Cocaine has the ability to be extremely addictive; this is partly because the euphoria the user experiences generally lasts no more than an hour, then the user begins to crave it again. This results in cocaine bingeing–the user may stay awake for a few days or more. Thereafter, the period known as a “come down” follows; this is a period where the user experiences acute dysphoria and depression, hence cocaine addiction.

Cocaine is made from the coca leaf, which is known for being chewed by indigenous people for thousands of years. The effects of the leaf were already well known and documented, even before cocaine in its sulfate form was manufactured. When the indigenous people chewed the coca leaf they showed signs of extra energy and awareness, however, more recent documentation indicates that prolonged coca leaf chewing can have some of the same effects that cocaine in its purest form produces.

Cocaine addiction is difficult to sever because cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Therefore, an individual will most likely not be able to dependably predict or control the measure in which she will continue to desire or use the drug. In cases of addiction, the chance of relapse is high even after long periods of abstinence. Based on recent studies, it is determined that during abstinence, the user can undergo memories of the cocaine experience, triggering enormous craving and relapse. When repeatedly exposed to cocaine, the individual’s brain begin to adapt, and the reward pathway grows less sensitive to the brain’s natural reinforcers and to the cocaine itself, hence cocaine addiction. Consequently, this addiction breeds a tolerance for the drug, causing the desire to use more quantities of cocaine, more frequently, as the user tries to attain the same level of pleasure experienced during the first use.

Simultaneously, users can also develop sensitization to cocaine’s anxiety producing (and other toxic) effects. When users take cocaine in “binges,” the drug is used repeatedly and at increasingly higher doses. This often results in increased irritability, restlessness, and paranoia; a full-blown paranoid psychosis, where the user loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations can also develop. With cocaine addiction, there is usually an increasing dosage or frequency of use, heightening the risk of negative psychological or physiological effects.

The chosen route of cocaine administration determines the adverse effects. For example, frequent snorting of cocaine can cause loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, and problems with swallowing. In 2006, 14 percent of all admissions to drug abuse treatment programs were for individuals requiring cocaine treatment. Most of these individuals who seek treatment for cocaine abuse, tend to smoke crack and use or abuse more than one drug. The abuse of cocaine is a widespread problem, which has caused several government and private sector organizations to establish treatment facilities to aid with cocaine treatment.

Individuals needing treatment for addiction to cocaine should not hesitate to contact one of these facilities. To get started visit SAMHSA’s website, and click on their facility locator to find a center near you.