Cocaine Addiction Signs and Symptoms

Despite the negative effects of cocaine, millions of people continue to abuse this drug. In fact, about 1.9 million adults in the US are current cocaine users. If you’re among this group, you might show signs of cocaine addiction, which means that you need treatment now. Here are the most common signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction to watch out for.

Cocaine use can be hard to hide over time. This is because there are certain signs that may make it clear to your friends, family, or doctor that you’re abusing this drug.

Some physical signs of cocaine use may only be noticed by your doctor or someone who pays close attention to your health and appearance. These signs include:

Some signs of cocaine use can lead to changes in your behavior. In many cases, your friends and family members might notice these. For instance, when you abuse cocaine, you might do the following:

People who are close to you will likely notice these signs of cocaine use over time. If they express their concern to you, it’s important that you get the help you need at a drug treatment center today. Otherwise, your loved ones will continue to worry about you as you damage your health with cocaine.

Some symptoms of cocaine addiction are only visible to you, not your friends and family. So it’s important to be honest with yourself about whether the most common symptoms apply to you.

The physical symptoms you’ll feel during cocaine addiction include the signs discussed above, as well as the following:

If you notice these symptoms of cocaine addiction, it’s time to get help from a trusted treatment center, such as Northeast Addictions Treatment Center. Quitting your addiction now can help reduce the chances of long-term effects on your health.

Like any other illegal drug, cocaine is bad for your health. Taking it regularly can lead to dangerous health issues. Some can be permanent or even deadly. If you recognize any short-term or long-term effects, you should look into treatment immediately.

Short-Term Effects

When you use cocaine, you’ll notice the intense euphoria you feel within minutes of taking the drug. But as you’ve likely experienced, that feeling of well-being and alertness doesn’t last long. It’s usually quickly followed by negative effects. They may include the following:

Some of these short-term effects from cocaine use may seem mild and merely irritating. But some are quite serious and can even be life-threatening. You don’t always know which ones you’re going to experience when you use cocaine. This is why it’s always best to avoid this drug altogether.

Long-Term Effects

Some effects of cocaine use don’t go away as soon as you’re sober. There are some serious effects that can last for years or even for a lifetime. These can be dangerous to your health.

In fact, cocaine is known for causing long-term damage to important organs in the body. For instance, it can damage the blood vessels in the brain and heart. It can also damage the lungs, liver and kidneys.

Long-term cocaine use can even affect the reproductive system, leading to sexual dysfunction and infertility. It can damage the teeth and stomach lining, causing severe tooth decay and gastric ulcers. And since cocaine can cause high blood pressure, it can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

One of the short-term effects is appetite loss, which can lead to a long-term effect of malnourishment. In addition, your immune system may be affected by cocaine abuse. This can cause you to get sick much more often than before you started using the drug.

Since cocaine affects the brain, you’re at higher risk of developing cognitive issues with long-term use. This might mean you have trouble paying attention, controlling your impulses, and remembering details. Plus, when you use cocaine for years, you develop a tolerance to the drug. This means you need increasingly high doses to feel euphoric. As a result, you’re at risk of overdose and death.

One of the dangers of abusing cocaine is the possibility of overdosing on it. Doing so can be deadly if you don’t get medical help right away. The most common effects of cocaine overdose include:

In some cases, cocaine overdose can even cause a stroke or heart attack. This is why it’s so crucial for you to avoid cocaine use, especially long-term. After all, the longer you abuse this drug and the more you take, the higher your chances of overdose.

If you recognize any of the signs or symptoms of cocaine addiction, it’s time to get the treatment you need. At Northeast Addictions Treatment Center, we have years of experience treating cocaine addiction at our homey rehab center located in the city of Presidents—better known as, Quincy, MA.

When you reach out to us for help, our trusted team will put together a customized treatment program that includes either outpatient therapy or an intensive outpatient plan that’s right for you. So, if you want to reduce your chances of suffering long-term health effects or overdose from cocaine use, contact Northeast Addictions Treatment Center today to start your drug treatment journey!