Most people understand that using cocaine can be addictive and harmful, potentially leading to overdose and death. However, the potential long-term effects of cocaine use are less commonly understood and more concerning. It is never too late to seek cocaine addiction treatment. If you or someone you care about has been struggling with cocaine addiction, you may have questions about the long-term effects of cocaine use.
Learning more about this topic can help those with addiction and their families make the best choices about seeking cocaine addiction treatment. Call Spokane Falls Recovery Center today at 844.962.2775 to discover more about how our cocaine addiction treatment can support you or a loved one.
Short-Term Side Effects of Cocaine Use
The short-term side effects of cocaine use manifest quickly and can be severe, even after a single use. The powerful drug often leads to an intense but short-lived high immediately followed by the opposite—intense feelings of depression, edginess, and an overwhelming craving for more of the drug.
Some of the most common short-term effects include:
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Intense happiness and energy
- Hyperstimulation
- Paranoia
Understanding these effects can be a potent deterrent against cocaine use and serve as a strong reminder that help is available.
Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use
Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant from the coca plant. Usually, cocaine is a white powder that a person snorts, though it can also be injected or smoked. Coke, crack, and freebase are all forms of cocaine. Over the long run, it can result in the following long-term effects of cocaine use.
Tolerance and Sensitization
Using cocaine over a long time can build up tolerance in the body, leading the person to use more cocaine to achieve the same effect. At the same time, long-term cocaine use can also lead to sensitization, meaning that certain side effects like anxiety or seizures become more commonly experienced. These circumstances can lead to dangerous toxic effects and even overdose.
Worsening Mental Health
Long-term use of cocaine can lead to adverse psychiatric symptoms, including:
- Panic attacks
- Extreme irritability
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
The longer a person uses cocaine, the more prominent these types of symptoms can become.
Adverse Health Effects
The way in which a person ingests cocaine (injecting, snorting, smoking) can cause issues over long-term use as well. For example, smoking crack can cause permanent lung damage. Snorting cocaine can lead to serious issues in the sinuses and nasal tissue, and injecting cocaine places individuals at high risk of infections, including HIV.
Damage to Internal Organs
Using cocaine for an extended period of time is known to cause extensive and potentially permanent damage to the body’s internal organs. People with long-term cocaine use are at higher risk of gastrointestinal issues such as ulcers, and cocaine is known to cause severe and potentially fatal heart issues.
Neurological Damage
One of the most insidious long-term effects of cocaine use can be neurological damage. Over time, individuals have been known to develop cognitive damage, which means difficulty with thinking, reasoning, and communication. Some people have had strokes as a result of long-term cocaine use. Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease have also been linked to long-term cocaine use.
Does Cocaine Addiction Help Long-Term Side Effects?
People with long-term cocaine use will be healthier and safer if they quit. Quitting cocaine can be very difficult, but professional help and support make recovery possible. Since using cocaine damages the body, stopping that damage can only benefit the body. Also, people with addiction are often unable to make decisions that are best for their health due to their condition. Entering treatment can help even those who are concerned that their bodies are already damaged. Some things to remember:
- Treatment can help, even if a person has tried it before without success
- Everyone’s recovery journey is different, and there is no one way to heal
- It is never too late to seek treatment and start the journey to recovery
It is never too late to start on the road to a healthier life. If you or someone you care about is struggling with cocaine addiction, do not wait to seek help. Contact Spokane Falls Recovery Center today at 844.962.2775 for more information on our cocaine addiction treatment program and start healing.
What Are the Effects of Drug Abuse on a Family?
Drug use does not just impact the individual with the substance use. It profoundly affects their family as well. The emotional, financial, and psychological stress that drug use brings upon a family can be overwhelming. Families can experience a deep sense of helplessness and despair as they watch a loved one spiral into addiction.
Trust is often broken as the individual with addiction may lie or steal to maintain their habit. The constant worry and fear for the loved one’s well-being can lead to chronic stress, sleepless nights, and anxiety conditions among family members.
Furthermore, children growing up in such environments can face developmental issues and emotional distress and may also be at a higher risk of developing substance use issues later in life. It is crucial to remember that help is available, and recovery is possible, not just for the individual struggling with addiction but for the whole family.
Reach Out to Spokane Falls Recovery Center for Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Our treatment center in Spokane, Washington, offers help to people with cocaine addiction. Our holistic, individualized approach to treatment honors our patients as whole people, and we are committed to working with you on your recovery. If you or someone you care about has a cocaine addiction, do not hesitate to reach out. Call Spokane Falls Recovery Center today at 844.962.2775 or contact us through our online form.
