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Cocaine Rehab

Finding out about the effects and risks of the most common drugs is important if you or a loved one is considering cocaine rehab. Cocaine addiction is a serious problem, but the level of risk and the type of treatment required is heavily dependent on the specific drug being abused. Cocaine is a commonly used drug, which is derived from South American coca leaves. It is a fine white powder that is typically snorted. Many different drug rehab programs are suitable for treating cocaine addiction.

Although snorting is the most common method of taking cocaine, it can also be bought as in “freebase” form so it can be smoked, and the powder can be dissolved in water for intravenous injection. Snorting coats the intranasal tissue with the drug and it is then absorbed into the bloodstream. This delays the onset of the effects, but also prolongs the high. Injecting is a direct route into the bloodstream, and therefore produces a more intense effect which comes on much quicker. Likewise, smoking is a direct route to the bloodstream and produces a similar effect to intravenous injection.

The effects of cocaine are usually short-lived, with snorting only producing a 30 minute high. The user feels an intense euphoria and increased alertness, generally accompanied by inflated confidence, which can lead to risk-taking. Physiologically, cocaine reduces hunger, raises body temperature and raises heart rate. The fact that the high is fleeting means that it’s common for users to have multiple “lines” in one night.

Anybody with heart problems is at particular risk from cocaine addiction. The increased heart rate can cause it to fail, and with high doses even healthy, young users can have heart attacks and convulsions. The risks of cocaine are much more pronounced if the drug is combined with alcohol. The two form cocaethylene when combined by the liver, which both intensifies the effects and increases the risk of sudden death. There are also psychological effects associated with the drug, such as anxiety, depression and paranoia. If cocaine is snorted regularly, it can erode the nose’s central cartilage and leave users with a single, giant nostril.

When you inject any new chemical into the brain regularly, it has to adapt to continue functioning. Cocaine causes an abundance of dopamine in the brain by preventing it from being collected by the neurons. Ordinarily, neurons release a brief pulse of the neurotransmitter to stimulate the mood and then capture it to stop the sensation. Dopamine is a vital component of the brain’s reward system, so the drug disrupts normal functioning. The brain has to change how it works to accommodate, and therefore the user has to take more cocaine to produce the same effect. The re-wired brain is tolerant to the chemical, but the increased dosages put the body at additional risk.

Treatment for cocaine in drug rehab facilities is solely through counselling and behavioural therapy. Drug rehab programs will focus on the individual’s patterns of use and the reason they take the drug. Help will be offered for any psychological issues that arise as a result of the addiction, but the main focus will be on preventing future use. Almost all drug rehab facilities are suitable for the treatment of cocaine, because the counselling offered is essentially the same as for many other substances.

If you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine addiction, we have a detailed knowledge of all the drug rehab facilities that can help you. Getting clean is never easy, and it’s important to remember that it is normal to need help through difficult times. We provide free advice, and can explain the different treatment models to help you make a decision regarding a specific drug rehab program. Please get in touch to see what help we can offer you!

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