A 2014 study suggests that this risk may exist even in people who are young and healthy and only use cocaine occasionally. Cocaine’s influence extends to nearly all major systems in the body. The gastrointestinal (GI) system, the kidneys, and the reproductive system can all also be impacted by cocaine. Abuse of cocaine use also increases the risk of infectious disease transmission. This makes you compulsively crave or use substances like cocaine. This damage increases the risk of other heart health problems, such as irregular heart rate.
These unpleasant effects often make you want to use the drug again. When you snort it, it takes slightly longer to feel the effects. The 2021 survey found no differences in rates of cocaine use among different ethnic and racial groups in the U.S. Cocaine has many street names like snow, nose candy, coke, Big C, flake and blow. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.
Large amounts may make us feel powerful, euphoric and filled with energy. When people use cocaine, their brains release lots of dopamine. But that cocaine-driven dopamine release or rush fades quickly, leaving them wanting more of those feelings — and the drug. As people keep on using cocaine, their brains get used to the huge overstimulation and they need stronger, more frequent doses. When people take cocaine, their blood pressure goes up and their heart races.
- When you heat the rock crystal and breathe the smoke into your lungs, you get a high that’s almost as fast and strong as when you inject it.
- But that cocaine-driven dopamine release or rush fades quickly, leaving them wanting more of those feelings — and the drug.
- However, cocaine and its derivative, crack cocaine, are widely used as illegal recreational drugs.
The drug is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which grows almost nowhere other than the northern and western regions of South America. People there have chewed and eaten coca leaves for thousands of years to help them stay alert and lessen alcohol and migraines their appetites. Cocaine can also cause coronary artery spasms that limit blood flow to the heart, possibly causing heart damage. Staying at the scene of an overdose is important to help save the life of the person experiencing an overdose.
Health Risks of Injecting Cocaine
More commonly, people use cocaine to boost feelings like being energized, happy and alert. Cocaine is very addictive, meaning people seek out the drug and use it even though they know the choice comes with negative consequences. There are treatments for cocaine use disorder (cocaine addiction), but people often relapse and use it again.
The rate was highest in the age group (1.2 million people or 3.5%), followed by those over age 26 (3.6 million or 1.6%). Others dissolve the drug in water and inject it with a needle. When injected, it goes directly into your bloodstream for a very strong and near-instant effect.
What to Know About Cocaine
Research suggests that certain communities may be more prone to using drugs, including cocaine. For example, those who identify as LGBTQ are more than twice as likely to use illicit drugs as heterosexual people. LGBTQ adults are also more than twice as likely to have a substance use disorder. People with cocaine use disorder may benefit from community-based programs. Researchers are evaluating drug treatments that help people stop using cocaine. Normal amounts of dopamine can make us feel happy, alert and focused.
Drug use disorders are real medical conditions, and treatment will often work. People who feel compelled to keep using cocaine should see a compassionate medical professional who specializes in addiction. About 5% of the participants had used cocaine before their heart attack.
While most cocaine users describe an intense euphoric feeling immediately after using the drug, there are some negative symptoms that can develop as well. The damage that cocaine does to the heart and blood vessels increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and similar risk factors all increase a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke. Potential short-term side effects include overdose, addiction (cocaine use disorder) and withdrawal. Long-term side effects may include serious and potentially life-threatening medical issues like heart failure, stroke or infections.
Regular, long-term cocaine use significantly increases the risk of heart disease. For people with preexisting heart health problems, even short-term cocaine use may elevate the risk. Additional psychological symptoms in people using large amounts of cocaine may include irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, anxiety, and paranoia. Cocaine use may damage the physical structures of the heart, either directly or by causing other serious issues, such as high blood pressure.
Cocaethylene prolongs the euphoric effects of cocaine and makes them more intense. Scientists at the University of Cambridge in England identified abnormal brain structure in the frontal lobe of the brain of cocaine users. In occasional cocaine users, social or physical problems are rare, but scientists insist there is no safe amount of cocaine. The effect is intense and virtually immediate, as with injected cocaine, but the “high” lasts only around 5 minutes.
Cocaine Overdose
So you might keep taking the drug to prolong the good feelings and put off the unpleasant comedown. The effects of cocaine on the heart can cause immediate emergencies, such as a heart attack, as well as long-term damage. If you have a substance use disorder related to cocaine or crack you will experience intense cravings. It is difficult to focus on anything else and eventually, your life can be taken over by the urge to get and use cocaine and crack. Asking for help is a huge and important step toward recovering from cocaine use disorder.
The vaccine activates your immune system to create antibodies that attach to cocaine and stop it from making its way into your brain. But we need much more research into whether the vaccine is safe and effective over the long term. Along with the physical risks, cocaine use can affect your life in other ways. To make cocaine, the leaves are chemically processed and treated to form a powder.
Using it increases your risk of serious and sometimes life-threatening medical conditions like heart attack, stroke and drug overdose. Cocaine use disorder (addiction) can affect your personal relationships. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help people recover from cocaine use disorder. eight moms one house and a road map out of drug addiction It makes you feel very happy and alert for a short time. But it carries many risks, including overdose and serious physical and mental side effects as well as addiction. If you or someone you know has problems with cocaine use, seek help from a doctor or mental health professional.
Healthline does not endorse the use of any illegal substances, and we recognize abstaining from them is always the safest approach. However, we believe in providing accessible and accurate review and comparison information to reduce the harm that can occur when using. In a 2021 national survey, about 4.8 million people in the U.S. ages 12 or older said they had used cocaine in the past year.