Cocaine Addiction Symptoms

Cocaine is an extremely powerful and addictive drug that is snorted, smoked, and injected.

What Are Cocaine Addiction Symptoms?

Cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric and energetic. Common health effects include heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, and seizures. Large amounts can cause bizarre and violent behavior. In rare cases, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter.

Cocaine abuse and addiction continues to be a problem that plagues our nation. For instance, from 1965 to 1967, only 0.1 percent of youths had ever used cocaine, but rates rose throughout the 1970s and 1980s, reaching 2.2 percent in 1987. After a brief decline, lifetime prevalence rates peaked at 2.7 percent in 2002.

However, we now know more about where and how cocaine acts in the brain, including how the drug produces its pleasurable effects and why it is so addictive. Through the use of sophisticated technology, scientists can actually see the dynamic changes that occur in the brain as an individual takes the drug. They can observe the different brain changes that occur as a person experiences the “rush,” the “high,” and, finally, the craving of cocaine. They can also identify parts of the brain that become active when a cocaine addict sees or hears environmental stimuli that trigger the craving for cocaine. Because these types of studies pinpoint specific brain regions, they are critical to identifying targets for developing medications to treat cocaine addiction.

Warning Signs of Cocaine Use

Red, bloodshot eyes
Runny nose or frequent sniffing
Change in eating or sleeping patterns
Change in groups of friends
Change in school grades or behavior
Withdrawn, depressed, tired, or careless about personal appearance
Loss of interest in school, family, or activities
requently in need of money

Cocaine Hotline

1-800-COCAINE
24-hour information and referral service