Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA

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Understanding Cocaine and Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA

First and foremost, you may be wondering: what is cocaine and why is it important to understand cocaine addiction in Costa Mesa, CA?

Thankfully, the answer to that question is a relatively simple one (although the process for creating the substance is not).

Cocaine is an illicit drug derived from South America’s coca plant.

The coca leaves are separated from the plant and the base for cocaine is extracted after treatment.

The treatment process includes soaking the leaves in gasoline, draining them, drying the base, dissolving the substance in a solvent, and removing the excess solvents before the base is dried into bricks.

Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA – The Source

The DEA lists Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile as the main producers and distributors of the drug, with Colombia taking a significant lead over the others.

Of all illegally produced drugs, cocaine is the second most trafficked one after methamphetamine.

The white, powdery drug is often laced or diluted with foreign substances so that producers or sellers can increase their profit margin and keep more of the pure substance.

Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA – The Dangers

One of the problems with impure cocaine is that users never know what else is present in the substance, and the additives can sometimes be even more damaging than the drug itself. The additives may not mix well with other substances in the user’s body or they may contribute to the potential for addiction.

The most common additives are amphetamines, caffeine, baking soda, and levamisole. While baking soda may be relatively harmless, substances like levamisole can be incredibly dangerous. This particular drug’s primary purpose is killing parasitic worms in livestock, so it’s easy to imagine what that does to the human body.

On its own, the drug increases the dopamine levels in the brain, which are responsible for feelings of pleasure, and lead to intense increases in alertness, energy, and attention. The crash after the high can lead to light and sound sensitivity, mood swings, a decrease in appetite, and paranoia. It can also impair your memory and ability to sleep.

The federal government has labeled cocaine as a Schedule II drug because it is highly addictive and has a troubling potential for abuse. Cocaine addiction in Costa Mesa, CA is a troubling reality. In recent years, the country has seen a concerning increase in drug activity, which makes it harder for individuals to avoid, especially those who have had substance abuse issues in the past or are currently trying to recover from addiction.

Crack Addiction vs Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA

Both cocaine and crack are made with the same base ingredient, but they have different effects on the brain and body.

The powdered base form of cocaine is usually injected or snorted, while crack is that same powdered base form mixed with baking soda and water, then smoked.

Unlike cocaine, the effects of crack are instantly noticeable. Although using cocaine in any form can be damaging or even fatal, the qualities listed above make smoking crack cocaine significantly more addictive and dangerous.

Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA – How Does it Happen

Whether smoked, injected, or snorted, cocaine directly interferes with the central nervous system. The fleeting (usually lasting 30 minutes or less) feelings of euphoria, and increased energy, attention, and focus that a cocaine high produces add to the possibility of addiction.

No method is safe, but each method of ingesting cocaine has a different level of danger and addiction potential. Snorting the substance is the, technically, “least dangerous” of the three, although it is still never recommended.

With any amount of cocaine use, it can change the user’s brain chemistry, which in turn damages the nerves and brain cells, making it harder for users to recognize that there is a problem. Additionally, since the effects last for such a short period of time, many users will quickly increase what amount of the drug that they take as they drive toward recreating their initial high.

Unfortunately, that initial high gets harder and harder to find, and searching for it often leads to addiction, abuse, and even more dangerous problems.

Other factors may include genetic factors or predisposition (users with family members that have substance abuse issues are much more likely to become addicted themselves), introduction at an early age, the amount of the drug used, the method of ingestion, and the length of time that an individual has been using.

Learn the Risks of Cocaine Addiction in Costa Mesa, CA

Because cocaine rewires the brain and difficult to predict if a user will become addicted, it’s best for the substance to be avoided altogether.

Cocaine abuse causes a myriad of physical and mental health problems, especially in long-term users. This particular drug can cause brain damage, heart attacks, cardiac arrest, and strokes. It can also increase the blood pressure of the user, cause kidney and lung damage, and lead to more minor — but still undesirable — symptoms like headaches, convulsions, and mood swings (including suicidal thoughts) or changes.

Overdose Risks for Cocaine Addiction

Often, users will take cocaine in conjunction with other substances. This happens, in part, because the environment calls for it, or the additional substance enhances the effects of the drug.

However, combing cocaine with other substances makes it increasingly dangerous. Combining cocaine and alcohol, in particular, happens frequently and increases the risk of overdose. Alcohol and cocaine are a common and dangerous combination, but the combination of cocaine and heroin is even more deadly.

Even without adding additional substances to the mix, cocaine alone has a high potential for overdose.

No method of cocaine use is safe, but the risk of a cocaine overdose is heightened when the user injects it into their body.

Of all of the life-threatening illicit drugs available in the world today, more hospital emergency room admissions are attributed to cocaine abuse than any of the others.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal may last for weeks, and drug detox may be necessary.

Patients often report feeling:

• Drug cravings
• Depressive episodes
• Anxiousness
• A lack of concentration
• Fatigue
• Urgent hunger
• Nightmares
• Muscle aches, pains, and chills

These are just a few of the symptoms of withdrawal, but there are many others as well.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment Options

Many of our treatment programs at Resurgence start with medical detox, but this will depend on your individual needs and the severity of your addiction since each program is customized.

When you call for information and your free insurance verification, we’ll gather information so we’re better able to outline your options for you.

The beginning stages include detoxes, inpatient care, and a variety of treatments, including behavioral therapies.

As you progress in recovery, many programs will include group therapies, support groups, outpatient care, and aftercare planning to keep you on track once you’ve achieved recovery.

Overcoming an addiction to cocaine can be difficult, especially when there are other substances or mental health disorders involved.

That’s why we perform thorough intakes and examinations and offer a wide range of treatment options.

We don’t want to treat one problem and let others fester below the surface.

We want you to experience a holistic, healthy, and well-rounded recovery for a long, beautiful, and addiction-free life moving forward.