Heavy Cocaine Use; Treatment and MedicationsTreatment -The widespread abuse of cocaine has stimulated extensive efforts to develop treatment programs for this type of drug abuse. The neural aftereffects of chronic cocaine use include changes in monoamine metabolites and uptake transporters.
Because cocaine has a tendency to decrease appetite, many chronic users can become malnourished. In addition to treatment medications, behavioral interventions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy—can be effective in decreasing drug use by patients in treatment for cocaine abuse. Physical effects of cocaine use include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. On the other hand, the faster the absorption, the shorter the duration of action. This story has complications - cocaine's affinity for the serotonin transporter is actually greater than for the dopamine transporter. The addiction is both psychological and physical. They tend to become isolated and suspicious. An intense craving for more cocaine develops. Cocaine's recent notoriety belies the fact that the drug has been used as a stimulant by people for thousands of years. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. NIDA-funded researchers are also looking at medications that help alleviate the severe craving that people in treatment for cocaine addiction often experience. ne and Crack Cocaine. Crack resembles small pieces of rock and is often called rock on the street. The crime and violence associated with its transportation and sale, and the celebrity nature of some of its victims has kept cocaine in the news.
The social consequences of heavy cocaine use can be equally unpleasant. These high doses can overtax the cardiovascular system. But simplistically, cocaine tends to be a selfish drug.
The buildup of dopamine causes continuous stimulation of “receiving” neurons, which is associated with the euphoria commonly reported by cocaine abusers. Cocaine users most often inhale the powder sharply through the nose, where it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Non-recreational users are likely eventually to alienate family and friends. Thus the brain's capacity to experience pleasure is diminished. Several medications are currently being investigated for their safety and efficacy in treating cocaine addiction. Health Hazards: Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that interferes with the reabsorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with pleasure and movement. The illusion of free-will is likely to disappear. But cocaine's highly addictive nature and an addicts willingness to pay a high price for the drug have propelled it into the public eye. There is down-regulation of dopamine D2 receptors to compensate for their drug-induced over-stimulation. Added Danger: Coca ethylene When people mix cocaine and alcohol consumption, they are compounding the danger each drug poses and unknowingly forming a complex chemical experiment within their bodies. During a mission, essentially a 3-4 day crack-binge, users may consume up to 50 rocks a day. This can result in a period of full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the user loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations. Regularly snorting cocaine, for example, can lead to loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and a chronically runny nose. Cocaine is highly addictive, especially in the crack form. Freebasing is an especially dangerous means of abusing cocaine because of the high concentrations of cocaine it introduces into the bloodstream. |
