Cocaine is a highly addictive drug whose repeated use can wreak havoc on a person’s physical and mental well-being. A key factor in battling this substance use disorder is noticing the early signs of cocaine addiction in a friend or loved one and getting them the help they need. Get in touch with Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston at 866.516.8356 for cocaine rehab and drug addiction treatment.
How Cocaine Affects the Body
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that can be smoked, injected, or snorted. When the drug enters the body, it affects the central nervous system, causing a buildup of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure feelings.
Continued use affects the brain’s ability to produce dopamine naturally. This production results in the body developing a dependency on the drug, eventually leading to addiction. Cocaine’s effects vary depending on a person’s physical makeup. However, common short-term side effects include:
- Nausea
- Tremors
- Restlessness
- Muscle spasms
Prolonged use leads to further damage, with symptoms such as limited cognitive abilities, lung damage, inflammation of nose tissues, and lost sense of smell, among others. To help prevent this from happening, early detection and treatment of cocaine addiction are necessary.
Five Signs of Cocaine Addiction to Look Out For
In most cases, knowing the early signs of cocaine addiction allows you to take prompt action, encouraging your friend or loved one to enroll in a cocaine rehab program for drug addiction treatment. Here are the five common signs of cocaine addiction you should look out for if you suspect that someone you love is battling an addiction.
Physical Signs
Physical signs vary depending on a person’s method of consumption. For instance, cocaine often leads to runny nose, difficulty swallowing, and nose bleeds when snorted. On the other hand, smoking cocaine causes breathing problems and respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. Other physical signs you could look out for include pupil dilation, bloodshot eyes, and sleeping or eating habits changes.
Behavioral Signs
Cocaine use can also cause several personality and behavioral changes. The more common examples include extreme mood swings, irritability, paranoia, and anxiety.
Financial Signs
Sustaining a cocaine habit can get expensive, with users often experiencing a wide range of financial problems. Additionally, the substance use disorder makes it difficult for them to maintain employment or stay up to date with their bills. In some cases, a person might turn to theft or other fraudulent means to get their fix.
Social Signs
Some common social effects of cocaine use include abusive, manipulative, or aggressive behavior and secrecy. Many often prioritize their drug use over personal and professional relationships, while others withdraw from friends and family due to feelings of shame.
Withdrawal Signs
Prolonged cocaine use would increase a person’s tolerance to the drug, which, in turn, increases drug cravings and worsens the withdrawal symptoms they experience. Common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include fever, aches, chills, decreased appetite, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating. In some cases, these withdrawal symptoms can get painful and too overwhelming.
Because of this, we strongly encourage those who are trying to quit the drug to seek professional drug addiction treatment from a professional addiction treatment center.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
If you notice some of these signs of cocaine addiction in your friend or family member, try to get them to seek treatment as soon as possible. At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we provide those looking to recover from substance use disorders with a comfortable, safe, and medically supported detox environment.
We can provide you or your loved one with what they need to safely get through their cocaine detox. Utilizing medically proven approaches, we offer treatment programs such as:
- Alcohol detox programs
- Residential treatment programs
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Trauma therapy programs
Find your friend, family member, or loved one the help they need at our treatment facility. Call Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston at 866.516.8356 and speak to one of our drug addiction treatment specialists.
