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Cocaine Addiction FactsIn the early 1900s, it became the main stimulant drug used in tonics and elixirs developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Today, cocaine is a Schedule II drug, meaning that it has high potential for abuse, but can be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses (such as a local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries). Putting cocaine in that historical context, however, does little to offset the consequences of its abuse. In 1985, an estimated 5.7 million Americans age 12 and over were chronic cocaine users. Less than 15 years later, that figure was down to 1.5 million - but it's still a startling reminder of how cocaine abuse and addiction continue to cause pain and destruction throughout the U.S. The National Institute of Drug Abuse notes that there are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase" form of cocaine, generally known as crack. The hydrochloride salt, or powdered form of cocaine, dissolves in water and, when abused, can be taken intravenously (by vein) or intranasally (in the nose). Freebase refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. Known by such names as C, snow, flake, coke, or blow, cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder. Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active drugs as procaine (a chemically related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants as amphetamines. When the freebase form, or crack cocaine, is smoked, the user experiences a high in less than 10 seconds. This rather immediate and euphoric effect is one of the reasons behind crack's enormous popularity. The short-term effects of cocaine use include increased energy, decreased appetite, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term, cocaine use can lead to permanent damage, addiction and death - often the result of cardiac arrest or seizures and respiratory failure. Addicts develop a craving satisfied only by more and more drugs - and the feeling that they would be unable to function normally without it. Ongoing usage can also include hallucinations, delirium, restlessness, and severe depression. Over time crack cocaine can result in heart and respiratory problems, heart attacks, and ultimately, death - which is why action must be taken to help the addicted stay off the drugs and away from old habits. Technological advances are helping in the battle against this addiction. Scientists can actually see the dynamic changes that occur in the brain as an individual experiences the rush, or high, in taking the drug, and how the drug - through the pleasurable effects it creates - becomes so addictive. They have also been able to identify parts of the brain that become active through cocaine use, which has been critical to identifying targets for developing medications to treat cocaine addiction. All of these advances play a role in the treatment of cocaine addiction at Sunrise Recovery Ranch. |
