Symptoms of Cocaine Use

Cocaine. That wonder drug that amps a person up, gives them irrepressible confidence and power at the price of overwhelming addiction, isn’t that easy to hide, especially after extended use. In fact, hiding use of the drug itself, can be a strong symptom of cocaine use.

This hiding can occur in infinite ways, the most common being the user disappears for a short period of time, only to return in a completely different mood. That mood, more than likely, is happy and/or very productive, or the user can now have a strong sense of well-being. There’s also a good chance that they will be more talkative, or even sexually stimulated.

The problem is cocaine use can’t be hidden forever. Sooner or later, the symptoms will get stronger as use continues.

At any rate, there are other signs a person will show that parallels symptoms of cocaine use. Of course, these symptoms rapidly worsen as use of cocaine continues.

THE EYES HAVE IT

There are other symptoms that come into play when suspecting a loved one or friend of abusing cocaine. The eyes, in fact, can give away a lot through dilated pupils and an overwhelming sensitivity to light.

Then there’s the nose, which might be runny, or if a lot of cocaine is snorted, even bleeding.

And dinner? Forgot about it. Cocaine has the ability to become an intense appetite suppressant. No wonder your dinner mate didn’t eat their pasta alfredo even if they initially said they were absolutely famished before excusing themselves for the restroom.

LESS LIKELY SYMPTOMS OF COCAINE USE

If your friend or loved one is a sloppy cocaine user, more than likely they’ll be white traces of cocaine powder around their nostrils, and even more on the inside of their lips, a place on their bodies where cocaine users are known to take the powder and rub it on their gums for a little extra high.

Less likely symptoms of cocaine use depend upon how the drug is induced.

If taken orally, the symptoms can come off as indigestion, stomach pain, or in severe cases, intense intestinal damage.

While snorting cocaine is the preferred method of use among users, some choose to dissolve the drug and inject it. If you suspect a person close to you of using cocaine but can’t detect any of the usual symptoms, keep an eye out for needle tracks, or a penchant for long-sleeved shirts, particularly during warm weather.

Another method of taking cocaine is to smoke it. Symptoms of this can be burned lips and/or fingers.

Here are some other symptoms of cocaine use:

Appearance (as outlined above):

• Dilated pupils
• Runny nose (from snorting)
• Nosebleeds (from snorting)
• Track marks (from injecting)
• Burned lips or fingers (from smoking)

Heart:

• Fast heart rate
• Constricted blood vessels
• Enlarged Heart
• Heart attacks
• Cardiac arrest

Mental state:

• Euphoria
• Overconfidence
• Unusual excitement
• Aggressiveness
• Paranoia
• Poor judgment
• Delusions
• Hallucinations

After long use or a binge:

• Depression
• Agitation
• Intense cravings
• Need for higher doses
• Apathy
• Exhaustion
• Long periods of sleep
• Thinness/loss of weight

Undoubtedly, cocaine use can develop into a serious addiction with consequences that extend far past the user. To avoid this, early detection is key. As soon as a problem is noticed, try to speak with the cocaine user about their issue. If there are indeed symptoms of cocaine use which have gone out of control, suggest a reputable rehabilitation program. The sooner an addiction is addressed, the more likely the user will have a successful recovery from their drug of choice.

If you feel you or a loved one has an issue with cocaine, contact BLVD Treatment Centers. At BLVD Treatment Centers we custom tailor our recovery programs within the safe and nurturing confines of our rehab treatment centers. Located throughout California, in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and in Portland, OR, our mission is to assess the severity of your addiction to help you achieve true recovery within 30 days. Call us now at 1-866.582.9844.