Cocaine addiction is still prominent today and is not necessarily a rich people’s drug. The stimulant has been used by the wealthiest and the not so fortunate for decades, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping. From 2000 to 2016 outside of heroin and opioids, cocaine has contributed to the most drug overdoses in the U.S. If you or someone you know is addicted to cocaine, it is important to end the addiction before it gets worse. There are multiple options to consider when looking for cocaine rehab in California. Treatment options, facility types and the demographic in the treatment center should all be considered when deciding where to get help for cocaine addiction.
At Monarch Shores, we are capable of offering multiple treatment options under one roof and provide a luxury setting with a small number of patients. We do this to assure that everyone gets the treatment they desire and that everyone also gets enough one-on-one time with our expert staff.
Short-Term Symptoms of Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine is a stimulant, which means it stimulates the brain and the spinal cord. Stimulants boost the amount of dopamine, a chemical in the brain related to pleasure. Normally, a positive event will release dopamine temporarily, but brain cells will then re-absorb this dopamine. Cocaine interferes with this process and prevents the dopamine from being re-absorbed. Instead, the dopamine remains and accumulates in the spaces between the brain’s nerve cells. The increased dopamine stimulates the brain and causes a person to get high, and stay high.
What does it mean to get high? Since cocaine is a stimulant, a cocaine high can indicate more energy, energetic talking, and intense feelings.
Cocaine can also produce other side effects, including:
- elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperatures
- constricted blood vessels
- dilated pupils
- headaches
- nausea and stomach problems
People who use a lot of cocaine at one time might experience
- anxiety
- agitation
- restlessness
Long-Term Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction
Taking cocaine on a long-term basis is also dangerous. It exposes the body to greater amounts of cocaine for longer amounts of time. For people who snort cocaine, some signs of cocaine addiction include:
- constantly runny noses
- nosebleeds
- hoarseness
- swallowing problems
- holes or dead tissue inside the nose
- loss of the ability to smell
Using cocaine in other ways leads to other problems. People who inject cocaine can develop HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases, or they might suffer dangerous allergic reactions. Using cocaine by mouth can cause a person to develop bowel gangrene, a condition in which sections of the intestine die because they do not receive any blood.
Many of these side effects are unpleasant, if not harmful. Cocaine addiction treatment in California can help end some of these side effects or even prevent them from ever happening.
The Importance of Cocaine Rehab: Overdose
If people take cocaine for long periods of time, large amounts of dopamine will accumulate in their brains. This could change the way they think and act. They might require more and more cocaine to feel the stimulating effects, which is known as tolerance.
While cocaine increases energy, it can diminish a person’s ability to make good decisions. Consequently, cocaine use can lead users to dangerous behaviors that can increase their risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Cocaine can also diminish a person’s appetite and cause undernourishment.
Overdose is another serious consequence of drug abuse. Serious side effects include seizures, strokes, or heart attacks. If you or someone you love has experienced such symptoms or other signs of cocaine abuse, consider addiction treatment in California.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment: Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
Cocaine addiction in California is a serious condition that produces serious problems. Cocaine addiction treatment in California addresses these problems. To do so, facilities such as Monarch Shores offer detox (detoxification) services that remove cocaine from the body.
While detoxing from drug abuse decreases the levels of cocaine in the body, the process can still create side effects, including
- Fatigue: Abusing drugs and receiving treatment can be tiring. People in cocaine detox might be tired from the many activities they performed when cocaine boosted energy levels.
- Insomnia: Withdrawal from cocaine could hurt a person’s ability to sleep and give them nightmares.
- Greater appetite: People withdrawing from cocaine might feel hungrier because cocaine suppresses the appetite. Detox might prompt them to eat more regularly and do other things to care for themselves better than those who spend time abusing drugs.
- Mood changes: Since cocaine is no longer stimulating their brains, people in detox often experience anxiety, depression, agitation, or other mood changes.
- Diminished activity: Since cocaine is a stimulant, removing it can slow a person down.
- Cravings for cocaine: Cocaine addiction causes the brain to crave more cocaine for stimulation it. During detox, a person might continue to crave cocaine for these stimulating effects.
Addiction treatment at drug rehab facilities such as Monarch Shores treats these side effects. Training and experience has familiarized professionals at these centers about symptoms and how to handle them. They might prescribe patients medications to manage their symptoms, and help to guide patients through therapies or programs to explore addictions.
Helping a Loved One After Cocaine Rehab
Cocaine addiction does not just affect a person’s health or mental state. It also affects relationships. Sometimes, people are so involved in drug use, they damage connections to friends, family members, classmates, and coworkers. Luckily, there are things you can do to better understand loved ones’ addictions and what they experience:
- Do not protect them from the negative consequences of cocaine abuse
- Research cocaine, cocaine addiction, and recovery
- Remove cocaine and other triggers leading to abuse
- Set boundaries
- Try not to judge users
- Provide support throughout treatment
No matter how bad things seem to be, there is help. Cocaine addiction treatment in California can help you attain it. Calling Monarch Shores can help you find this treatment, find ways to pay for it, and help you find your loved one.