Cocaine is one of the most commonly used drugs around the world, and it is well known to have addictive properties. Get to know more about what cocaine is, how it can impact and change the brain and why it causes addiction for so many individuals.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that has a long history. Cocaine is derived from coca leaves, but today’s versions are heavily processed and far removed from this more natural substance. In South America, people have chewed coca leaves for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that coca leaves were purified to become the active ingredient that cocaine is today.

According to the American Drug Enforcement Agency, cocaine is a schedule II drug and a highly addictive narcotic. In very few cases, it has a legitimate medical function as an anesthetic, but the majority of use is unsupervised and recreational in nature. Cocaine goes by many names including coke, powder and blow.

Cocaine is most commonly used in its white powder form. Many individuals snort or sniff cocaine for a fast, powerful high. This powder is often diluted and cut with other substances. While some of these ingredients can be harmless and just included to increase profits to dealers, they can also be dangerous, harmful substances that increase the health risks to users.

Powdered cocaine may be the most common format, but it is not the only one. Cocaine can also be mixed with liquid and injected, which is sometimes done for an even more rapid and intense high. When the hydrochloride from cocaine is removed, it becomes what is known as crack or crack cocaine. This substance can then be smoked, and it delivers an intense and immediate high with an equally rapid withdrawal.

How Cocaine Causes Addiction

It is no secret that cocaine is an addictive substance. What makes it addictive is how it alters how the brain works as well as the brain itself. Cocaine can stimulate certain parts of the brain and over time the brain won’t be able to function without it.

In the seconds and minutes after cocaine is consumed, it begins to stimulate a part of the brain called the ventral tegmental area. This is the part of the brain that is always stimulated by positive feelings. The ventral tegmental area might be piqued by things like romantic attraction, exercise, social interaction and food. Cocaine, however, is a far more powerful stimulant than those other things.

After the ventral tegmental area has experienced the stimulation of cocaine, produced by an enormous release of dopamine, nothing else can come close to the same euphoric feeling. Meeting with friends, going for a run or indulging in great food won’t stimulate the brain or release any significant amount of dopamine. This essentially means that some cocaine users are no longer capable of experiencing pleasure outside of cocaine consumption.

Another serious concern is the how rapidly the brain adapts to these newer, larger amounts of dopamine. At first, any amount of cocaine will be overwhelming to the ventral tegmental area, creating a rush known as the high. Over time, however, that amount won’t be enough. As the brain adapts, tolerance increases, meaning that users have to consume ever growing amounts of cocaine to stimulate the ventral tegmental area in the same way.

It is also worth noting that in addition to the adaptations of the brain and dopamine receptors, the makeup and structure of the brain itself can change due to cocaine use. In many studies, chronic cocaine use is shown to significantly reduce gray matter in the brain. Loss of gray matter can cause problems with cognitive thinking, mental awareness and memory.

Why Some People Become Addicted to Cocaine and Others Don’t

Not all individuals who try cocaine, or even use it over an extended period, become addicted. On the other hand, some people try cocaine just one time and struggle with addiction for life. There are many factors that help explain why certain people become addicted to cocaine. These include genetic predisposition, mental health, age when first trying cocaine, cultural and societal factors and personality type.

Genetics can explain a lot about a person’s makeup, and it can also contribute to why some people struggle with addiction. The predisposition to addiction is hereditary, which helps explain why addiction can often run in families. Genetics can also impact the size of the basal ganglia, or the brain’s reward system. The larger the basal ganglia, the more likely a cocaine user is to become a cocaine addict.

Cocaine impacts the brain and that impact is more pronounced among young people. Trying cocaine in adolescence, when the brain is still developing, means a greater risk of addiction.

Societal and cultural factors may also play a role in an increased likelihood of becoming addicted to cocaine. If cocaine use is widespread, then individuals are more likely to become addicted.

Finally, it is critical not to overlook mental health and cocaine addiction. More than half of those individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness will go on to struggle with substance abuse. Cocaine use might be a way for those with mental health disorders to  self-medicate.

Recovering From a Cocaine Addiction

There are three major steps that are necessary to overcome a cocaine addiction. First, patients need to cease consumption. Then, rehab and treatment will be necessary. Finally, ongoing care and support is critical.

The first stage of recovery is often called detox, and it is simply when patients stop consuming cocaine altogether. There may be withdrawal symptoms associated with this stage of recovery.

The second stage involves treatment and targeted therapy to help understand why cocaine addiction took hold. Individuals might struggle with trauma and mental health issues, or they might need therapy to change their behavior to include healthier habits.

The third stage is lifelong, and it focuses on continuing care. Group meetings, support groups or therapy might be a part of a comprehensive relapse prevention plan.

The causes of cocaine addiction are multifaceted. The effects of cocaine, too, are widespread and can impact users in a number of ways. Exploring why cocaine is addictive may help people get the necessary treatment for recovery from cocaine addiction.

Identifying a Cocaine Addiction

The first step in fighting a cocaine addiction is understanding how to identify and diagnose it. Although even occasional, recreational use of cocaine can be dangerous and damaging to a person’s health, it isn’t necessarily an addiction—yet.

A cocaine addiction can be identified by individuals who place drug use above all other activities. They may use cocaine on a regular basis, not being able to skip consumption or limit it by reducing dosage. When cocaine use becomes addiction for some individuals, they will begin allocating time, resources and money to the search and purchase of cocaine. Many addicted individuals will begin to look different, thanks to changes in appearance, weight or grooming habits, and they may struggle at work or in school.

Understanding the Dangers of a Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addictions can result in damaged relationships with friends and family, crumbling careers and a lack of financial stability. It can also be incredibly dangerous from a health perspective. Even in small amounts, cocaine has dangerous health risks. Worse still, cocaine is often mixed with other dangerous substances, which only increases the danger with each use.

Cocaine use can result in nosebleeds and cold or flu-like symptoms among those who are addicted. It can also cause physical agitation, hyperactivity, involuntary muscle movements and violent outbursts. Over time, cocaine addictions can lead to serious kidney and cardiovascular problems. These may include inflammation of the heart muscle itself, a ruptured aorta, the risk of permanent brain damage or even a life-threatening stroke at a young age.

The Importance of Rehab for a Cocaine Addiction

Many individuals who deal with cocaine addictions, as well as their loved ones, understand the risks of this illness but want to handle treatment on their own. It’s incredibly important to understand that trying to treat a cocaine addiction without medical supervision is like trying to cure asthma or cancer without the help of a doctor. Addiction is a medical illness, and it needs to be treated medically just like any other condition.

Just as important to remember is that withdrawal from a cocaine addiction can be very unpleasant, and in some cases the withdrawal symptoms can cause health problems. When patients are medically monitored and under professional supervision, these problems can be identified and addressed before they cause any lasting damage. At home, however, these minor issues can lead to severe health concerns.

Rehab is also about moving forward with the goal of long-term sobriety. Through accredited, evidence-based rehab programs, teams of medical professionals offer a comprehensive plan that addresses the physical, emotional and mental health of patients. They can help patients establish a relapse prevention plan and make strides to recovery that can last a lifetime.

Pharmacological Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

One of the keys to fighting a cocaine addiction may be pharmacological treatment. In the initial stages of detoxification and rehab, some painkillers and sedatives may be prescribed to alleviate the discomfort of withdrawal. Further along the road to recovery, some patients may be prescribed medications that impact neurotransmitters in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin.

While pharmacological treatment can be helpful when fighting cocaine addiction, it’s extremely important that patients never self-administer these medications. Medical professionals with experience in treating addiction will know the correct medications and doses to help patients without fostering a secondary addiction, which may happen if patients try to treat their own addiction with over-the-counter medications.

Behavioral Therapies for Cocaine Addiction

One of the most effective means of treating a cocaine addiction is through behavioral therapies. This can include one-on-one therapy, group therapy and family therapy. Therapy will have many goals, but some include:

• A more thorough understanding of addiction
• The creation of goals that rely on sobriety in order to come true
• The development of a personalized relapse prevention plan
• An emphasis on any mental health issues

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the preferred means of therapy in the fight against cocaine addiction. CBT works by helping patients develop the skills they need to resist cravings and cope with stressful situations that could otherwise prompt a relapse. Another means of therapy is called dialectical behavioral therapy, or DBT. DBT works by teaching patients how to monitor their emotions in safe and healthy ways, and it avoids any judgement about the patients themselves.

Family therapy can also be effective in treating addiction, because it creates another layer of support for those struggling with substance abuse. Contingency management can also play a role in recovery. This form of therapy offers rewards for sobriety, changing how patients view sobriety one day at a time. 12-step programs, and other group therapy models, can be helpful so that patients can share experiences and learn from one another in a safe setting.

Holistic Therapies and Alternative Treatments That Can Fight a Cocaine Addiction

Although pharmacological and behavioral therapies are regarded as the most effective and evidence-based forms of treatment for cocaine addiction, there are also other forms of holistic and alternative therapies that can aid in recovery. Nutrition therapy, for instance, can contribute to the ongoing nutritional health of individuals struggling with addiction.

Many of the most popular holistic therapies for the treatment of cocaine addiction have a physical component. Physical activity is linked to lower relapse rates among patients, and this can be because of increased endorphin production in the body and greater stress relief. Fitness therapy, hiking therapy and even equine therapy may play a part in drug abuse recovery.

Fighting a cocaine addiction isn’t easy, but it’s possible. Patients who attend rehab, gain the tools and support needed to prevent relapse and partake in evidence-based treatment can have a better chance at lasting sobriety and freedom from cocaine addiction.