Cocaine is a highly addictive drug. It speeds up the system causing feelings of alertness and euphoria, but it can lead to devastating lows and destructive behavior. 

According to recent statistics, in 2018, 5.5 million Americans reported using cocaine. Almost 1 in 5 fatal drug overdoses were cocaine-related. Cocaine overdose deaths rose from 1.4% to 4.5% between 2012 and 2018. 

Cocaine addiction can take over your life. But fortunately, there are ways to get help. This article will discuss cocaine treatment centers so you can find out more about the recovery process. 

What Is Cocaine? 

Cocaine is classified as a stimulant. It is made from cocaine hydrochloride which is extracted from the coca leaves. 

In the distant past, South American people would chew coca leaves for their stimulating effects. About 100 years ago, science took over and added the extract to tonics and elixirs to relieve pain. And if you’re wondering how Coca-Cola got its name…there you have it. 

In time, medical professionals realized how addictive the drug is and determined that it could alter the brain if used repeatedly. Therefore, it was classified as a schedule II drug meaning that it’s highly addictive, but it can still be administered by doctors for medical purposes. 

Today, cocaine is most often found on the street. Dealers will dilute the hydrochloride with non-psychoactive elements like baking soda or talcum powder to increase their profits. It can be snorted, injected, or smoked. 

What Are the Signs of Cocaine Addiction?

It’s important to be able to identify the signs of cocaine addiction. That way, you can tell when you or a loved one needs help. 

Cocaine addiction starts when tolerance to the drug begins to form. People get used to having it in their system and will need to take more of it for it to have the same effect. After a while, they will feel sick when they are not high on cocaine, and they will need the drug to make them feel normal. 

Other signs of cocaine addiction include the following:

• Excessive energy
• Irritability 
• Paranoia
• Restlessness
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and touch
• Rapid heartbeat
• Loss of appetite
• High body temperature and blood pressure
• Dilated pupils
• Mood swings
• Erratic behavior
• Loss of interest in activities once found enjoyable
• Legal issues
• Financial issues
• Lack of self-care
• Troubled relationships
• Secrecy
• Changes in sleep patterns

How To Know if You Should Be Looking for Cocaine Addiction Treatment Centers

If you take cocaine regularly your relationships will begin to suffer. You will lose friends and you may even be unable to hold down a job. 

You may also begin experiencing physical symptoms that are related to your addiction. For instance, people that do cocaine often suffer from heart issues. Anxiety and paranoia are also common symptoms. 

How Prevail Recovery Can Help

If you are dealing with a diminished quality of life due to cocaine addiction, do not hesitate to reach out to cocaine addiction treatment centers to get the help you need. Prevail Recovery offers solutions that can help you overcome your dependency issues. 

Prevail Recovery takes a specialized approach that sets us apart. We analyze each patient to determine the underlying cause of addiction. Then we work out a therapy strategy that gets to the root of the problem and replaces addictive tendencies with healthy coping mechanisms. 

We focus on integrative medicine and nutrition for a comprehensive treatment plan. We provide a structured, tranquil environment for our patients. We offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. 

Don’t let cocaine addiction take over your life. Reach out to Prevail Recovery for the treatment you need today. We will get you on a path to happier, healthier living.