Cocaine addiction is a nasty ailment. Using cocaine once has adverse effects, but long-term addiction impacts mental and physical health and can bring psychological issues into play as well. For those with an addiction issue, cocaine addiction treatment is the key to turning life around before health conditions get so bad that they cannot be changed or reversed.
Understanding Cocaine’s Impact on the Brain
The New York Times showcases studies where the detailed scans of addicts’ brains show how cocaine impacts the brain. Cocaine brain damage is a real danger for those who use the substance regularly, or even here and there. To understand that impact, it’s important to take a look at what cocaine does to the brain. Here are a few effects:
Cocaine floods the system with dopamine because it blocks the area that keeps that hormone back for use on occasion. The system experiences a surge of euphoria and pleasure, leading the person to crave that feeling again.
Long-term use forces the brain tissue to decline, which leads to poor decision-making skills and a decline in impulse control. A person may have trouble with memory, motor skills, and attention span, among other things.Â
After a person uses cocaine, even on one or two occasions, their brains get used to the substance. Then, the next time they use it, they don’t get the same reaction they enjoyed so much the first time. The answer? They use more cocaine to get the same results. That then leads to a cycle of addiction.
The brain is a big part of the addictive process. Without the substance, once a person gets used to having cocaine, the brain sends out intense cravings as well as depression, fatigue, ill feelings, and more.
Common Mental Health Disorders Linked to Cocaine Use
Cocaine isn’t just bad for the brain, but has also been linked to many mental health disorders, such as:
Mood disorders are common in users. They may suffer from things like depression, mood swings, and other issues.
Users are often increasingly nervous or even panicked.
By the time they turn four, kids often become more self-assured, use a wider range of words, and show noticeable growth in both their coordination and ability to interact with others.
When your focus, memory, attention span, and decision-making skills start to slip, even simple daily tasks can feel surprisingly difficult.
Cognitive Impairments and Long-Term Effects
Cocaine addiction is harmful in the short term, but it only gets worse with time.  Users may experience short- and long-term memory problems as well as difficulties processing new information. They have poor impulse control and are no longer able to solve problems or make judgments. Thinking slows down, and attention and focus are lost. As gray matter deteriorates, the brain ages more quickly.
Social and Emotional ConsequencesÂ
Close friends and family often don’t want to be around someone who uses a restricted substance, like cocaine.  They have lost their credibility and may even be hostile. Users often badger others for money to feed their habit. They alienate themselves from anyone other than other users. Users can also fail to express positive or negative emotions, which makes their social and emotional efforts decline quickly.
Strategies for Recovery and Mental Health Support
Forbes states that many addicts don’t feel they can get their life back on track, even if they stop their addictive behavior. That’s where mental health support comes in to help with the process as a whole. The professionals, like Dr. Vorobjev, give users the help they need.
It is often dangerous to face cocaine addiction recovery alone, but with proper treatment, recovery is possible. Depending on the severity of the situation, inpatient treatment programs are often the best answer. They help the person to detox from the substance in the most comfortable way possible and then give them tools to combat their addiction.
If addiction is in its early stages, it’s possible for the user to get addiction therapy to increase their chances of a successful recovery. Either way, dependence on cocaine is a serious condition that is hard to overcome.
In conclusion
Cocaine brain damage is a serious condition that can impact anyone who uses cocaine. Even if someone uses the substance just a few times, the impacts are serious. Even worse is prolonged use. It is critical to comprehend the substance’s physiological and mental effects on the brain. Those items then stem into social and emotional issues. While cocaine addiction can be grave, it can be overcome with the right recovery program and support.Â
Images by Luke Jones and Colin Davis from UnsplashÂ
The editorial staff of Medical News Bulletin had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Medical News Bulletin. Medical News Bulletin does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products or services, nor do we endorse any products, services, or links in our Sponsored Articles.
Cocaine addiction is a nasty ailment. Using cocaine once has adverse effects, but long-term addiction impacts mental and physical health and can bring psychological issues into play as well. For those with an addiction issue, cocaine addiction treatment is the key to turning life around before health conditions get so bad that they cannot be changed or reversed.
Understanding Cocaine’s Impact on the Brain
The New York Times showcases studies where the detailed scans of addicts’ brains show how cocaine impacts the brain. Cocaine brain damage is a real danger for those who use the substance regularly, or even here and there. To understand that impact, it’s important to take a look at what cocaine does to the brain. Here are a few effects:
Cocaine floods the system with dopamine because it blocks the area that keeps that hormone back for use on occasion. The system experiences a surge of euphoria and pleasure, leading the person to crave that feeling again.
Long-term use forces the brain tissue to decline, which leads to poor decision-making skills and a decline in impulse control. A person may have trouble with memory, motor skills, and attention span, among other things.Â
After a person uses cocaine, even on one or two occasions, their brains get used to the substance. Then, the next time they use it, they don’t get the same reaction they enjoyed so much the first time. The answer? They use more cocaine to get the same results. That then leads to a cycle of addiction.
The brain is a big part of the addictive process. Without the substance, once a person gets used to having cocaine, the brain sends out intense cravings as well as depression, fatigue, ill feelings, and more.
Common Mental Health Disorders Linked to Cocaine Use
Cocaine isn’t just bad for the brain, but has also been linked to many mental health disorders, such as:
Mood disorders are common in users. They may suffer from things like depression, mood swings, and other issues.
Users are often increasingly nervous or even panicked.
By the time they turn four, kids often become more self-assured, use a wider range of words, and show noticeable growth in both their coordination and ability to interact with others.
When your focus, memory, attention span, and decision-making skills start to slip, even simple daily tasks can feel surprisingly difficult.
Cognitive Impairments and Long-Term Effects
Cocaine addiction is harmful in the short term, but it only gets worse with time.  Users may experience short- and long-term memory problems as well as difficulties processing new information. They have poor impulse control and are no longer able to solve problems or make judgments. Thinking slows down, and attention and focus are lost. As gray matter deteriorates, the brain ages more quickly.
Social and Emotional ConsequencesÂ
Close friends and family often don’t want to be around someone who uses a restricted substance, like cocaine.  They have lost their credibility and may even be hostile. Users often badger others for money to feed their habit. They alienate themselves from anyone other than other users. Users can also fail to express positive or negative emotions, which makes their social and emotional efforts decline quickly.
Strategies for Recovery and Mental Health Support
Forbes states that many addicts don’t feel they can get their life back on track, even if they stop their addictive behavior. That’s where mental health support comes in to help with the process as a whole. The professionals, like Dr. Vorobjev, give users the help they need.
It is often dangerous to face cocaine addiction recovery alone, but with proper treatment, recovery is possible. Depending on the severity of the situation, inpatient treatment programs are often the best answer. They help the person to detox from the substance in the most comfortable way possible and then give them tools to combat their addiction.
If addiction is in its early stages, it’s possible for the user to get addiction therapy to increase their chances of a successful recovery. Either way, dependence on cocaine is a serious condition that is hard to overcome.
In conclusion
Cocaine brain damage is a serious condition that can impact anyone who uses cocaine. Even if someone uses the substance just a few times, the impacts are serious. Even worse is prolonged use. It is critical to comprehend the substance’s physiological and mental effects on the brain. Those items then stem into social and emotional issues. While cocaine addiction can be grave, it can be overcome with the right recovery program and support.Â
Images by Luke Jones and Colin Davis from UnsplashÂ
The editorial staff of Medical News Bulletin had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Medical News Bulletin. Medical News Bulletin does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products or services, nor do we endorse any products, services, or links in our Sponsored Articles.
