While inherently dangerous and highly addictive, Cocaine is one of the more celebrated drugs in popular culture, television, movies, and music.
Based on the drug’s widespread coverage and association with the rock & roll party lifestyle, many people do not realize the serious dangers posed by cocaine. No matter how glorified it is in the mass media, cocaine comes with serious consequences and negative repercussions.
Cocaine is a high-powered stimulant, which makes the heart beat faster immediately upon use. This can lead to an increase in your blood pressure and cause cardiovascular stress. Under extreme conditions it can even lead to a heart attack or a stroke. The added adrenaline and stress hormones that flood the body at this peak hyperactivity common with cocaine use seem exciting and productive, but the abuse on the nervous system and cardiovascular system can cause lifelong damage or death.
How Much Cocaine is Too Much?
Like other narcotics, it’s difficult to determine what a lethal dose might be for each and every person. Some people experience negative side effects from their very first use of cocaine. Others experience negative side effects after using cocaine hundreds of times in large dosages. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of cocaine abuse. You never know how it will affect you until you use it, and sometimes that's too late.
In addition to its immediate effects on the body, Cocaine is considered one of the most addictive narcotics on the planet.
Cocaine users claim the high from the drug is so incredibly intense, sometimes the best they've ever felt in their life, that the crash back down to normal operating levels is depressing and cause for serious anxiety until another fix can be achieved. The come-down is so harsh that the only thing that can restore a pleasant feeling is more cocaine. This is why people often need formal cocaine treatment.
The more you use cocaine the more tolerant you become. This means, that feeling you loved so much from using the drug in the beginning will diminish over time, requiring more and more cocaine to achieve the same euphoric effects. That's more drug use, more money spent, and more stress put on your body. The cycle of addiction is one that spins wildly out of control for those who get hooked on cocaine’s exciting false promises. The wild ride usually doesn’t end well.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a cocaine addiction, please don't hesitate to reach out to our addiction recovery professionals for guidance and treatment options.
