Cocaine Addiction in Amarillo, TX (877) 804-1531
Cocaine addiction in Amarillo is a serious problem that can lead to devastating, long and short term health effects. Cocaine is a stimulant listed on Schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act, which means that although it has a high potential for abuse and addiction, it still has some medical value. Cocaine is derived from coca leaves, and it's the oldest known psychoactive substance.
Sold as a white powder and either smoked or snorted, cocaine acts on the reward center of the brain, causing the release of dopamine, a feel-good brain chemical. This dopamine rush produces an intense euphoria and mental alertness. The effects last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on how the drug is taken.
The Scope of Cocaine Abuse in the U.S.
Cocaine use has remained stable since around 2009, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 2014, an estimated 1.5 million people were current cocaine users, and adults between 18 and 25 reported a higher rate of cocaine abuse than any other age group. Around 913,000 Americans met the criteria for cocaine addiction in 2014. This is why our cocaine addiction rehab facility is situated to help anyone looking for cocaine addiction recovery.
The Dangers of Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine is a very dangerous drug. In 2011, it was involved in over half a million visits to the emergency room, resulting in over one-third of all drug-related visits.
The cocaine high is intense, but it's short-lived. The high is followed by a crash, and most users experience cravings for more of the drug. In the short-term, cocaine abuse causes sleep problems and changes in appetite, and it elevates heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Cocaine abuse can also cause seizures and respiratory failure.
Long-term cocaine abuse causes a number of serious health problems. These include:
- Permanent damage to blood vessels in the heart and brain
- High blood pressure, stroke, and heart attacks
- Organ damage, particularly in the lungs, kidneys, and liver
- Destruction of tissues in the nose if it's snorted
- Reproductive and sexual problems, including infertility
- Mood disturbances
- Psychosis
- Severe depression
- Addiction
Cocaine Overdose
In 2015, nearly 7,000 overdose deaths were attributed to cocaine, according to the National institute on Drug Abuse, a 1.6-fold increase from 2010. Even a first-time user can overdose on cocaine. Signs and symptoms of cocaine overdose include:
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- A dangerous increase in blood pressure
- Dilated pupils
- Increased body temperature
- Extreme confusion, anxiety, or agitation
- Nausea
- Psychosis
- Heart attack, stroke, or seizure
The best way to avoid a cocaine overdose is to get help in an inpatient cocaine addiction rehab facility.
What is Cocaine Abuse, Addiction, and Dependence?
Cocaine abuse, addiction, and dependence are not the same thing.
Cocaine abuse is defined as using cocaine in a way that causes problems for your health, relationships, finances, or with the law. Because it's so dangerous and illegal, any recreational use of cocaine is considered abuse.
Cocaine addiction in Amarillo is characterized by the inability to stop using cocaine even though it's causing problems in your life. Signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction include:
- Spending a lot of time seeking, using, and recovering from cocaine abuse
- Losing interest in hobbies that you used to enjoy
- Neglecting duties at home, work, or school
- Withdrawing from friends or family
- Finding that you're unable to stop using cocaine despite wanting to
Cocaine dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms that set in when cocaine use is discontinued. Cocaine dependence occurs when brain function and structures change due to chronic cocaine abuse, making the brain operate more comfortably in the presence of cocaine than when it's not. Withdrawal symptoms associated with cocaine dependence include:
- Agitation and restlessness
- Severe depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Fatigue and body aches
- Tremors
- Intense cravings
Cocaine Addiction Rehab
The first step in treating cocaine addiction in Amarillo is medical detox, which involves administering medications as needed to ease the intense cravings and depression associated with withdrawal. However, detox is not the same as treatment, since it only addresses the physical dependence on cocaine.
The second step in treating cocaine addiction in Amarillo is treatment, which involves addressing the complex issues that underlie the addiction through intensive therapy. People with a cocaine addiction learn to identify harmful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
Once treatment is complete, our aftercare program for relapse prevention in Amarillo is set into place. Our aftercare plan will include ongoing therapy, participation in a support group, and other supports, such as vocational rehab or educational assistance, as needed.
Treatment Works
Our cocaine addiction rehab center can help you get your life back together after addiction. Overcoming an addiction is hard work, but it can help you restore your relationships and improve your physical and mental health. A high quality cocaine addiction treatment center in Amarillo offers the best chances of successfully regaining control of your life back.
Call Amarillo Drug Rehab Centers at (877) 804-1531 now for immediate help.