Adverse Effects Does Cocaine Have on Health

Cocaine, a highly addictive drug, often referred to as white powder or coke is a drug that is usually consumed by separating into lines, snorting through the nose and smoking. The effect of the cocaine starts within 15 minutes. However, those addicts who cannot wait this long to get the pleasure of cocaine intake it by injecting it through the skin to get the pleasure in seconds.

The effect usually depends on the amount of cocaine the addict intakes, the method used to consume it, and purity. Once intoxicated by cocaine, the effect can last for hours and during this phase the addict will feel euphoric and lively. Prolonged use will increase the craving and this will only increase the desire to intake higher doses of cocaine to get the same effects.

Cocaine stimulates and causes a rise in the levels of dopamine (neurotransmitter of the brain) and thereby causes the feeling of pleasure. If a cocaine addict tries to stop his addiction, he will go through withdrawal symptoms such as depression, nervousness, tiredness and reduced appetite. All this will only make the addict crave for more cocaine.

The health complications that are caused due to cocaine addiction are plenty. Headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems are common among cocaine addicts. Addict who snort cocaine for a long time can damage the internal areas of the nose. The supply of blood and oxygen to the nose is also hampered severely as the drug constricts the blood vessels.

Cocaine abuse can also cause increase in blood pressure, increase in heart rate and rise in the body temperature. Long-term health complications include paranoia, heart attack, dilates pupils, kidney illness, renal failure, failure of the respiratory system and strokes. The chances of contracting such health problems are doubled when overdosed or consumed with other drugs like alcohol or heroin.

Finding an effective cocaine drug rehab can help a person overcome his or her addiction to cocaine addiction.