Although cocaine has been around since the mid-1800s, it is still very much available as a street drug, and about 38 million adults in the US report having used the drug at least once. For most people to overcome this type of addiction, it is often necessary to enroll in a cocaine addiction treatment program.
At TruHealing Centers, our team provides an evidence-based cocaine addiction treatment program at all our locations. If you have any questions at all about cocaine abuse and addiction, are worried about yourself or a loved one, or need guidance about how to sign up for rehab, contact us today. You can reach us via online form or by calling [Direct]. Our team believes that being able to recognize common signs of cocaine addiction can help you or someone you care about get the treatment that may be needed.
5 Common Signs of Cocaine Addiction
1. Physical Signs of Cocaine Addiction
Depending on how cocaine is taken, physical signs of chronic use will differ, but there are almost always clues. For someone who snorts cocaine, the nose and sinuses are damaged. Nosebleeds, persistent runny nose, sniffling, and sore throat from postnasal drip are common. Taking cocaine by mouth can result in bowel decay and even gangrene. Smoking crack cocaine leads to respiratory disorders and illnesses. Injecting cocaine results in track marks and scars. Additional physical signs that someone is using this powerful stimulant include:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Drastic weight loss
- Higher body temperature and blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
- Erratic behavior
2. Mental Health Consequences
Co-occurring mental health disorders are exacerbated by cocaine abuse, and, in turn, cocaine abuse worsens those disorders. It is not uncommon to see someone experiencing heightened paranoia and even delusional thinking as underlying conditions are amplified.
3. Relationship Loss
Cocaine addiction has devastating effects on relationships with family and friends. Drug-seeking behavior leads to financial extortion of those closest to the substance abuser and other kinds of manipulative behavior, such as secrecy, lies, physical aggression, verbal abuse, and other behaviors. Another clue that someone may be addicted to cocaine is social withdrawal and isolation due to shame, intermittent depression, and desperation.
4. Financial Problems
Addiction of any kind can effectively deplete one’s income and bank accounts due to the inability to hold a job and the cost of acquiring a drug in ever-increasing quantities. It is an all-too-common story that someone addicted to cocaine went through all liquid assets, savings, and retirement accounts, to be left destitute. In many cases, once funds and career are lost, this person will resort to borrowing, stealing, and swindling to pay for their habit. It is often friends and family who get caught in that trap.
5. Withdrawal
A definitive sign of addiction is withdrawal when the cocaine is no longer available or withheld. Withdrawal means the body has become dependent on the drug to function. Withdrawal involves severe cravings and physical and mental discomfort, pain, and symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Fever
- Headache
- Paranoia
- High blood pressure
- Cardiac arrhythmia
Managing these withdrawal symptoms safely in a detox program under medical supervision is the first necessary step on the path toward recovery.
Overcome Cocaine Addiction at TruHealing Centers
At TruHealing Centers, we provide medically supervised detox at all our addiction recovery centers, as well as a wide range of treatment options for those who are addicted to cocaine and seeking change, health, and recovery. To learn more about cocaine addiction treatment options at any of our recovery centers, reach out to us today. Our staff is knowledgeable and compassionate and will give you the time and information you need to make an informed choice about your next steps. You can use our online form or simply call us at [Direct].