COCAINE
Paul Holdaway
What is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a mood-altering substance that is taken from the coca plant and through a chemical process it is turned from a natural grey paste to a whitish-yellowish powder. It falls under a group of drugs called stimulants which means the person experiences increased bursts of energy and euphoria. The feelings that the person experiences are powerful and intense but short lived. After 15 – 20 minutes the effect wears off and the user experiences a mild crash in mood. This can lead the user to want to use again and again and this is where the nickname ‘more’ came from.
Effects on the brain and your moods
Cocaine use causes the brain to push out a lot of dopamine which is what gives the person the powerful and intense high. But this intense dopamine rush has a serious downside. In the short term it empties the brain of the naturally occurring dopamine and can cause a person to experience an intense low mood after use. Over time, the body produces less of its naturally-occurring positive brain chemicals such as dopamine. Another concern is that once the brain experiences this intensive euphoric state it desires it again and again and it can be hard not to give in to strong cravings. Tolerance to a drug means that overtime your brain adjusts to your use and you need more and more cocaine to get the experience that you want. With more use, the negative consequences on your mood and body, finances, work, relationships, family and everyday life increase bit by bit.
General experiences after a cocaine session
At the end of a cocaine session the person will feel tired, achy, depressed and in some cases, experience paranoia and/or anxiety. Unfortunately, due to the stimulant effects on the brain, falling asleep can be difficult. This can lead to using other drugs to reduce the stimulating effects of cocaine such as sleeping tablets and cannabis.
The problem with alcohol and cocaine use
If cocaine is used, as in most cases, with alcohol, the liver metabolises both substances and creates a new chemical called cocaethylene. This powerful substance is highly addictive and the person will find that after a few sessions they will not be able to have a couple of alcoholic drinks without triggering cravings for cocaine. Unfortunately for the person who wants to stop their cocaine use there can be psychological problems e.g., extreme paranoia, powerful mental cravings and in some cases drug-induced psychosis. The other main problem is that cocaine use is everywhere and it is very hard to stay away from, meaning that the person may have to change their social circle to avoid use.
Crack-Cocaine
Crack-Cocaine or ‘Crack’ is cocaine powder washed with ammonia and baked with bicarbonate of soda to form a crystalised rock. This ‘rock’ is broken into small pieces and smoked with pipes and gives the user a five to ten minute extreme high with a horrible crashing experience immediately after use. Developing a ‘crack’ habit can lead to extremely intensive cravings where a person is willing to do anything to get money for another ‘rock’. The negative consequences of a crack habit are far reaching and extensive as the person’s physical and mental health can deteriorate quickly and the spiral of debt and monies owed for crack accumulates. Some users inject ‘crack’ and this can lead to abscesses, deep vein thrombosis and other blood-borne viruses such as Hep C, and HIV.
Consequences of developing a cocaine habit
As mentioned, the desire for cocaine can start to override everything else in your life because you strongly desire the stimulating euphoric effect. Consequences start to creep in bit by bit and include the following:
- Debt: Cocaine can be an expensive habit and as your tolerance develops your desire and appetite for cocaine grows. Often people describe spending more and more of their income on cocaine and this can lead a build-up of debts as money put by for household bills or other savings are used up.
- Relationships: The person using cocaine finds that the need for the drug outweighs family and relationship responsibilities. This can lead to arguments, broken promises, lack of trust and selfish behaviours.
- Physical Health: As cocaine is a stimulant drug, it increases the heart-rate, which can bring increased risks of heart attack, strokes, hypertension and involuntary twitches. Because cocaine powder is usually snorted, the nasal cavity and the mucous membrane can be eaten away causing nose bleeds. Over time, more permanent injuries can occur with some people requiring surgery to repair the damage done. Other physical impacts are that cocaine can decrease a person’s appetite and over time this can impact internal organs and decrease the immune system.
- Mental Health: The short-term impact of cocaine on your mood, ability to sleep and manage your life starts to increase. Over time and as tolerance to the drug increases the person may experience going from mild depression in the early days of use when finishing the session to more intense depressive bouts that can last for days. Feelings of paranoia can also increase leading to experiences of suspicion of friends, families and even strangers. Some people can experience ‘hearing voices’ or ‘seeing things’. These hallucinations can feel very real and are also very frightening for the person. This can also lead to panic or anxiety attacks, suicidal thoughts and chronic stress. Drug-induced psychosis means that the person is living in a delusional state where the difference between reality and fantasy is completely blurred.
- Dependence / addiction: As with any mood-altering substance that is used regularly over time, the risk of developing dependence is increased. Dependence or addiction means that the person has impaired control over their substance use and there are physical and psychological changes in the brain and body that have long term consequences. With dependence comes compulsive use despite the negative consequences. The person is no longer able to control their habit and experiences a downward spiral in all areas of their life.
Getting Help
After reading this article if you recognise yourself or someone in your close circle or family as having a problem with cocaine then there is help available. Treatment options are available to support you to overcome your cocaine problem. The most important step to take is to be honest with yourself and realise that you need help and support. If you have tried to stop several times and feel disheartened by falling back into cocaine use you are not alone. Asking for professional help and support is a really positive step to take and will help you to turn your life around.
The Cocaine Service
The Cocaine Project was set up as a distinct confidential service exclusively for cocaine users. The service provides a professional assessment, one to one crisis support, and interventions that will support you to achieve your goals and onward referral where needed. The service is provided over the phone or by face to face contact, whatever best suits your needs. All you need to do is to contact the coordinator, Paul Holdaway by phoning 086 0453822 or email paul@ccras.ie. Sometimes a person just wishes for a once off chat about their cocaine use and if this is what you are looking for then don’t hesitate to call Paul and he can do a brief intervention and give you the help you need.