Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use

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Updated February 16, 2024
Updated February 16, 2024
Picture of Authored By:

Authored By:

Joe Gilmore

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Edited By:

Amy Leifeste

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Medically Reviewed By:

Javier Rodriguez-Winter

Picture of Authored By:

Authored By:

Joe Gilmore

Picture of Edited By:

Edited By:

Amy Leifeste

Picture of Medically Reviewed By:

Medically Reviewed By:

Javier Rodriguez-Winter

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The long-term effects of cocaine use are bad for both the body and the mind. Cocaine after effects can be different for each person and can harm your health in many ways. This guide to the dangers of long-term cocaine use addresses the following issues:

What are some long term effects of cocaine?

Are the long term effects of cocaine use reversible?

How to get help for chronic cocaine use.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cocaine?

The after effects of cocaine, a powerful stimulant, can have severe and lasting impacts on both physical and mental health. Understanding these long-term effects can help people recognize the risks associated with prolonged cocaine use.

Physical effects of cocaine include:

  • Cardiovascular issues: Chronic use of cocaine can lead to heart diseases like arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart attacks, and hypertension (high blood pressure).
  • Respiratory problems: Snorting cocaine can damage nasal tissues and lead to respiratory issues like difficulty breathing and lung damage.
  • Neurological impacts: Long-term cocaine use can cause seizures, headaches, and an increased risk of stroke.
  • Gastrointestinal complications: Cocaine use can lead to abdominal pain and bowel decay due to reduced blood flow.

Mental health effects of long-term cocaine abuse include:

  • Addiction and dependence: Cocaine is highly addictive, leading to physical and psychological dependence.
  • Mood disorders: Long-term users may experience anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
  • Cognitive impairments: Prolonged cocaine use can affect memory, attention, and decision-making abilities.
  • Psychosis: High doses or chronic use can lead to hallucinations and paranoid delusions.

Behavioral changes triggered by chronic cocaine damage include:

  • Social withdrawal: Individuals may withdraw from family and social activities.
  • Risky behaviors: Cocaine use can lead to increased risk-taking and impulsive behaviors.

The combined physical, mental, and behavioral effects can significantly diminish the quality of life, affecting relationships, job performance, and overall well-being. The long-term effects of cocaine underscore the importance of seeking help for cocaine use disorder. Treatment and recovery services can aid individuals in overcoming addiction and mitigating these harmful consequences.

A man looks concerned as he thinks about the long term effects of cocaine use

Effects of Cocaine on The Body

Here’s how cocaine affects the body:

Effects on the nose and mouth

Using cocaine a lot, especially by snorting, can hurt the inside of your nose and mouth. The tissues in the nose can get damaged and die, which might create a hole in the septum (the wall between your nostrils). This can make the nose structure collapse and cause breathing problems. Sometimes surgery can fix it, but not always. The roof of the mouth can also get damaged, but this is less common.

Heart problems from cocaine use

Using cocaine for a long time can be bad for your heart. It can cause high blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, and make your blood vessels tight. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, chest pain, and other serious heart problems. In fact, heart attacks are a major cause of death for people who use a lot of cocaine.

Breathing issues and lung damage

Snorting cocaine can harm your sinuses and upper respiratory system. Smoking crack cocaine can cause even worse lung problems. It can damage the blood vessels in your lungs and make it hard for your body to get enough oxygen. This can lead to a chronic cough, higher chances of lung infections, and serious conditions like crack lung, which causes coughing, wheezing, and other symptoms.

Cocaine and infectious diseases

People who use cocaine or crack cocaine are more likely to catch diseases like HIV and hepatitis. This is partly due to needle-sharing and partly because cocaine can lead to risky behaviors and weaken the immune system, making it easier for infections to spread in the body.

Digestive system damage

Cocaine can reduce blood flow in the body, which can hurt the stomach and intestines over time. Issues like stomach pain, nausea, and constipation can become more severe and lead to serious conditions where the tissues in the digestive system start to die. Cocaine use can also cause ulcers and inflammation in the large intestine, leading to digestive problems and possibly death.

Liver and kidney damage

Long-term cocaine use can hurt the liver, especially if there’s an overdose or if cocaine is mixed with alcohol. This can lead to liver damage or even death. The kidneys can also be damaged, either from high blood pressure or from muscle breakdown due to cocaine use, which can lead to kidney failure.

Dangers of Prolonged Cocaine Use

The prolonged use of cocaine not only brings about a range of physical health issues, but also profoundly impacts mental health and leads to addiction. Over time, the grip of cocaine addiction tightens, making it increasingly difficult for people to quit, often trapping them in a cycle of dependence and craving. This addiction is not just physical but deeply psychological, altering the brain’s reward system and leading to a relentless pursuit of the drug over other life priorities.

Mental health deteriorates significantly with extended cocaine use. Users may experience a spectrum of psychiatric symptoms, from anxiety and depression to severe paranoia and hallucinations. These issues can become deeply ingrained, persisting even after stopping the drug. The drug’s impact on cognitive functions is equally alarming – it can impair memory, diminish concentration, and hinder decision-making skills. Cocaine’s interference with the brain’s chemistry and structure can lead to long-term, sometimes irreversible, psychological and cognitive impairments.

The dangers of prolonged cocaine use underscore the urgent need for effective intervention and treatment. Recovery involves not only addressing the physical addiction but also undertaking comprehensive mental health treatment to address the psychiatric and cognitive issues caused by cocaine. The path to recovery can be challenging, but with the right support, including therapy, medication, and community support, individuals can overcome addiction and reclaim their mental health.

Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Treating cocaine addiction involves a combination of medical care, therapy, and support systems. The goal is to help individuals overcome addiction and regain control over their lives

The first step is a thorough assessment to understand the extent of the addiction and any co-occurring disorders. Detoxification, often under medical supervision, helps manage withdrawal symptoms.

These are the most effective treatments for cocaine addiction. Therapies like CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) help modify the person’s thinking, behaviors, and expectations, and develop coping skills.

Group sessions provide a platform for sharing experiences and learning from others. Support groups like NA (Narcotics Anonymous) offer a community of peers who understand the challenges of recovery.

While there’s no specific medication approved by the FDA to treat cocaine addiction, some medications can help manage withdrawal symptoms and co-occurring mental health issues, like depression or anxiety.

Many treatment programs include holistic therapies like yoga, meditation, and acupuncture, which can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

Addiction affects not just the individual but also their family. Including family members in therapy can improve communication and support systems.

Ongoing support is crucial for long-term recovery. Aftercare planning might include regular therapy sessions, support group meetings, and lifestyle changes to avoid relapse. Overcoming cocaine addiction is challenging but possible with the right support and treatment. It’s a journey of healing and growth, and many resources are available to help individuals through this process.

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Get Treatment for Cocaine Addiction at California Detox

Cocaine abuse can be damaging to body and mind, but we can help you fight back against the after effects of cocaine addiction and guide you in recalibrating your life at California Detox.

Although there are no medications with FDA approval for treating cocaine withdrawal and addiction, we’ll help streamline the withdrawal process and prepare you for ongoing treatment during supervised detox at our rehab in Laguna Beach, CA.

All California Detox cocaine addiction treatment programs deliver personalized treatment that blends science-backed and holistic therapies that include:

Call California Detox at 949.694.8305 today and begin addressing cocaine addiction tomorrow.

FAQs

Long-term cocaine use can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and paranoia.
Yes, long-term cocaine use can cause permanent damage to the heart, brain, and other organs. It can also lead to addiction, which can be difficult to overcome without professional help.

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