Cocaine Addiction Treatment
in Mississippi
MS Cocaine Abuse Treatment & Recovery
From 2011-2017, cocaine-related overdose deaths in Mississippi increased by 133.3%, and in 2017 they accounted for a full 10% of all drug overdose deaths [1]. Cocaine is becoming increasingly common in Mississippi, and the more widely used it becomes, the more likely people are to risk their health abusing it.
At Extra Mile Recovery, we believe that the first step to stopping drug abuse is education. We’ve gathered the most important information our clients and their loved ones should know about cocaine below, including how cocaine addiction works, signs and symptoms of cocaine abuse, why cocaine is dangerous to combine with other substances, how it affects the user, and how our cocaine addiction treatment programs can help clients get clean, stay clean, and reclaim their lives.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that’s mostly abused for its euphoric and confidence-boosting effects. These typically last only 5-30 minutes, which leads to recurrent use called “bingeing” and users quickly developing a tolerance to the substance. This tolerance often causes a cocaine user to take more and more of the drug to experience the same effects, creating dependence.
Cocaine works by interrupting the brain’s natural risk and reward system. Normally, the brain releases a pleasurable chemical called dopamine to “reward” someone for doing certain activities that make them feel good, mentally or physically. When a person uses cocaine, it stimulates a rush of dopamine that overrides this natural feedback process.
Cocaine comes in two forms, the first of which is a fine, powder-like salt that is snorted or injected. This form goes by the street names coke, snow, blow, powder, and yeyo. Powder cocaine is often “cut,” or diluted, with cheaper drugs or non-drug powder so the seller can make more money, but many of these powders can be even more dangerous to the user. The second form, the solid cocaine base, is smoked and called crack or rock. Cocaine mixed with heroin is far more lethal. It’s common enough to have its own name, speedballing.
Combining Cocaine with Other Drugs
Cocaine is often abused with other substances. In fact, a report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that the majority of people — nearly 70% — who entered treatment for cocaine addiction in a single year were also using other drugs [2]. In some cases, cocaine is mixed with other stimulants like MDMA, which increases the severity and danger of their side effects.
Other times, cocaine’s stimulant effects are used to “cancel out” the sedative effects of alcohol or heroin. In reality, mixing these substances puts a dangerous strain on the body, especially the heart, and can lead to life-threatening consequences.
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Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction
Every substance addiction is unique, but most cases of cocaine addiction have several of these side-effects:
- Emotional instability: Euphoria, irritability, excitability, anger, paranoia, restlessness
- Physical symptoms: Pupil dilation, weight loss, low libido, poor hygiene
- Erratic behaviors: Engaging in risky behaviors with unwarranted confidence, excessive talking, hanging out with new people, self-isolation, not doing things they once enjoyed
- Greater sensitivity: Feels touch, sound, sight, and pain more intensely
- Social problems: New difficulties with work, school, money, or the law
- Physical signs of abuse: Bloody or runny nose, burn marks on hands or mouth, white powder on clothing, owning paraphernalia including spoons, razors, and plastic baggies
Effects of Cocaine Abuse and Addiction
Cocaine abuse makes people deprioritize other parts of their lives, including relationships, working out, sleep, or food. At the same time, it increases stress and sensitivity, pushing the user to rely more on cocaine to subdue these feelings. Many turn away from their loved ones and healthy habits to pursue the escape that cocaine provides.
Cocaine affects both the mind and body. Its abuse can cause mental health issues including anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis. It’s also damaging to the brain, heart, and stomach with long-term use, with an increased risk of stroke, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, aortic ruptures, heart muscle inflammation, heart attack, gastrointestinal tears, and comas.
Different forms have their own dangers. Powder cocaine damages the nose, throat and bowels, and cocaine cut with other substances can have its own serious risks. Injection is more dangerous to the heart and increases the likelihood of contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and more bloodborne diseases. Smoking crack cocaine severely damages the lungs and can be lethal to those with breathing problems.
Mississippi Cocaine Detox & Withdrawal
Cocaine withdrawal can be both intense and shorter than most drugs. It may start as early as 90 minutes after use, and end 7 to 10 days later, but it can easily cause the sufferer to relapse due to how unpleasant it is. Relapse is far more likely to lead to overdose, as the body often loses tolerance quicker than the user expects, and the user takes more than they can handle.
Withdrawal symptoms of cocaine addiction include:
- Inability to focus or think critically
- Mood swings from anger, to anxiety, to depression
- Suicidal impulses
- Exhaustion, restlessness, trouble sleeping, and nightmares
- Physical fatigue after activity
- Fever-like symptoms including chills, tremors, and aching pains
- Anhedonia (difficulty or inability to feel pleasure)
- Cravings for using cocaine
Cocaine may also lead to Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS), where certain withdrawal symptoms, like anhedonia and cravings, can persist or come back months or even years after getting clean. Relapse prevention is a crucial part of cocaine addiction treatment for this exact reason.
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Mississippi Cocaine Rehab Center Near TUPELO, OXFORD, JACKSON, AND MANTACHIE
A cocaine use disorder doesn’t go away when the withdrawal period ends. Depending on their frequency of use, why they’ve been using, and other factors unique to each person, cocaine addiction can be both difficult and complicated to overcome. These problems are far more manageable with our professional help.
At Extra Mile Recovery, our cocaine rehab program provides treatment that’s personalized to each individual and to the unique needs of a person struggling with cocaine addiction. During cocaine addiction treatment, we focus on helping the client understand how to better meet unresolved needs through one-on-one substance abuse counseling and helping them find healthier ways to reward themselves and find happiness in their life through holistic therapies. Our staff have the training, knowledge, and personal experience with addiction to help each client find coping mechanisms and relapse prevention techniques that will help them live successful, sober lives in recovery.
To learn more about our individualized cocaine addiction treatment programs, please call Extra Mile Recovery at 662-810-4146 today.
