Cocaine has earned a reputation as an exciting, energizing drug that helps you work hard all day and party all night. Many movies have glamorized this drug, showing partygoers enjoying a quick burst of energy and elation after snorting this potent powder. However, it is not all fun and games when it comes to the dangers of cocaine addiction. Once you understand how cocaine affects the body, you will realize the necessity for effective cocaine addiction treatment in Youngstown, OH.
At Midwest Center at Youngstown, we know how powerfully addictive cocaine can be and how the most dangerous side effects of cocaine addiction can tear your life apart. Our cocaine addiction treatment in Ohio can help you or someone you love to get back in control of your health. Call us today at 844.544.0502 to learn more about our evidence-based cocaine rehab.
How Cocaine Affects the Body
To get a better idea of why cocaine is so dangerous, it helps to know a little more about how cocaine affects the body. A person may use cocaine in one of several ways. They may snort it, rub it on their gums, or mix it with water and inject it. The drug enters the system quickly, resulting in a rapid high, typically lasting up to 30 minutes.
During a cocaine high, a person will experience:
- Abundant energy
- Mental clarity
- Talkativeness
- Happiness
- Hypersensitive senses
So, how does cocaine produce these intense, short-lived feelings of energy and euphoria? It all has to do with how cocaine interacts with the brain. When cocaine enters your system, it quickly travels to the brain. It also stimulates dopamine production, a neurotransmitter known as the pleasure chemical. When dopamine increases, you feel more motivated, focused, and joyful.
Your body naturally creates its own dopamine in response to healthy lifestyle choices. These choices may include eating a balanced diet, exercising, getting adequate sleep, meditating, spending time in the sun, and listening to music you enjoy. While higher dopamine levels can make you feel good, getting them through cocaine use leads to many dangerous side effects.
What Are the Dangerous Side Effects of Cocaine Addiction?
Using cocaine is not just about increasing dopamine so that you feel good. There are plenty of dangers of cocaine addiction that can harm your health in the short and long term. Some of the most dangerous side effects of cocaine addiction are:
- Malnourishment – Cocaine can decrease your appetite, so you may fail to eat enough or healthily if you use cocaine often. Many people struggling with cocaine addiction are deficient in vitamin C and B vitamins. On top of the addiction, B vitamin deficiency can also adversely affect your mental health.
- Heart problems – Stimulants like cocaine can put a strain on your heart. This strain can lead to high blood pressure, constricted blood vessels, excessively high body temperature, tachycardia, and arrhythmia. All of these conditions put you at a much higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
- A decline in cognitive function – Cocaine addiction can have detrimental effects on your brain health, leading to smaller brain size, memory loss, short attention span, and slower reaction time.
- Infectious disease – Using cocaine intravenously puts you at risk of dangerous infections like hepatitis B and C and HIV.
- Overdose – Cocaine is highly potent and can lead to a fatal overdose.
The dangers of cocaine addiction can lead to tragedy without proper treatment. Seeking help from your local cocaine addiction treatment program can help you release the grip of addiction and begin the process of recovering your health.
Reach Out to Midwest Center at Youngstown
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that is difficult to quit once you are hooked. But with Midwest Center at Youngstown’s cocaine addiction treatment in Ohio, a healthy recovery can be yours. Call us at 844.544.0502 to find out how we can help you or a loved one overcome cocaine addiction for good.