How addictive is cocaine, and what are the warning signs that someone has become addicted?
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How Addictive Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is commonly described as a highly addictive stimulant. What does this mean in tangible terms? How addictive is cocaine?
Unfortunately, there is no standardized rating system to definitively rank the addictiveness of cocaine and other commonly misused drugs. But decades of evidence about the drug’s effects justify references to it as highly, extremely, or rapidly addictive.
Mechanism of action
When a person uses cocaine, the drug triggers a significant buildup of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in several functions, including mood, reward, motivation, pleasure, and learning.
Usually, when a nerve cell releases dopamine, the chemical activates a nearby cell, then is returned to the originating cell to be absorbed and stored for future reuse. Cocaine disrupts the return process, which causes the buildup.
The buildup, in turn, has the effect of reinforcing and amplifying the message that the dopamine molecules are delivering. This produces effects such as a euphoric rush and a dramatic boost in energy.
Cocaine binges
Cocaine’s effects are typically short-lived, and are often followed by a precipitous drop in both mood and energy.
To maintain their high and prevent this crash, people often use cocaine multiple times in a relatively short period, which is referred to as a cocaine binge. Binges, and the continued increase in dopamine, have the effect of training the body to desire the drug.
As a person’s body becomes used to the presence of cocaine, it will begin to rely on it simply to achieve standard dopamine levels. Eventually, a person may feel compelled to use the drug not for the high, but simply to feel “normal.” This is the point at which they can become addicted.
Since people often binge on cocaine, addiction can occur more quickly than it does with certain other substances.
Drug classification
In the United States, cocaine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. As defined by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), this classification is reserved for drugs with “a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.”
How Is Cocaine Addiction Diagnosed?
Most clinicians in the U.S. refer to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) when diagnosing mental or behavioral health conditions.
The DSM-5 contains 11 diagnostic criteria for cocaine use disorder, which is the clinical term for cocaine addiction. To be accurately diagnosed with this condition, a person must meet at least two of these criteria:
- Frequently using cocaine in greater amounts or for a longer period of time than intended
- Having a persistent desire to stop using cocaine, but being unable to quit
- Having powerful cravings for cocaine
- Spending a significant amount of time seeking, acquiring, and using cocaine
- Using cocaine in circumstances that can be particularly hazardous, such as by combining it with alcohol or other drugs
- Continuing to use the drug even after incurring some physical or psychological harm that was either caused or worsened by prior use
- Continuing to use cocaine even after experiencing social or relationship problems that were caused or worsened by prior use
- Failing to fulfill important responsibilities at work, in school, or at home due to cocaine use
- Reducing or ending participation in significant work-related or social activities due to cocaine use
- Developing tolerance, or needing to use larger amounts of cocaine to experience the drug’s effects
- Having cocaine withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using cocaine
The DSM-5 also includes three specifiers to indicate the severity of a person’s cocaine addiction, based on how many criteria they meet:
- Mild cocaine use disorder – Two or three criteria
- Moderate cocaine use disorder – Four or five criteria
- Severe cocaine use disorder – Six or more criteria
What Are the Warning Signs of Cocaine Addiction?
Being assessed for cocaine addiction can be an essential step toward getting effective treatment. But if you’re not an expert, how can you know when it’s time to encourage a loved one to schedule an assessment?
People who have become addicted to cocaine often take measures to hide the signs of their disorder from friends and family members. But given the degree to which the condition can disrupt a person’s life, it can be difficult to maintain the façade that nothing’s wrong.
Warning signs that suggest someone has developed an addiction to cocaine include changes such as:
- Dramatic shifts in mood and energy
- Being uncharacteristically jittery, restless, or nervous
- Suddenly becoming forgetful or easily distracted
- Being secretive or deceptive about how they’ve been spending their time and/or who they’ve been associating with
- Having unexplained financial problems
- Unintentional weight loss
- Frequent nosebleeds or stuffy nose (which can result from snorting cocaine)
- Scars or scabs that never seem to fully heal (potential evidence of injecting cocaine)
- Downturn in performance at work or in school
- Frequent unexplained absences from work or school
On their own, none of these warning signs are proof that a person has either been using or become addicted to cocaine. But whenever someone exhibits significant unexplained changes in their appearance, attitude, or behaviors, that can be an indicator that something is amiss. An assessment can identify the problem, so they can get the help they need.
How Is Cocaine Addiction Treated?
Treatment for cocaine addiction can take place in several different environments, and may involve an array of therapies and support services.
In terms of programming, someone with cocaine use disorder may benefit from spending time in one, several, or all of the following:
Depending on how a person has been affected by cocaine addiction, as well as which program they are in, their treatment may involve:
- Prescription medication
- Individual psychotherapy
- Therapeutic and psychoeducational groups
- Family therapy and support
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Holistic therapies
- Relapse prevention education
- Life skills training
Everyone who becomes addicted to cocaine is impacted in a unique way, which means that effective treatment can look quite different from one person to the next.
If you’re seeking help for cocaine addiction, focus on finding a provider that will take the time to understand the full scope of your unique needs, then develop a truly personalized plan that reflects your specific circumstances.
Find Help for Cocaine Addiction in Atlanta
Untreated cocaine addiction can be devastating. But when you get effective customized care, you can learn to manage your urges and begin to live a healthier life in recovery.
Buckhead Behavioral Health is a trusted source of cocaine addiction treatment. Treatment options at our rehab in Atlanta, GA, include:
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Evening IOP
- Virtual IOP
Our team can discuss the features and benefits of each program with you, so that you can make the most informed decision for yourself or on behalf of a loved one.
To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
