In the United States there are an estimated 2.1 million people who have abused Cocaine at least once and many of those continue to use it regularly. Cocaine is one of the oldest drugs known to man, and has a history of wreaking havoc on lives, tearing apart families and ruins individuals financially and socially. Cocaine abuse also leads to addiction, which leads to other problems.
Cocaine Abuse
What is Cocaine abuse? It is not the same addiction, but the likelihood is that it will lead to an addiction. This is because there is no level of cocaine use that is considered safe. If an individual is using Cocaine, whether it’s snorting, injecting or smoking, then that is considered abuse. There is not much risk of developing an addiction to Cocaine after just a single use, only about 5%. However, if the individual continues to use Cocaine, that risk increases with each use, and could lead to a 90% or greater risk of addiction.
Difference between Cocaine Abuse and Cocaine Addiction
When an individual first starts to use Cocaine, that is the starting point of abuse. An individual can abuse Cocaine for months and years without it ever turning into an addiction. Conversely, an individual could become addicted after using Cocaine only a few times.
The primary difference between Cocaine abuse and addiction is that the individual who abuses the drug does not feel the craving for it, not will they feel any physical or psychological symptoms of withdrawal when they are not using the drug. On the other hand, an individual who becomes addicted to Cocaine will experience significant cravings to use the drugs, and suffer from withdrawal symptoms and negative side effects when not using.
Signs of Cocaine Abuse
What are some signs of Cocaine abuse? The following are some possible signs:
- Weight loss or lack of appetite
- Increased energy followed by a crash and burn cycle
- Sleeping excessively after staying up all night
- Wearing clothing that covers the skin to prevent visibility of track marks if cocaine is being injected
- Unexplainable loss of money or belongings
- Changes in mood or behaviors
- Avoiding loved ones, family members or friends
- Lack of interest in hobbies, sports or other aspects of life
If someone suspects that an individual close to them is abusing Cocaine, then paying close attention to the possible signs of Cocaine abuse can help in making the decision to confront the individual early. Getting the individual to seek help at an early stage can make a huge difference for the individual and prevent developing into an addiction.
Cocaine abuse can be habit forming with long term negative consequences. The Villa is here to help you move into recovery.