Recognizing Cocaine Abuse Symptoms

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that first became popular in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, the use of cocaine hasn’t wavered. In 2014, approximately 1.5 million Americans over the age of 12 reported being current cocaine users. Cocaine abuse symptoms onset rapidly and it’s vital to recognize the symptoms before they lead to an overdose.

Understanding Cocaine Abuse Symptoms

As a stimulant, cocaine causes users to have inordinate amounts of energy. Along with feeling energized, the user’s body will go into overdrive. Cocaine abuse symptoms include a number of physical and mental signs, including:

• Increased heart rate and body temperature
• Dilated pupils
• Delusions and hallucinations
• Overconfidence
• Aggressiveness

Cocaine has a fairly short half-life, meaning it wears off soon after it’s used. This causes many users to binge the substance in order to maintain a longer high. Long-term use of cocaine has almost the opposite effects of its short term symptoms. Someone with long-term cocaine abuse symptoms may exhibit signs including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Apathy
• Exhaustion and increased sleep
• Agitation

If you see someone exhibiting these symptoms alongside evidence of paraphernalia (such as used syringes and razors), then it’s time to reach out to them and help them find a trusted drug rehab facility like Serenity Lodge.

Recognizing an Overdose

If a person doesn’t seek treatment for their cocaine addiction despite recognizing the cocaine abuse symptoms, they put themselves at a higher risk for a drug overdose. Because cocaine is such a powerful substance, a person can overdose on it during their first use or their hundredth use; it all depends on the person and the purity of the substance.

Someone experiencing a cocaine overdose should recognize something is wrong immediately. The symptoms will become more serious overtime, so it’s important the people understand not to keep their concerns to themselves. Someone experiencing a cocaine overdose will start having symptoms such as:

• Increased heart rate and body temperature
• Headache
• Delusions and Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Psychosis
• Shaky hands and weakness from extreme dehydration

If someone overdoses on cocaine, the only solution is immediate medical attention. Call 911 immediately so that an emergency medical professional can attend to the person before it permanently damages their health.

For many people, a cocaine overdose is the wake up call they need to get them on the path to recovery. Once the person gets treatment for their overdose, it’ll be time to look into recovery plans that will put them on the path for long-term recovery.

Treating Cocaine Abuse at Serenity Lodge

Two major pieces of cocaine recovery are sobriety and preventing cocaine relapse. Once a person achieves sobriety, it’ll be up to them to utilize the tools they learned in recovery to prevent relapse in the future. Cocaine is popular and highly addictive, so it’s important that Clients understand the dangers of relapse and how to prevent it in their lives.

At Serenity Lodge in California, we approach preventing relapse in a variety of ways. Our evidence-based therapy programs, holistic healing amenities, and beautiful 22-acre campus are all designed to support our Clients and instill life-long strategies for stress management. We believe that by regulating the mind and body, Clients will be able to process external daily stressors in a healthy and sober manner.

Rather than turning to cocaine abuse to deal with stress from work or underlying mental disorders, Serenity Lodge teaches clients to manage stress and their mental health through proper diet, exercise, mindfulness strategies, and stress-relieving activities like yoga and meditation.

Your cocaine addiction doesn’t have to end in an overdose. Serenity Lodge is ready to help you along your path to sobriety and healthy living. If you’re tired of substance addiction controlling your life and you’re ready for a change, call us today at (855) 932-4045.