When you first tried cocaine, you weren’t thinking about the long-term effects. It increased your confidence, helped you feel unstoppable and made everything around you become more vibrant. Then, the high started to dissipate and all you could think about was getting back to that incredible state of euphoria. Before you knew it, cocaine went from being an experiment to a habit.
As the residual effects begin to stack up, you’re left wondering and worrying about what cocaine is actually doing to you. While the high from cocaine can be intense, continued use takes a significant toll on your body. The hard truth is that substance abuse oftentimes comes with a price.
We’re here to give you some answers on how cocaine affects the body. In this post, we’ll go over the symptoms of cocaine use, as well as, the effects it can have on your brain. And be sure to keep reading to discover how you can break free from the hold cocaine has on you.
How Does Cocaine Affect Your Body?
You know from experience that cocaine can make you feel more energized and alert. But do you know some of the more dangerous and long-term effects of cocaine use on the body?
Cocaine Reduces Your Body’s Ability to Store Fat
At first glance, this might seem like a positive. But in reality, your body needs some fat to be healthy. People with a cocaine addiction can have a harder time storing fat. In fact, cocaine has even been shown to negatively impact your metabolism.
Cocaine Can Constrict Your Arteries
This is as serious as it sounds. Some medical professionals call cocaine “the perfect heart attack drug”. Cocaine can cause your arteries to constrict, limiting the amount of blood flow to your heart. As a result, people who use cocaine are at a much higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, no matter their age.
Cocaine Can Lower Your Appetite
A loss in appetite is one of the most common symptoms of cocaine use. The danger is that people abusing cocaine can lose weight and become malnourished. This keeps the body and brain from getting the nutrients it needs to function in a healthy manner, leaving you vulnerable to infections and illnesses your body can’t fight off.
Cocaine Can Tighten Your Blood Vessels
During your body’s natural “flight or fight” response, your blood vessels tighten. This reduces the amount of blood flow to your organs. While this process occurs naturally, the problem arises when it’s caused by cocaine use. Cocaine draws out this process and limits the amount of blood flow to your organs and brain for extended periods of time.
How Cocaine Affects the Brain
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the high from cocaine lasts somewhere around 15 to 30 minutes. Believe it or not, that short period of time is still enough to cause some pretty drastic changes in your brain.
During normal functioning, your brain actually recycles serotonin and dopamine. Those are the chemicals linked to desire, motivation, pleasure and reward. When your brain releases those chemicals, they’re reabsorbed by receptors in your brain cells. Unfortunately, cocaine blocks those receptors.
All those chemicals are now trapped in your brain with nowhere to go, giving you an intense high. The problem is this state of mind is highly addictive and continued use can damage those same receptors and leave your brain completely reliant on cocaine in order to function properly and help you feel good.
Cocaine Impacts the Memory Center of the Brain
Cocaine can also impact the memory center of your brain. Put simply, this means that cocaine becomes a major player in the memories your brain captures. For example, your brain takes note of all the locations, people and actions involved during your cocaine highs.
This matters because all those factors in your memories can become triggers. Even if you’re trying to limit your cocaine use on your own, visiting a place where you did cocaine or seeing someone you used to get high with can trigger your desire and cravings, which can lead to relapse.
Find Expert Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Silver Maple Recovery
As one of the most habit-forming substances, cocaine can be hard to break free from. But recovery from a cocaine addiction is not meant to be done alone. At Silver Maple Recovery, our cocaine addiction treatment program gives you the support you need to reach recovery.
As the only residential cocaine detox center in Lorain County, Ohio, you’ll participate in evidence-based therapy that helps you build a solid foundation for your journey towards lasting recovery.
As part of our continuum of care, you’ll begin treatment with our detox program that’s designed to help get the drugs out of your system while keeping you as comfortable as possible. From there, you’ll participate in residential and outpatient treatment where you’ll develop new ways of coping with cravings and triggers to help you prevent relapse and maintain sobriety.
Contact Us Today, Recovery is Within Your Reach
There’s no reason to let cocaine cause a lasting impact on your body. You have the power to reach recovery and at Silver Maple Recovery, we’re here to help you get there.
If you or a loved one is in need of cocaine addiction treatment, contact us today. We have a team of professional caregivers ready to answer questions you might have. Get the help you need today, free from any judgement or stigma.
