Cocaine is an addictive substance with an immediate effect. Even a single dose can cause serious damage to the body and psychological cocaine addiction can occur. Repeated use of cocaine can cause symptoms in the body. These symptoms can be related to many factors, so it is not known when they will appear. Cocaine stimulates, excites and gives pleasure to the user. However, these effects are temporary and end within an hour. People who continue to use cocaine find it difficult to adapt to normal life. Cocaine addiction is a treatable brain disease. In this case, an individualized treatment plan is made and the form and condition of treatment is decided.
What is Cocaine Addiction? What are the Symptoms?
Cocaine is an alkaloid derived from the plant Erythroxylon coca, which grows spontaneously in South America and whose leaves are chewed by natives to benefit from its stimulant effect. First separated in 1860, cocaine alkaloid was first used as a local anesthetic in 1880. It is still used as a local anesthetic in eye, nose and neck surgery to benefit from its vasoconstrictive and analgesic effects.
Biographers of Sigmund Freud, who conducted a study on the general pharmacological effects of cocaine in 1884, stated that Freud was addicted to cocaine for a while. In the 1880s and 1890s, cocaine was used in the treatment of many diseases and was listed in the Merck Manual in 1899.
In 1914, when its addictive effects and side effects were described, cocaine was classified as a narcotic along with morphine and heroin.
Symptoms of cocaine use are observed in a short time. We can list the symptoms of cocaine addiction as follows;
- Dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, chest pain, blood pressure irregularities occur. In addition, cerebral hemorrhage, heart attack and sudden death may occur.
- Immediately after cocaine use, the person's energy increases. Exaggerated happiness and increased self-confidence are replaced by sudden stagnation, fatigue and mental collapse.
- Mental symptoms such as behavioral disorders and hallucinations may occur.
- The cocaine addict thinks that someone is going to hurt them.
- Long-term cocaine use can lead to severe mental problems and an increase in suicidal tendencies.
- Severe headaches may be observed, weakening of the immune system may occur.
- Cocaine use narrows the blood vessels. It causes blockages in the brain. High dose cocaine use can cause epileptic seizures.
What are the effects of cocaine addiction on the body?
Cocaine addiction has negative effects that can cause serious harm to the body. We can list these effects as follows;
- In people with cocaine addiction, the effect of cocaine is seen immediately and continues for 30-60 minutes.
- Cocaine addiction is a treatable brain disease, at this point, individualized treatment plans should be made and implemented.
- Addicted people continue to use cocaine even though it has serious negative effects on their lives. It is possible to understand that they are using cocaine from their behavior.
- In case of cocaine addiction, people may have symptoms such as mood disorders, sleep disorders and depression.
- Even in the case of using cocaine once, the desire to use it afterwards continues to increase intensely and in this way, cocaine addiction occurs.
- Addicts who use this substance begin to think that their needs have lost priority and meaning in their lives during the process of frequent use of the substance.
- People with cocaine addiction are ready to give and sacrifice everything to use the substance.
- People with cocaine addiction are often in a state of intense happiness and euphoria.
- They are unable to maintain and live their social lives properly.
- They have great difficulties in their marriages, relationships and finances.
- They are very likely to have diseases that seriously affect their lives, such as heart disease, brain disease and liver disease.
- These people need to be treated by specialists to get rid of their addiction.
- The environment of people with cocaine addiction who are receiving treatment should also provide great support to the patient during the treatment process.
People with untreated cocaine addiction will have advanced the extent of their illnesses and may become untreatable.
How is cocaine addiction treated?
Cocaine is a substance with a very high risk of addiction and thousands of people become addicted to cocaine every year. Cocaine negatively affects the human body both physically and mentally. Cocaine addiction develops insidiously and once addiction develops, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of this substance alone. One of the most important risks of repeated cocaine use is that physical and psychological dependence can last for many years.
One of the most important problems in the treatment of cocaine addiction is that the person may develop the desire to start using the substance again after withdrawal. After detoxification from highly addictive substances such as cocaine, the individual may experience a strong craving for the substance. This can lead to a desire to use the substance again. Since the individual cannot resist this desire, they start using the substance again. The main goal in the treatment process is to reduce the individual's desire to take the substance with medication and then to provide the necessary psychological social support.
In cocaine addiction, addiction is usually tried to be eliminated with supportive drug treatments. This was often inadequate. In recent years, treatment methods for cocaine addiction have been developed. Drugs have been developed to reduce the effects of cocaine by interfering with the receptors that cocaine affects.
Although the treatment program in addiction varies according to the type of addiction and the general condition of the patient, a personalized treatment plan is applied.
Treatment of cocaine addiction must be personalized. A multidisciplinary approach is very important at this point.
Different treatment methods have been used in the medical world for centuries. Since ancient times, many methods, many medicines have been found and put into the service of humanity in the struggle to cure diseases.
In the last stage of modern medicine, "Evidence-Based Medicine" practices are now at the forefront. All medication, therapy and additional treatment services for patients are modern and evidence-based. The main purpose of treatment regimens that follow treatment guidelines accepted all over the world is the maxim "First, do no harm to the patient", which has come from Hippocrates to the present day. Then, all necessary treatments are provided by considering the eternal benefit of the patient. Click here to get rid of this addiction and to learn more about cocaine addiction treatment .
