Cocaine: The Signs, Symptoms, & How To Get Help

Cocaine is often portrayed to be glamorous in movies like Scarface and Blow. Some would even argue that it looks fun. Cocaine is a white powder that might seem harmless during experimentation, but this drug can quickly evolve into a devastating addiction that leads to tremendous personal, financial, professional, and even legal consequences. By knowing how to spot the signs and symptoms of cocaine abuse, you will be able to better identify if you’re personally struggling with a cocaine addiction or if one of your loved ones are. 

The Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Abuse

If you’re using cocaine frequently and are unsure if you’re addicted, below are some symptoms to watch out for:

  • You feel like no amount of cocaine will ever be enough
  • You think about cocaine when you aren’t doing it
  • You don’t see a point to socializing with friends if cocaine isn’t involved
  • You find yourself lying to people if they approach you about your cocaine use
  • Whenever you aren’t doing cocaine you feel ‘off’ or sick

If you suspect someone you know is abusing cocaine, there are a few signs and symptoms to look out for: 

  • Frequent mydriasis – the medical term for dilated pupils
  • They seem to be up at all hours of the night
  • Weight loss
  • Consistent runny nose
  • Paranoia

Long-term cocaine abuse can lead to psychosis, causing the addict to hear or see things that aren’t actually present. Drug abuse as a whole can lead to irritability, depression, mood swings, financial problems, and legal issues. If you’re currently struggling with cocaine addiction, your substance abuse will impact the people around you. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms above, please don’t wait to reach out to Laguna View Detox for help. 

Long-Term Health Problems from Cocaine Abuse

The longer you use cocaine, the higher your tolerance will become. This means every time you use cocaine, you’ll have to increase your dose. You will be constantly chasing a high that you can no longer achieve. High blood pressure, which can damage the body’s blood vessels and organs over time, is one of the major side effects cocaine can have on your long-term health.

Because cocaine is most commonly ingested through the nose, you will eventually damage your nasal septum with frequent cocaine use. A tell-tale sign of a damaged nasal passage is frequent nose bleeds. Long-term cocaine abuse can also lead to dangerous heart arrhythmias, which could lead to heart attacks and strokes, which can have fatal consequences. 

Getting Help for Cocaine Abuse

If you or someone you know needs help with a cocaine addiction, Laguna View Detox is here for you. Our detoxification and residential inpatient program have helped many addicts start their journey to recovery, and we know we can help you too. When you reach out to us for help, we’ll collect information about your addiction and also take some time to get to know you. 

Then, during your intake, we’ll work with you to put together a truly individualized treatment plan. Our facility treats six clients at a time to ensure everyone receives the attention they deserve throughout their stay. Before you’re discharged from our facility, we put together a comprehensive aftercare plan to help you maintain your sobriety. The last thing we want is for all your hard work during treatment to go to waste. 

Let Us Help You

At Laguna View Detox, we are a luxury detox & drug rehab program located in the gorgeous area of Laguna Beach, CA. We’re confident we can provide you with the tools you need to stop using cocaine or any other substance. Call us today to get more information regarding our addiction treatment program. You deserve to live a happy, drug and alcohol-free life!

Drugs 101: The Most Commonly Abused

Drug addiction is a complex disease and can be fatal. In 2017 there were over 70,000 drug overdoses in the US and over 18 million people struggling with substance abuse disorder. It’s a common misconception that drug addicts can just stop using whenever they want. Addiction is like any other health complication, it needs to be treated and if it’s left untreated, there are serious complications. 

While there are numerous drugs circulating the market, there are five common ones we see people abusing in the treatment industry. 

Heroin

Heroin is the most potent and powerful of all of the opioid drugs. Although it’s illegal to sell or purchase, it’s readily available throughout the United States. When mixed with the drug Fentanyl, it’s not only more addictive than it was before, but the chance of overdosing is increased and has led to countless deaths across the country.

As of 2017, about 494,000 Americans over the age of 12 became regular heroin users and nearly 900,000 Americans had tried the drug at least one time.

Opioids 

According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, about 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose and nearly 400,000 people lost their battle with opioids between 1999 and 2017.

Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain management. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are all opioids. It’s common to open up a household medicine cabinet and see at least one of these drugs. Opioids are becoming a crisis in America because they’re easily accessible and it’s easy to build a tolerance when taking them. 

The sale of opioid-based painkillers skyrocketed from 1999 to the present time a total of 300 percent. Several drug companies have recently been sued and held accountable for pushing opioids onto patients with the knowledge that they are highly addictive and can easily lead to overdose deaths.

Cocaine

Cocaine comes from the coca plant that is grown mostly in South America. It’s addiction rate generally includes young users, anywhere from the age of 15-34. It’s estimated that about 7.4 million people in that age group have used cocaine at least one time in their lives. Cocaine can be snorted, ingested, or smoked (normally referred to as crack cocaine) and is highly addictive. It’s the most trafficked drug in the world since the demand for the supply is always present.

Many cocaine users or drug dealers at some point begin to mix the drug with heroin and fentanyl, leading to an increase in overdose deaths.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most abused substance of all and affects about 300 million people throughout the world. Many people try alcohol at a very young age since it is legal and easily obtained.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an average of 30 Americans die each day due to a car crash involving a drunk driver, and about six people die each day from alcohol poisoning. Approximately 88,000 people die as a result of alcohol addiction every single year in the United States. About six percent of all adults in the United States, which is about 15 million people, have an addiction to alcohol and only a small percentage seek treatment for their addiction.

Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine)

Crystal Meth can be smoked, injected, or snorted. It can cause users to be awake for days at a time and make them feel invincible. It’s highly addictive with an addiction rate of approximately 774,000 Americans each year who are regular users, and approximately 16,000 of that figure are teenagers between the ages of 12-17. In 2017, 10,000 Americans suffered fatal overdoses. 

Seek Treatment Now

If you or someone you know is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or battle drug abuse, you can get help at Laguna View Detox. The unique program offered by the professionals at Laguna View encompasses detoxification and inpatient treatment for all types of addiction. Call us today!