Did you know that 4.7% of the UK’s adult population admitted to using cocaine in the last year? On its own, that percentage seems insignificant, but it translates to hundreds of thousands of people taking this illegal substance.
To make matters worse, cocaine addiction is one of the most common addictions in the country. It’s an incredibly addictive substance that provides extreme effects to whoever takes it. The number of deaths from cocaine has been rising in England and Wales since 1993.
If you are suffering with cocaine addiction, contact us to see how we can help you. Rehab or detoxing are usually the most recommended action.
What is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a stimulant, which means that it leads to psychological and physiological changes in your body. This can include an increase in energy, extreme alertness, a high heart rate, and much more. Many people feel more alive and confident after taking this drug, which is one of the reasons it’s so addictive.
The extreme high associated with cocaine doesn’t last long, bringing users back down to earth soon after. As a result, you long to experience the high again, and this is the first step towards cocaine addiction.
What are the Signs of Cocaine Use?
Do you suspect that somebody close to you has started using cocaine? If you do, then you should rightfully be worried. If you need more confirmation before you take action, then these are the main signs of cocaine use to look out for:
- Dilated pupils
- Frequent nosebleeds, sniffing, or excessively runny nose
- They seem as though they have extra energy and are very twitchy
- They’re extremely talkative when usually they’re quiet
- They seem more confident
- They have crazy mood swings all the time
- They develop paranoid feelings
- They often spend hours in bed in the morning without getting up
The somewhat good news is that it’s easy to see the signs of cocaine usage in an individual. This drug leaves lots of telltale signs, particularly physical ones.
The top two signs shown in the list above are the ones to pay the most attention to. Look for signs of cocaine use in the eyes and nose. Sometimes, you may still see white powder residue under their nostrils – this is a dead giveaway that they’re not only taking cocaine but are addicted to it.
What are the Dangers of Cocaine Use?
Cocaine use quickly turns into cocaine abuse, which can lead to a serious of very severe health problems for the individual.
As with all drug addiction, the more a person takes cocaine, the more cocaine they need. This is because the human body builds up a tolerance to it, meaning more is required to elicit the desired effects.
As such, high amounts of cocaine in the body can lead to:
- Frequent headaches and nausea
- Insomnia
- Chills
- Seizures
- High blood pressure
- Confusion
- Excessive sweating
- Psychosis
However, the biggest danger comes from how cocaine interacts with your blood vessels.
It constricts them, which puts added stress on your heart. This can lead directly to frequent chest pain, which can then cause something known as a cocaine heart attack.
In fact, you’re 24 times more likely to suffer from a heart attack during the first hour of cocaine use.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Treatment for cocaine use and addiction is available at our rehab centre. We can help people get over this addiction by using a combination of tried and tested methods.
This includes detoxing, counselling, and much more. The sooner this addiction is treated, the easier it is to kick this bad habit for good.
Feel free to get in touch with us today if you have any questions on the signs of cocaine use or how to approach a friend that’s suffering from this addiction.
