Cocaine Dependence/Addiction
When a person uses cocaine, this
substance binds to the reward pathway of the brain (the VTA and the
nucleus accumbens). As a result of the cocaine's actions in the nucleus
accumbens, there are increased impulses to activate the reward system.
That is why cocaine is a powerful euphoriant and it relieves, though only
transiently, depression, dread and dysphoria.
With repeated use of
cocaine, the brain adapts to cocaine use (abuse), that is, the body relies on cocaine to
maintain rewarding feelings. The person is no longer able to feel the
positive reinforcement or pleasurable feelings of natural rewards (i.e.
food, water, sex), and is only able to feel pleasure from cocaine. But
as the brain has adapted to cocaine, it becomes less sensitive to it, so the
dosage will have to be increased gradually to obtain the original effects
of cocaine. This is called tolerance.
Thus the user becomes
dependent and when the cocaine is no longer present, anhedonia (inability
to feel pleasure) and depression emerge as part of a withdrawal syndrome.
To avoid this, the user goes back to cocaine. Cocaine users find
themselves impelled to return to cocaine because of the intense euphoria,
to relieve the intense dysphoria experienced after discontinuing its use,
which is relieved by using more cocaine.
This process becomes
faster and with increased effects with the use of crack. Historically
cocaine abuse involved snorting the powdered form (the hydrochloride
salt). When cocaine is processed to form the free base, it can be smoked,
and is called crack. Smoking gets the drug to the brain more quickly than
snorting does. Snorting requires that the cocaine travel from the blood
vessels in the nose to the heart, where it gets pumped to the lungs to be
oxygenated. The oxygenated blood carrying the cocaine then travels back to
the heart where it is pumped out to the organs of the body, including the
brain. However, smoking bypasses much of this, so the crack cocaine goes
from the lungs directly to the heart and up to the brain. And the faster a
drug with an addictive ability reaches the brain, the more likely it will
be abused.
|
| This is a state in which an organism functions normally only in the presence of cocaine, and is manifested as a physical disturbance when the cocaine is removed (withdrawal). |
To sum up, cocaine dependenceSymptoms of cocaine or crack dependence/addiction
A chronic user of cocaine or crack will
become very tolerant to the drug and their body also gets very used to the drug keeping them awake and functional. But there are some symptoms that
indicate dependence on cocaine:
� Need for increased amounts
of cocaine or crack to achieve the original effects.
� Unsuccessful
efforts to cut down or control cocaine or crack use.
�
Progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of
cocaine or crack use.
� Withdrawal symptoms. Once the user
stops, which can prove very difficult for a regular or chronic user, they
will very quickly start to feel tired, panicky, exhausted and unable to
sleep, often causing extreme emotional and physical distress, which for
some can prove unbearable. Many chronic users are well aware of these
symptoms and, in an attempt to avoid them as well as the ensuing fatigue, are
very reluctant to stop its use.
� Use of cocaine or crack to
relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
� A return to cocaine
or crack after a period of abstinence (deciding to quit using cocaine or
crack and not being able to follow through).
Those who have become
cocaine addicted generally require outside help to stop consuming, which
usually includes detoxification and medical treatment.
What are the effects of cocaine or crack dependence?
Long-term cocaine effects appear after increased periods of
use and are dependent upon the duration of time and amount of cocaine that
has been consumed. On the other hand, these effects are increased with
consumption of crack, which is extremely addictive and with very powerful
effects.
Short-term cocaine effects are noticeable immediately and
although they are not always damaging, in some cases they have caused
serious bodily damage and death. Deaths related to cocaine effects are
often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures and respiratory failure, and
its frequency increases with use of crack. Some of the short-term cocaine
effects first time users experience includes increased energy, decreased
appetite, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
|
� Increased blood pressure � Constricted blood vessels � Dilated pupils � Mental alertness � Increased energy � Increased heart rate � Decreased appetite � Increased temperature |
Long-term cocaine effects are noticeable as cocaine
abuse continues and tolerance builds. Since cocaine is a highly addictive
drug, it can lead to major medical complications and health problems. Some
of these complications include heart disease, heart attacks, respiratory
failure, strokes, seizures, and gastrointestinal problems. Other physical
symptoms include convulsions, nausea, blurred vision, chest pain, fever,
muscle spasms, and coma.
As the habit of using cocaine becomes
increasingly important, behavior such as lying, cheating, stealing,
absenteeism at work and denying the use of cocaine, is an evident side
effect. While these behaviors are not directly related to the use of
cocaine, these cocaine effects are often present due to the lifestyle of
the addict.
|
� Addiction � Paranoia � Irritability � Restlessness � Auditory hallucinations � Mood disturbances |
Cocaine Detoxification Center:
� TAVAD
- Advanced Addiction Treatments
Ultra Rapid Cocaine Detoxification
Treatment. 100% successful detoxification without Withdrawal in
48 hours.
(Treatments evaluated by Ministry of Health)
www.tavad.net
|
For further information on Cocaine Dependence and Cocaine Detox:
Cocaine effects
United Nations.
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) bulletin. Recent developments in the
abuse of cocaine.
NIDA. The neurobiology of drug addiction. The action
of cocaine.