Effects of Using Cocaine
Cocaine use increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and other serious ailments. There are many other effects cocaine users should be aware of no matter if they’ve tried it once or have been abusing cocaine for some time. Long-term cocaine use can also cause significant damage to many parts of an individual’s body, including the brain. Cocaine addiction treatment is available to anyone who has an issue with the substance and needs help detoxing and stopping abusing this dangerous drug. If you’d like more information about the addiction treatments we offer, give us a call today.
What Does Cocaine Do To You?
Whether you’ve snorted cocaine or have tried injecting cocaine, there are some immediate side effects. Some of these are why people take cocaine in the first place. Cocaine effects a user’s body, mind, and behavior.
Physical Effects of Cocaine
- decreased need for food and sleep
- dilated pupils
- increased heart rate
- damage to blood vessels
- increased blood pressure
- elevated body temperature
- abdominal pain and nausea
- tremors
- overdose
Mental Effects of Cocaine
- increased energy
- feelings of euphoria
- alertness
- restlessness
- feelings of anxiety
- panic
- paranoia
Behavioral Effects of Cocaine
- talkativeness
- erratic behavior
- violent behavior
Dangerous Side Effects of Cocaine
In addition to the short-term effects of cocaine, there is a long list of side effects that people who have abused cocaine should be aware of before they use the substance. First and foremost, cocaine causes overdoses. This can happen at any point during the time someone is engaged in substance abuse involving cocaine. Injecting cocaine also increases the risk of HIV infection and Hepatitis B and C infection. Cocaine can cause mental health issues, mood disorders, altered sleep patterns, a shorter attention span, a slower reaction time, and memory loss. Some of the more serious issues that cocaine can cause are cardiovascular disease, lung damage, gastrointestinal tract issues, high blood pressure, and strokes. Some other effects people who have abused cocaine experience are poly-drug abuse (moving onto multiple substances), weight loss, shrinking brain size, nosebleeds, and nose collapse.
Health Impacts of Long-Term Cocaine Use
Long-term substance abuse of any type will most likely result in adverse health impacts. There are specific long-term effects of cocaine on fertility, the heart, and the brain. Regarding snorted cocaine, the damage is done to the nose and mouth. The long-term effects of cocaine in mouth and nose areas include a perforated septum, leading to the collapse of the nasal structure. The upper plate of the mouth can also be damaged in the same way. Long-term use of cocaine can also cause damage to the liver and kidneys. Injecting cocaine can lead to gangrene, ulcers, and vein collapse.
Cocaine Detox and Rehab at The Detox Center of LA
Substance abuse and addiction treatments for cocaine addicts are available at The Detox Center of LA. Substance abuse is a serious matter and we have many drug rehab therapy types for cocaine users. Our abuse and addiction programs can help with withdrawal symptoms, physical and mental addiction effects, the effects of cocaine abuse, and overall drug education. If you would like more information on any outpatient or inpatient treatment options, please give us a call today.
