5 Facts You Should Know About Cocaine
Cocaine is a drug stimulant made from a native South American plant known as coca. It is common for people to indulge in hard drugs in an effort to pump up their recreation. Despite the many risks associated with cocaine, many people still use it.
Cocaine triggers short-term feelings of extreme happiness, high energy, paranoia, mental alertness, irritability, and hypersensitivity to touch and light. While many experimental users are aware of these feelings, many people do not have sufficient knowledge of cocaine and the full scope of the effects of using it.
So, how long does cocaine stay in your system, and what are the long-term effects? Read on to learn five facts you should know about cocaine.
Facts about Cocaine You Show Know
1. Cocaine Is Highly Addictive
One significant factor that often leads to so many people engaging in the long-term use of cocaine is its addictive nature. A small amount of cocaine causes a strong euphoric feeling. In this state, everything feels great, and nothing could ever go wrong. But how long does cocaine stay in your system? The experience is often short-lived, and soon the user begins to resume their normal state.
Gradually descending from the highly intense euphoric state can cause depressive and anxious feelings in the users. To escape these feelings, many end up using more cocaine to experience another dopamine release.
Cocaine begins as a recreational activity for many who become habitual users addicted to the high. Eventually, they use cocaine when attending public events, working, or leaving the house. When left unaddressed, some people begin using cocaine over attending to their normal duties, like picking up kids from school.
2. You Can Overdose Cocaine
Many people associate overdose with ingestible and injectable drugs like pills and heroin. Since the most common means of administering cocaine is snorting, many people are inclined to neglect the chances of overdosing.
Using any substance in large amounts over a short period poses a significant risk of overdose. Overdosing on cocaine could lead to cerebral hemorrhage, seizure, stroke, or heart failure.
The risk involved increases further when cocaine is used with other drugs. Choosing to inject or smoke cocaine also considerably increases the chances of overdose because it’s harder to gauge how much substance you have already taken.
3. How long does cocaine stay in your system?
After using, it’s normal to wonder, how long does cocaine stay in your system? While the cocaine high only lasts for a few minutes, the metabolites released remain in your bloodstream for much longer.
The window where cocaine can be detected depends on how frequently you use cocaine, the type of drug test, and your liver and kidney function. With a blood test, cocaine can be found in your blood for up to two days. For urine tests, three days for light users and up to two weeks for frequent users.
A hair follicle test can detect cocaine for weeks and even years after use. On saliva tests, cocaine will be detectable for up to two days.
4. Long-term Use Can Modify The Physical Structure Of Your Brain
Long-term use of cocaine can potentially physically alter your brain. One of the most prominent side effects of cocaine is the deterioration of the brain’s gray matter. Gray matter is the part of the brain that processes information. A loss of this function can significantly impair cognitive functions.
Habitual use of cocaine also affects the release of dopamine. The dopamine trigger associated with using it can alter how your brain naturally handles the chemical. Activities that you would previously enjoy can become less satisfying.
5. Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms Are Serious
The more regularly one uses cocaine, the more likely they will have withdrawal symptoms. You may be primarily concerned with how long cocaine stays in your system, but cocaine withdrawal is an even worse and more severe condition. It is characterized by overwhelming depression, muscle aches, suicidal thoughts, and an inability to concentrate.
In severe cases, the withdrawal can put lives at risk, especially for people who relapse after trying to quit because their tolerance decreases. Dealing with cocaine withdrawal demands professional assistance.
Seek Help For Cocaine Addiction
While the cocaine high triggers euphoric feelings that some find entertaining, its use poses a significant health risk. Cocaine is addictive, easily overdosed, has significant withdrawal symptoms, and can alter your brain physically. If you or a loved one are struggling with cocaine addiction, seek professional assistance as soon as possible. We are not promoting Cocaine, this is informational content to our readers and we are not advising anyone to use cocaine as it is may dangerous to your health.
