Snorting Cocaine

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What is Snorting Cocaine?

Snorting cocaine is a modern problem, but when and how did it start? Cocaine use in the United States dates to the nineteenth century. Extracted from the South American coca plant, cocaine originally served medicinal purposes as a physician-prescribed painkiller. Because of its dangers, cocaine is rarely used in medicine today.

Cocaine is commonly used and abused as a recreational drug, with common street names including coke, blow, sniff, cocoa, flake, and snow.

1.5 Million Americans Used Cocaine in the Past Month

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that, in 2014, an estimated 1.5 million Americans aged 12 or older had used cocaine in the past month, with 1.4% of young adults aged 18 to 25 reporting recent cocaine use. While cocaine can be injected or smoked, snorting is the most common means of ingestion.

What Happens When Cocaine is Snorted?

When cocaine is snorted, it enters the bloodstream through the nose and throat’s sensitive mucous membrane. Small amounts of cocaine designed to be snorted are frequently called “bumps,” while larger amounts of cocaine, arranged in rows for snorting, are often called “lines” or “rails.” Regardless of the amount ingested, cocaine has lasting and dangerous consequences.

Cocaine Effects and Abuse

Once cocaine has entered the bloodstream, it travels to the brain, where it interferes with dopamine regulation. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone that your body releases as a reward after certain “feel good” behaviors, such as exercising, eating, and listening to music. Dopamine helps carry positive feelings between neurons in the brain.

When produced and released as expected, it plays a role in a wide array of physical and psychological processes, from sleeping, to learning, to pain processing and the ability to focus. Dopamine is recycled in the body naturally, but cocaine binds to synapses in the brain, trapping the dopamine in place. This creates a compounding effect, using the body’s happiness hormones to create a feeling of “euphoria,” which can last for up to 90 minutes.

Cocaine’s manipulation of these naturally occurring chemicals can be devastating.

Snorting Cocaine Damages Your Nose and Sinuses

Snorting cocaine damages the soft tissue that lines the nose and sinuses. Initially, runny noses and sinus infections may become more common, but eventually, a deviated or eroded septum (the lining between nasal passages) and holes in the nasal cavity can result from prolonged cocaine use. The cartilage can become so damaged that the bridge of the nose begins to collapse, creating a saddle nose deformity.

Tissue infections can spread to the eyes and inner ear passages, causing vision and hearing loss. Without treatment, cocaine use can also result in weight loss, irregular heartbeat, seizures, sexual dysfunction, heart attack, and other serious medical issues.

Mental Illness and Snorting Cocaine

The health consequences of cocaine use are not just physical. Cocaine interferes with how the brain processes dopamine, which means that eventually, users need more of the drug to achieve the previous high. Ultimately, users may need large amounts of cocaine just to feel “normal” (drugfreeworld.org).

Additionally, the parts of the brain involved in processing stress and anxiety become more sensitive, leading to increased sadness, anger, and other negative moods when cocaine is not in a user’s system. These extreme negative feelings can be so painful that users will do almost anything to alleviate them, including neglecting relationships and engaging in criminal activity, to achieve another high.

Behaviors That Can Lead to Social Isolation

Such desperate behaviors can lead to social isolation, job loss, loss of family, engagement in demeaning activities, such as prostitution, and time in jail. The shame and depression resulting from the consequences lead to an even greater likelihood of relapse, creating a cycle in which cocaine is both the cause and relief from suffering.

Long term mental health consequences of cocaine use include hallucinations, long-term cognitive impairments and memory issues, anxiety, paranoia, sleeplessness, emotional outbursts, and severe depression. Research also suggests that cocaine users are at an increased risk of suicide than the average population.

Cocaine Detox

There are no medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat cocaine addiction, so detox and behavioral treatments are the most common approaches to breaking the cycle of addiction. Detox is an essential part of the treatment process.

If cocaine remains in a regular user system, they will experience severe withdrawal symptoms, making it harder for them to stay sober. Supported detoxification through a treatment facility such as Resurgence is usually the best strategy for ensuring effective treatment.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms often emerge within one day of the last use and can persist for weeks.

Detox Under Medical Supervision

Typically conducted under medical supervision, an inpatient detoxification program can reduce the likelihood of serious complications, such as cardiac arrest or respiratory distress. After detoxification, residential and outpatient treatment centers have been proven effective in the treatment of cocaine addiction. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Addiction

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or CBT is an effective strategy for recovering from cocaine addiction. This approach, which can be used in residential and outpatient settings, helps teach patients the skills required for long-term freedom from cocaine, including recognizing situations that trigger use and developing other behaviors for managing drug cravings.

Group Therapy Can Be Effective for Treatment

Research has also shown that group therapy can be effective for the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is important to note that group therapy is different than a support group. A support group is a group of individuals with a shared struggle or need who provides encouragement and emotional support to members. Group therapy is clinical therapy, under the leadership of a skilled professional, allowing the therapist to observe a patient’s behaviors with peers and inform treatment plans.

Cocaine Recovery Groups

Additionally, recovery groups that use the 12-step model, such as Cocaine Anonymous, can help end cocaine abuse. These programs are often a helpful supplement for residential or outpatient treatment. Given the severe psychological nature of cocaine addiction, detoxification, specialized care, and a strong treatment plan are usually the first steps to lasting recovery.

Cocaine Rehab at Resurgence Behavioral Health

Are you ready to break the cycle of addiction? Resurgence Behavioral Health can help. Our diverse treatment team includes addiction specialists, medical professionals, certified addiction counselors, and licensed therapists. We understand what you’re going through, and we are passionate about helping you live your best life.

Resurgence has locations in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, and Fullerton Hills. Our beautiful Outpatient Campus is complete with communal spaces, a computer lab, ponds, and water features designed for maximum support and relaxation. In addition to our serene, wellness-focused environments, Resurgence has diverse treatment options to meet your needs.

Our beautiful and welcoming facilities, and experienced team, will help you develop the skills and confidence required to find lasting freedom from cocaine addiction. Our goal is to make recovery accessible to everyone. We accept most PPO insurances and offer payment plans for cash patients. You can even pay for admission online.

You can do it. And we can help. Call Resurgence today and begin your healing journey.