Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that is both illegal and highly addictive. Despite its risks, it remains a widely used drug in the United States. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 40 million Americans aged 12 and older have used cocaine in their lifetime, with 5.9 million using it in the past year and 2.1 million in the past month [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018].
Short-Term Effects of Cocaine
Cocaine is typically consumed by snorting, smoking, injecting, or rubbing it on the gums. It produces a rapid, intense euphoria by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain’s reward and movement circuits. Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, leading to a buildup that enhances pleasure and energy but impairs normal neural communication [National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2021].
The high varies by method: snorting offers a 45- to 90-minute high, oral ingestion lasts about 90 minutes, and smoking or injecting provides a much shorter high—only 15 to 20 minutes [NIDA, 2021].
Short-term effects include:
- Euphoria and increased alertness
- Restlessness and irritability
- Paranoia and violent behavior
- Dilated pupils and increased body temperature
- Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
Long-Term Physical Consequences
Nose, Throat, and Mouth
Snorting cocaine damages nasal tissues, leading to frequent nosebleeds, loss of smell, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing. Severe, chronic use can cause septal perforation and even collapse of the nasal structure. In extreme cases, cocaine has been reported to erode the roof of the mouth, creating an opening between the nasal and oral cavities [Patel et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2011].
Gastrointestinal Damage
Cocaine can harm the gastrointestinal system by reducing blood flow, potentially leading to bowel ischemia, gangrene, perforation, and internal bleeding—all of which can be fatal [Gayer et al., Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2006]. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Metabolic Effects
Although cocaine may suppress appetite temporarily, it paradoxically increases fat and carbohydrate intake later. Users often lose weight due to changes in metabolism rather than reduced food intake. However, weight gain is common after stopping cocaine use, which may be distressing and could trigger relapse if not properly managed [Ersche et al., Appetite, 2013].
Cardiovascular System
Cocaine poses significant cardiovascular risks. It can constrict blood vessels, elevate blood pressure, and disrupt heart rhythms. Users often report chest pain, which may signify a real heart attack. Long-term use is associated with heart muscle inflammation, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and aortic rupture [Lange & Hillis, Circulation, 2001].
Cocaine also increases the risk of stroke by promoting blood clot formation and elevating blood pressure to dangerous levels [NIDA, 2021].
Brain and Neurological Effects
Cocaine’s impact on the brain is profound and long-lasting. Chronic use alters the brain’s reward system, reducing the ability to feel pleasure from normal activities. This leads to tolerance, dependence, and potentially severe withdrawal symptoms such as depression and anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) [Koob & Volkow, Neuropsychopharmacology, 2010].
Cocaine also sensitizes the brain’s stress circuits, which can intensify negative moods and increase relapse risk. High doses or prolonged use can lead to seizures, paranoia, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. There’s evidence linking chronic cocaine use with increased risk of movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease [Ritz et al., Science, 1987].
Repeated binging exacerbates psychiatric symptoms and can trigger psychotic episodes involving hallucinations and detachment from reality [NIDA, 2021].
Overdose and Emergency Visits
Cocaine use is a significant cause of emergency department visits. In 2009, the Drug Abuse Warning Network reported over 422,000 such visits related to cocaine. By 2017, over 14,000 Americans died from overdoses involving the drug [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2018].
Overdose risks increase with combined drug use. For instance, mixing cocaine with heroin—a combination known as a “speedball”—dramatically heightens the chances of fatal respiratory or cardiovascular complications.
New Dimensions Can Help
Cocaine’s harms far outweigh its temporary highs. It affects nearly every system in the body—cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and metabolic. The physical and mental health risks are serious and often permanent.
However, treatment is available. New Dimensions provides intensive outpatient chemical dependency treatment. Approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), contingency management, and group psychotherapy. Early intervention can improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term damage or death. Give us a call today: 800-685-9796 or visit us online at www.nddtreatment.com.
References:
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Cocaine DrugFacts. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2018). 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/
- Patel, R. M., & et al. (2011). Cocaine-induced Palatal Perforation. New England Journal of Medicine, 365(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMicm1013343
- Gayer, G., et al. (2006). Cocaine-induced ischemic colitis. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 99(1), 49–51. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.99.1.49
- Ersche, K. D., et al. (2013). Disrupted metabolic function in cocaine addiction. Appetite, 60, 183–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.09.012
- Lange, R. A., & Hillis, L. D. (2001). Cardiovascular complications of cocaine use. Circulation, 104(8), 953–956. https://doi.org/10.1161/hc3501.095159
- Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2010). Neurocircuitry of addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(1), 217–238. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2009.110
- Ritz, M. C., et al. (1987). Cocaine receptors on dopamine transporters are related to self-administration of cocaine. Science, 237(4819), 1219–1223. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2820058
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Drug Overdose Deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html