The long-term effects of cocaine can cause many physical and mental problems. Sometimes, the damage done to the body by using cocaine or crack cocaine can be fixed. However, using these drugs for many years can cause damage that cannot be undone.
Read on to discover what are the long-term effects of cocaine and how to get compassionate and effective treatment if you have been abusing this toxic substance.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a highly addictive substance made from the leaves of the coca plant, which grows in South America. It is commonly used as an illegal drug that some people take to feel high. In rare cases, doctors might use it as a prescription drug for numbing during certain surgeries.
When sold illegally, cocaine usually comes as a fine, white, crystal powder. Dealers often mix it with substances like cornstarch, talc, or flour to increase the amount and make more money. Sometimes, they mix it with other illegal drugs too – fentanyl, for instance. Crack cocaine is another form, created by heating cocaine to form a rock-like crystal.
Due to its strong addictive properties and limited medical applications, cocaine is classified as a Schedule II drug.
Cocaine Addiction Stats & Facts
Data from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) shows that:
- 42 million U.S. over-18s report lifetime use of cocaine, with 10 million having used crack cocaine at some point
- 2 million U.S. over-18s reported past-month use of cocaine in 2022, up from 1.8 million in 2021.
- 570,000 people reported past-month crack use in 2022, up from 519,000 in 2021.
- Of these, 1.4 million people developed cocaine addiction in 2022.
Data from NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) shows that overdoses from stimulants like cocaine and meth continue to increase. In 2022, 27,569 people died from cocaine overdoses in the United States.
7 Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use on the Body
Using cocaine for a long time can cause serious problems in your body. Here are seven long-term effects:
1) Heart problems
Cocaine can damage your heart. It can cause a fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, and even heart attacks. Over time, your heart gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood. It can also cause blood clots, chest pain, and irregular heartbeats. Heart attacks are a leading cause of death among people who use cocaine.
2) Lung damage
Smoking cocaine, like crack cocaine, can hurt your lungs. It can cause breathing problems, chest pain, and lung diseases. Your lungs might not work as well as they should. Long-term use can lead to chronic cough, infections, and a condition called crack lung, which causes black sputum, wheezing, and pain.
3) Nose issues
Snorting cocaine can damage the inside of your nose. It can cause nosebleeds, a runny nose, and loss of smell. The damage can make it hard to breathe through your nose. Long-term use can lead to holes in the tissue between your nostrils, which may need surgery to fix.
4) Brain changes
Cocaine affects your brain’s chemicals. Long-term use can lead to memory problems, trouble concentrating, and difficulty making decisions. It can also increase the risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. The brain may suffer mini-strokes, seizures, and inflammation of blood vessels, leading to long-term damage and changes in thinking and movement.
5) Skin infections
Injecting cocaine can cause skin infections. Sharing needles can spread diseases like HIV and hepatitis. The skin around injection sites can become swollen, red, and painful. These infections can be serious and need medical treatment.
6) Kidney damage
Cocaine can harm your kidneys. It can cause them to stop working properly, which may lead to kidney failure. High blood pressure and muscle damage from cocaine use release toxins that flood the kidneys, causing long-term damage.
7) Stomach problems
Cocaine can cause stomach pain and ulcers. It can make it hard for your stomach to digest food properly, leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Long-term use can lead to serious digestive issues like necrotic bowel and ischemic colitis, which can cause severe pain and even death.
These long-term effects show why it’s important to avoid using cocaine. If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine use, seek help from a doctor or a support group. Help is available and recovery is possible.
5 Interpersonal Long-Term Effects of Cocaine
Using cocaine for a long time doesn’t just hurt your body; it can also affect your relationships with others. Here are five ways it can impact your connections with people:
1) Family problems
Long-term cocaine use can cause fights and tension in families. It can make it difficult to maintain close and loving relationships with family members.
2) Trust issues
Cocaine use can lead to lying and hiding things from friends and family. This can make it hard for them to trust you.
3) Friendship Loss
Using cocaine can change your behavior. You might lose friends who don’t want to be around you when you’re using drugs. You might also stop spending time with friends who don’t use cocaine.
4) Work Troubles
Cocaine can affect your job performance. You might miss work, make mistakes, or have trouble getting along with coworkers. This can lead to job loss and financial problems.
5) Isolation
Over time, cocaine use can make you feel alone. You might start to avoid people and activities you used to enjoy. This isolation can make you feel lonely and disconnected.
If you or someone you know is struggling with cocaine use, seek help. There are people and programs that can support you in building healthier relationships and a better life.
Can Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use Be Reversed?
Some long-term effects of cocaine use can be reversed, but it depends on how long and how much cocaine was used. If you stop using cocaine, your body and mind can start to heal. For example, getting proper treatment and support can help your heart and lungs get better. Your relationships can also improve as you rebuild trust and spend more time with loved ones.
However, some damage may be permanent. Problems like severe heart damage, kidney failure, or serious brain changes might not fully heal. The sooner you stop using cocaine, the better your chances of recovery.
Get help if you’re using cocaine. Doctors, counselors, and support groups can guide you through healing and recovery. Remember, it’s never too late to seek help and make positive changes in your life.
How to Treat Cocaine Addiction
Right now, there are no FDA-approved medications to treat cocaine addiction. Doctors use supportive treatments like rest, exercise, and a healthy diet to help with withdrawal symptoms. In severe cases, they might give medications to help with agitation, sleep problems, or depression.
Treatment usually happens in a rehab center, either as an inpatient or outpatient. The main way to treat cocaine addiction is through behavioral therapies. Medications can sometimes help with cravings or withdrawal symptoms.
SAMHSA recommends these types of rehab therapies for treating cocaine addiction:
- CBT: CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) helps people learn to avoid things that might make them relapse and change unhealthy thought patterns. This is especially helpful for patients with other mental health issues.
- Motivational interviewing: Motivational interviewing helps people see how addiction hurts their goals and relationships. This therapy makes patients feel motivated and positive about their recovery.
- Contingency management: Cocaine is very addictive because it affects the brain’s reward system. Contingency management gives rewards for positive behaviors, like attending meetings, taking medications, and passing drug tests.
- CRA: CRA (community reinforcement approach builds a support network around the patient. It can include relationship counseling, job skills training, and fun activities.
Cocaine addiction is serious and affects both mental and physical health. People with addiction often face social stigma, but addiction is not a choice or a sign of weakness. It is a complex medical condition that can be treated. With the right help, many people recover and live healthy, productive lives.
Get Evidence-Based, Insurance-Covered Cocaine Addiction Treatment at Renaissance Recovery
If you need cocaine addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, reach out to Renaissance Recovery today. we are happy to work with health insurance providers so everyone gets effective addiction treatment.
While there is no medication approved to treat cocaine withdrawal, supervision makes the detox process safer and more comfortable. We can help you find detox centers across California to help you begin your recovery.
During ongoing outpatient treatment at our luxury rehabs in California and Florida, you’ll access personalized therapies that include:
- Talk therapies
- Motivational therapies
- Counseling
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Holistic treatments
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Aftercare
Call our recovery experts today at 866.330.9449.
