Cocaine addiction is a drug addiction that took off in the early seventies. Thousands of people began using this drug and even today people use this drug throughout the globe. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant and in the early years of its use, ancient people used it as a spiritual enhancement. They chewed the leaves to give themselves a feeling of calmness and they also stuffed the cheeks of a dead person with coca leaves as a way of “healing” the dead from his or her pain.
Illegal Throughout the World
Coca was made legal to sell in South America in the 1500’s, but the drug was not yet developed. Cocaine is still illegal to sell throughout the world, but in Columbia, South America, it is still legal to have small amounts of it for personal use. Columbia is the world’s leading supplier of this dangerous drug and every year, millions of pounds of it are brought into the United States illegally and sold through the drug communities.
Cocaine is not a simple, natural drug. To get to the white powder form that Americans get, it has to go through several steps. First, the coca leaves are dried and chopped into small, fine pieces. After they dry for a half day, they are mixed with small amounts of powdered cement and then soaked in gasoline for a day. After the mixture has soaked in the gasoline, it then gets soaked in battery acid to form a murky looking liquid that then has caustic soda added to it before it is strained and sold in kilo blocks to willing buyers.
Addiction and Rehabilitation
Cocaine addiction is one of the most deadly addictions a person could have. It can be snorted as a powder through the nose, smoked in the form of crack cocaine, or it can be dissolved and injected into the blood stream. When snorted, it goes up the nose where the sinus cavity dissolves it and then it rapidly enters the blood stream.
Over five percent of first time users develop an addiction with the first use, and the DEA has it classified it as one of the Schedule 2 controlled substances. Addiction is common because the user loses their high rather quickly causing them to want another dose of the drug so they can keep their high; leading them to repeat this binge of doses. Addiction affects the part of the brain that controls a person’s pleasure causing them to have a negative outlook on life and they think they need the drug just to feel normal.
There are physical changes that take place due to this addiction. When the brain tells the body it feels bad, the person automatically thinks they should use more of the drug. Although they feel an immediate high, it quickly disappears with their mood changes accordingly. Watching someone go through cocaine addiction is sad, but while everybody sees that they need help, the addict doesn’t see it. This has been the cause of many needless deaths, because the individual fails to get help before it is too late.
The following are some physical signs of cocaine addiction:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors
- Hyperactive behavior
- Running a temperature
- Dilated pupils
- High blood pressure
- Weight loss
- Blood-shot eyes
- Sniffing, runny nose
- Constricted blood vessels
- Rapid heart rate
- Nosebleeds
- Chills and perspiration
Addiction rehab is a great solution to anyone suffering from cocaine addiction. It is a safe place where the addict goes through several processes before becoming “clean” and can overcome the sudden urge to get high. Addiction treatment takes time and always has a significantly good impact on the person’s life as well as the family’s life. There is nothing worse than standing helplessly by while a loved one self-destructs due to drug addiction, but there is a way to put an end to the suffering, and that is where treatment programs come in.
During treatment, there are several stages the client must go through in order to become clean and capable of functioning in everyday society as a happy, drug free individual. Stage one is the detox process. This process rids the body of any amount of the drug left in the system. It usually takes several days to detox the body and during this time the individual experiences a wide range of difficult withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be minimized and controlled by various procedures performed by trained addiction specialists or medical personnel. Depending on the facility, there are many options available for helping the individual purge the toxins from their body and regain physical health. Some of these options include:
- Exercise and fitness routines
- Nutritious meals and nutritional guidance
- Vitamin therapy
- Massage therapy
- Sauna
- Yoga, Martial Arts
- Meditation
After stage one is complete and the body is clean, the next step in rehabilitation is getting the client mentally stable to conquer everyday tasks in the real world without the constant need to get high. This process is filled with counseling and teaching the client better coping skills and attitudes for managing temptations. After detox and counseling, the client is ready to go out and live a normal, drug-free life. There will be follow-ups and screening to make sure the client is still drug-free after addiction rehabilitation and if needed, the client can come back into the rehabilitation center if there is a relapse.
Prevent Death from the Toxic Substances Today
Almost every substance used to make cocaine can be fatal to a person. This drug is highly addictive because of the coca leaves used, but once toxic materials are added, it is a deadly addiction that will cause a person a slow, painful death. If you are suffering from addiction to this drug, make the change today by calling A Forever Recovery and get into treatment before this toxic addiction kills you.
