Interesting Facts About Cocaine. 10 Facts About Cocaine You Probably Didn’t Know. Fun 3 Facts About Cocaine.

10 Facts About Cocaine You Probably Did Not Already know

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. Here are the Cocaine facts no one told you about:

1. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that increases dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, in the brain. This causes a brief, intense feeling of euphoria and increased energy.
2. Cocaine can be snorted, smoked, or injected. It is a white powder often cut with other substances such as talc, cornstarch, or sugar.
3. Cocaine is illegal in most countries, including the United States, and is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act because of its high potential for abuse.
4. Cocaine abuse can cause various physical and psychological effects, including constricted blood vessels, increased heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, anxiety, and paranoia. Long-term use can lead to addiction and more severe medical issues such as heart attack, stroke, seizures, and respiratory failure.
5. Cocaine is often associated with a high risk of overdose, as the dose required to produce a desired effect is small and can easily lead to unintentional poisoning. Overdose symptoms can include seizures, coma, and death.

Continue reading for the remaining 5 facts about Cocaine you probably didn’t already know.

8. What is Crack Cocaine?

Crack cocaine is a highly addictive, powerful street drug derived from powdered cocaine. Crack is made by dissolving powdered cocaine in a mixture of ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water. The mixture is boiled until a solid substance forms. It is removed from the liquid, dried, broken into chunks (rocks), and sold as crack cocaine.

Due to its availability and intense effects, crack is also popular. Health risks and problems resulting from crack use are the same as those listed for cocaine. However, because of the intensity of the drug, it is a higher risk.

10. Cocaine Drug Test

Cocaine drug tests work not by searching for the presence of Cocaine but for proof that the body has recently metabolized, proving the ingestion of cocaine. While cocaine takes roughly 6-24 hours to leave the body, the product created when the body metabolizes cocaine, benzoylecgonine, can be detected up to 5 days after the last consumption. Metabolites are substances that our bodies create after metabolizing a certain toxic substance. Metabolizing cocaine usually takes between 6 and 24 hours, depending on an individual’s height, weight, and metabolism speed.

Another factor that plays an important role in cocaine drug testing is the consumption of alcohol during and after the consumption of cocaine. Unlike most other drugs, cocaine reacts with alcohol to create a new substance called cocaethylene. This substance has a longer half-life than benzoylecgonine, which will be detectable in one’s system for longer. In most cases, cocaethylene takes up to seven days to be completely cleaned out of a person’s body, provided they do not consume more cocaine or alcohol and remain properly hydrated during this period.

Fun 3 Facts About Cocaine

Here are 3 fun facts about cocaine that, while interesting, are not funny:

1. Cocaine use has various negative health effects, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Cocaine is also a significant cause of drug-related deaths.
2. Cocaine addiction is a complex issue that requires specialized treatment. While abstinence from cocaine is the ultimate goal of treatment, effective treatment should also focus on improving overall health and functioning, addressing underlying mental health issues, and addressing social and environmental factors that contribute to addiction.
3. Prevention and harm reduction strategies are critical for reducing the harm associated with cocaine use. Strategies such as education programs, drug testing, and safer drug-use techniques can help reduce the negative consequences of cocaine use and promote safer behaviors. Additionally, expanding access to evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication-assisted treatment can help individuals struggling with addiction to recover and live healthier lives.

Fun facts about cocaine may distort the drug’s harm. Cocaine is a highly addictive and harmful drug that should not be trivialized or glamourized in any way.

Drug Testing Cocaine Facts Infographics

Here are the facts about drug testing for cocaine:

1. Cocaine can be detected through various drug tests, including urine, blood, hair, and saliva tests. The time that cocaine can be detected varies depending on the test method.
2. The most common drug test for cocaine is the urine test, which can detect the drug for up to 4 days after use for occasional users and up to 12 days for chronic users.
3. Hair drug testing for cocaine is the most accurate and can detect the drug for up to 90 days after use, but it is also the most expensive and time-consuming method.
4. False positive results for cocaine drug tests can occur due to other bodily substances, such as lidocaine or other local anesthetics.
5. Employers may require drug testing for cocaine and other drugs as part of workplace drug policies, and certain industries, such as transportation and healthcare, may have mandatory drug testing requirements.

It is critical to note that drug testing is not a perfect science and can have limitations and inaccuracies. It is always recommended to seek professional help if you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction.

There Are Serious Health Risks to Using Cocaine

With repeated exposure to cocaine, the brain adapts, making the reward pathway less sensitive to natural reinforcers. At the same time, circuits involved in stress become increasingly sensitive, leading to increased displeasure and negative moods when not taking the drug, which are signs of withdrawal. These combined effects make the user more likely to focus on seeking the drug instead of relationships, food, or other natural rewards.

With regular use, tolerance may develop so that higher doses, more frequent use of cocaine, or both are needed to produce the same level of pleasure and relief from withdrawal experienced initially. At the same time, users can also develop sensitization, in which less cocaine is needed to produce anxiety, convulsions, or other toxic effects. Tolerance to cocaine reward and sensitization to cocaine toxicity can increase the risk of overdose in a regular user.

How Long Does It Take To Get Addicted To Cocaine?

The method by which cocaine is used—whether injected, smoked, snorted, or taken orally—can impact the high’s duration and intensity. For example, snorting cocaine can give a relatively slow onset of the high, lasting 15 to 30 minutes. This is because it has to get through mucus, skin, and other tissues before hitting your bloodstream. Smoking this drug, however, will result in more rapid effects that last five to 10 minutes. But this high is typically instantly followed by a crash that can cause anxiety, tension, agitation, depression, and exhaustion. It’s this quick cycle that makes this illegal stimulant so addictive.

Cocaine sends intense signals to the brain’s pleasure centers, increasing alertness and a “high” feeling. Cocaine use can alter the brain after just one use, and regular use can lead to intense cravings, withdrawal, and neurological changes.

Cocaine Effects on Sperm 

Cocaine can disrupt men’s sperm counts. Cocaine binds to receptors on cells in the testicles and decreases sperm production. When cocaine binds to these receptors, the sperm cells are constructed incorrectly, and the cellular structures cannot survive. The cells die early and cannot mature into healthy, functioning sperm.

Does Cocaine Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Sexual dysfunction is not uncommon in alcoholics and in cocaine users. Forty to 50% of alcoholic men suffered erectile dysfunction, and 5-10% had retarded or inhibited ejaculation. Thirty to 36% of cocaine abusers reported erectile dysfunction. Alcohol abuse frequently develops along with cocaine dependence, and the reverse is also common.

Cocaine is a potent dopamine agonist, and chronic cocaine abuse may result in hyperprolactinemia or a dopamine deficiency with sexual dysfunction. Chronic cocaine or alcohol abuse often leads to decreased libido and performance. In addition, acetylcholine turnover usually increases when dopamine is depleted. Therefore, cocaine- and alcohol-induced catecholamine depletion may activate acetylcholine, further contributing to hyperprolactinemia and sexual dysfunction. In addition, abuse of these substances alters serotonin, acetylcholine, hormones, and other neuroendocrine functions.

Cocaine Effects on Teeth

Cocaine users experience an increased rate of tooth decay for a variety of reasons: the drug contributes to xerostomia, the user does not seek regular professional care or perform regular personal oral care, and they may rub the drug directly onto the gingival tissue resulting in tooth erosion.

Users sometimes rub cocaine over their gums, causing ulceration of the gums and the underlying bone. Cocaine mixed with saliva creates an extremely acidic solution that erodes tooth enamel and exposes the underlying dentine to decay-causing bacteria. Cocaine and crack cocaine cause dry mouth, further increasing tooth decay risk.

Cocaine can cause tooth wear by tooth grinding (bruxism). Clenching and grinding destroy the supporting structures, leading to cervical abrasion and occlusal wear.

Cocaine and Dopamine 

The brain registers all pleasures similarly, whether they originate with a psychoactive drug like cocaine, a monetary reward, a sexual encounter, or a satisfying meal. In the brain, pleasure has a distinct signature: the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, a cluster of nerve cells lying underneath the cerebral cortex. Dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens is so consistently tied with pleasure that neuroscientists refer to the region as the brain’s pleasure center.

All drugs of abuse, from cocaine, nicotine to heroin, cause a particularly powerful surge of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. The likelihood that the use of a drug or participation in a rewarding activity will lead to addiction is directly linked to the speed with which it promotes dopamine release, the intensity of that release, and the reliability of that release.

Cocaine Euphoria

The cocaine euphoria or high, also known as cocaine intoxication, is one of the most widely recognized cocaine effects among cocaine users. The high is often the main reason for taking cocaine. This is true for people who are experimenting with cocaine use, are occasional cocaine users, binge cocaine users, and people in the early stages of cocaine addiction.

The cocaine high involves psychological changes, which are changes to how the person thinks and feels emotionally and physically. Some of these changes are caused by the effects of cocaine on the brain and nervous system, and some are due to personal feelings that the cocaine user brings to the experience.

This is why, although there are similarities among cocaine users’ experiences of cocaine high, the effects of cocaine are different for each person. So although aspects of cocaine intoxication are common among cocaine users, they may experience some, but not all, of these cocaine effects.

Can a Person Become Addicted to Cocaine?

All forms of the drug are highly addictive. Some people can get addicted after using it for a short time. Cocaine is a highly addictive drug, but it may be hard to recognize addiction. Craving Cocaine and ignoring the consequences that come with it are signs of an addiction.

Psychological addiction is often the hardest part to overcome, although there are undeniable physical symptoms of addiction as well. Someone who uses Cocaine frequently will develop a dependence on it, meaning they need to have it to feel normal. Once dependence has developed, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms will occur when stopping use.

Once someone becomes addicted to Cocaine, it can be very hard to stop. This is because Cocaine abnormally increases the level of dopamine in the brain, eventually reprogramming the brain reward system.

Cocaine Addiction

The user can become addicted to cocaine after the first use due to its powerful effects and sensations of pleasure and intense well-being, feeling more mentally alert, and heightened sexual arousal. Repeated exposure to cocaine results in neuroadaptation. This includes sensitization, increased drug response, and tolerance or decreased drug response. In other words, your body will crave more of the drug for the same effect.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment Near Me

First and foremost, if you think that a loved one is abusing cocaine, you should first research the drug and associated addiction to better understand what you loved one needs. Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle their addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During this intervention, make sure that you offer compassion and support instead of judgment. Lastly, offer your support throughout the entire treatment process.

In addition, prolonged Cocaine use can have severe physical and psychological effects, so seeking treatment as soon as possible is essential. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of withdrawal. Now that revealed the “10 Interesting Facts About Cocaine” can be a good start in learning more about cocaine addiction.

Medically-Assisted Detox

Detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated withdrawal process but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide the necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy 

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – is a strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.
• Solution Focused Therapy – is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. Traumatic experiences can often result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend largely on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

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