Cocaine is one of the most powerful and dangerous stimulant drug in the world. It creates a sense of euphoria and increased energy in a person. The effect is almost immediate, which lures a person for a little recreational use time and again, making it difficult for him to say no to cocaine addiction.
The short-lived euphoria results in craving that prompts drug re-use or even binge consumption. Binge consumption refers to a repeated use of the drug in increasing amount, taken over a small time frame, to experience the same high. Binge consumption also occurs when the person is addicted to drug for long, as the threshold of cocaine tolerance increases significantly in shorter period of time.
Cocaine is usually consumed by smoking, snorting or injecting in the body. Depending on the method, the time taken to experience the high, and the time for which the effect lasts can vary. Each of these methods poses its own risks.
Cocaine Side Effects
Inhaling cocaine through nostrils is called -’Snorting’. The cocaine in this case travels through nasal passages and gets absorbed in the blood stream. The high induced from snorting relatively lasts longer – about 15-30 minutes, compared to other consumption methods. But the side-effects of cocaine snorting are equally grave.
- A person can lose a sense of smell even with occasional episode of snorting cocaine.
- It can lead to tissue erosion, nasal septal perforation, inflammation of air passages in nasal cavity. The thinning of the blood vessels in the nostrils can lead to nosebleed.
- Snorting cocaine can also lead to sinus and other respiratory infections, causing a runny or stuffy nose.
- It can irritate and damage the trachea region along with the nasal cavity. This leads to throat swelling, hoarse throat or voice and difficulty in swallowing.
Short- & Long-Term Side Effects of Cocaine
Other long-term side effects of cocaine can include –
- Increased tolerance level and de-sensitized brain receptors. This leads to increased dependence on higher amount of cocaine to induce similar effect
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Lack of muscle control, which is more pronounced in prolonged cocaine abuse cases
- Cardiovascular problems – Chest pain, Arrhythmia or even a Heart Attack
- Loss of appetite leading to abnormal weight loss
- Neurological problems including seizures.
A combined behavioural and pharmacological therapy addresses both – a person’s physical and psychological dependence in cocaine addiction cases. The continued therapy not only enables a person to overcome the addiction and helps him in staying sober.
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