of cocaine use effect human health differently:

• Smoking : lung damage, respiratory diseases
• Snorting: damaging nasal cavity, loss of smell & swallowing problems
• Oral : Bowel decay
• Injecting : high risk of hepatitis & HIV

Other health hazards are:

• Tolerance and dependence of cocaine
• Addiction of cocaine
• Long-term changes in brain chemistry
• Malnourished due to loss of appetite
• Convulsions and seizures
• Mood problems
• Auditory and visual hallucination & paranoia
• Restlessness and irritability

Addiction of cocaine:

As with other drug, frequent use of cocaine leads to addiction because it changes the brain’s reward circuit & brain chemistry. Eventually, the reward circuit adapts for more dopamine and gradually become less sensitive of it. As a result, people start taking frequent doses of cocaine to feel as high as he did first time, if he discontinue drug he experienced withdrawal symptoms.

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Slowed thought process
• Insomnia
• Physical symptoms such as tremors, chills and muscles ache

Treatment for Cocaine Addiction at New Life Rehab Center:
We provided the treatment for Cocaine addiction treatment that addresses the broader context because it is complex addiction; it changes the brain chemistry, cause severe distress in social, personal and occupational life. We use holistic approach to treating cocaine addiction, which address comorbid mental disorder, behavioral and personal problems that needs behavioral interventions, psychotherapy and pharmacological approach,
New life rehab center provide Indoor rehabilitation that is necessary for cocaine detoxification under the supervision of professional medical staff to treat withdrawal symptoms and avoid relapse. There is no approved medicine approved by drug administration for treatment of cocaine addiction and withdrawal symptoms but some medicines used to treat other symptoms like high blood pressure, insomnia, depression etc.
Cocaine has relatively short half-life, in people with addiction symptoms appeared after 90 minutes of last dose. Generally, the most acute symptoms time duration is one or two weeks. Timeline of withdrawal may vary from person to person because it is influence by other factors like length of use, person physical health.
Phases of Cocaine withdrawal:

• The Crash: this phase occur between several hours to few days, characterized by irritability, restlessness, depression, exhaustion and suicidal thoughts.
• Continued withdrawal: this phase may last for one to 10 weeks while mood and functioning start getting better. Symptoms during this phase are loss of pleasure, urges and craving of cocaine and disturb sleep. The risk of relapse during this phase is particularly high.
• Extinction: this phase last for six month after last dose, in this phase person may have on and of cravings and mood swings.

Behavioral interventions:
We have team of professional psychiatrist, psychotherapists, addiction counselor and spiritual counselor who have helped client in treatment and recovery. Our successful treatment program for cocaine addiction is combination of behavioral therapies specific to cocaine, individual counseling for relapse prevention and aimed to break the addiction cycle. Psychotherapies and behavioral intervention has proven very effective in cocaine addicts.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Contingency management
• Community-based recovery groups
• Individual and group Counseling
• Physical fitness and nutrition
• Recreational activities
• Relapse preventions

To start the journey of recovery for yourself and loved ones at New Life Rehabilitation Center Pakistan, please contact us by calling 03214528124 or email us at kifyathussainkhan2016@gmail.com. https://thenewlife.com.pk/