Cocaine is a substance that seems like a mild drug because the effects of it are not as harsh as those of other drugs. However, cocaine is one of the many substances that is physically addictive. This means that if you have been taking it, going without it has physical effects on your body. The treatment for cocaine addiction then is very difficult because once the mind has resolved to give it up, the body will continue to crave it.
Cocaine addiction can be cured though. With addiction treatment from a regulated treatment centre, beating a physical addiction such as cocaine is easier. However, for those unwilling to admit they have a problem, finding help for cocaine addiction is almost impossible.
One of the saddest things about addiction is that those who are addicted see themselves in a different light when they partake in drugs, alcohol, gambling and other addictions. They only see the side of themselves that they like, and one of the biggest fears about cocaine addiction recovery is that they will no longer be the person they see themselves as. On cocaine, a user may find that they have more confidence, that they talk to others more easily and that they feel more comfortable in social situations. While the body becomes addicted to the substance, the mind becomes addicted to these feelings.
The fear then is not just that addiction treatment will be difficult, but that cocaine addiction rehab will cause the addict to lose the feelings of self-worth they have while using the drugs. For many, the fear of becoming someone they do not like is a major motivator to keep using cocaine, no matter the high dependency rate and the damage it does to their bodies. Drug abuse treatment, they fear, will remove the calm, confident side of themselves. What they fail to see is that the personality traits for that exist within them, and they can access them without using cocaine. By entering a treatment facility, they can find the confident, collected, socially-acceptable person they have inside themselves without using cocaine to get to that personality trait.
Statistics published in the United States attest to the fact that figures are higher than those of other major drugs and most emergency hospital visits related to drug use indicate that the most harmful and most dangerous drug is cocaine. As scary a reality as this is, it is no wonder when one takes into account that more often than not cocaine is taken with sedatives, alcohol and in some instances heroin also.
More On Cocaine
‘Cocaine = Death’ Harsh words, but so true. Cocaine holds ‘his’ user/addict fully dependant and prisoner until death as it is one of the most unpredictable, addictive, evil, lethal drug known to man! Once it has gotten a hold of you, it never lets go and the most shocking fact is that you only have to take it once to become an addict.
Many of us wonder why people even started taking the drug knowing it will cause their downfall and ultimate destruction, but then come to realize many cocaine addicts where never informed of the effects and side-effects and never bothered to research the drug either due to their hasty actions. And then many of the cocaine addicts lived with the belief that it will or can never happen to them and that they are immune to side effects and viewed themselves as immortal. Sadly all cocaine users/addicts found out the hard way what their future holds, and some only realized when it was too late and death knocked at their door.
Cocaine usage damages your vital organs such as your brain, heart, lung and kidneys and is the cause of countless several sudden deaths due to organ failures and strokes to name just a few. The amount of cocaine used or even the prolonged period taken does not increase or decrease the risk of death as it can cause death even after using it only once.
Long term usage of cocaine does result in hallucinations due to a few factors namely insomnia and malnutrition resulting in the addict to become completely psychotic. There are countless long term side effects to Cocaine such as damage to the liver, heart, kidney, brain, lung, reproductive organs, dental and many more fatal repercussions.
Many cocaine addicts commit murder or suicide as a direct result of extreme depression and the uncontrollable need for the next fix. The cocaine addict become completely desperate and won’t even hesitate to commit crime to feed their addiction, no matter how bad the crime. Many female cocaine addicts even turned to prostitution to feed their addiction.
Cocaine in Society
Cocaine is a drug that has been popular for many years. Cocaine Abuse first emerged during the disco era of the seventies and it still remains a popular party drug today. It gives the user copious amounts of energy and creates a feeling of ecstasy. It is mainly cultivated in South America and imported into South Africa by means of trade. South Africa does not have the resources to buy or produce its own Cocaine; however, it has the perfect conditions for growing Cannabis, a drug that will always remain in high demand. Cannabis will often be exported to other countries in exchange for the import of Cocaine.
In the middle and upper class societies Cocaine is most often consumed in powder form and is usually snorted through the nose. In today’s fast paced and demanding world, many business people turn to Cocaine to give them an edge, so they can stay ahead in the rat race. People on the party circuit are drawn Cocaine use, because it increases their energy, makes them more social and creates a sense of confident euphoria.
In the poorer communities, Crack Cocaine has become very problematic. For the street-smart entrepreneur a huge profit can be made in the dealing of the drug. Crack is a form of Cocaine that is smoked or inhaled. It creates a much more intense high compared to the more subtle effects obtained from snorting. Crack is cooked by combining Cocaine and baking soda, it is heated and then cooled. This creates crystals, which are known as rocks. Up to 8 rocks can be made from one gram of Cocaine. A gram of Cocaine costs around R300.00 and Crack Cocaine has a street value of about R60.00 per rock, that’s a profit margin of 60%.
Cocaine is not a physically addictive drug and the body does not get dependant on it and little or no withdrawals have been reported when stopping the drug. However, the come-down from Cocaine can be quite vicious, which is the number one motivations for continued use.
Cocaine destroys thousands of lives every year. It is a wicked fiend that will lead you down a dark alley that can quickly turn into a hellish maze from which few ever escape.
