Hundreds of thousands of Americans are addicted to the rush of Cocaine. About 14% of U.S. adults have tried cocaine. One in 40 adults has used it in the past year. Young men aged 18 to 25 are the biggest cocaine users, with 8% using it in the previous 12 months. Unfortunately, it can be nearly impossible to kick the addiction on your own. It is a very powerful drug. In Pittsburgh, the premiere Cocaine rehab is Jade Wellness in Monroeville.
Effects of Cocaine and Rehab in Pittsburgh
Anyone who has used cocaine for more than a couple of months is likely to experience some or all of the following symptoms: irritability, mood swings, cocaine cravings, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and paranoia. The chemical makeup of cocaine is different from narcotic drugs like heroin or painkillers. Narcotic addiction is often treated by using a substitute to help wean a person from their physical dependence. Unlike those opioids, a person going through cocaine detox may take medication to decrease the severity of their symptoms. Antipsychotic drugs, strong anti-anxiety medications such as Valium or Ativan, and antidepressants can make cocaine withdrawal more tolerable.
The Physical Effects of Cocaine Addiction
As soon as cocaine enters the body it begins to take control of the user’s mind. The user becomes increasingly obsessed with using more cocaine. This mental obsession grows larger and begins to manifest itself in the user’s actions. As the user becomes more desperate for the drug, he/she will do whatever it takes to find more cocaine: lie, cheat, steal, etc. Drug addicts are notorious for stealing from loved ones, lying about their use, and finding devious ways to get the drugs they need. Many users find themselves in jail and other situations that they never thought were possible.
Cocaine Rehab in Pittsburgh to treat Withdrawal
Cocaine is responsible for more U.S. emergency room visits than any other illegal drug. Cocaine harms the brain, heart, blood vessels, and lungs — and can even cause sudden death. Here’s what happens in the body:
Heart. Cocaine is bad for the heart. Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure while constricting the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The result can be a heart attack, even in young people without heart disease. Cocaine can also trigger a deadly abnormal heart rhythm called arrhythmia, killing instantly.
Brain. Cocaine can constrict blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes. This can happen even in young people without other risk factors for strokes. Cocaine causes seizures and can lead to bizarre or violent behavior.
Lungs and respiratory system. Snorting cocaine damages the nose and sinuses. Regular use can cause nasal perforation. Smoking crack cocaine irritates the lungs and, in some people, causes permanent lung damage.
Gastrointestinal tract. Cocaine constricts blood vessels supplying the gut. The resulting oxygen starvation can cause ulcers or even perforation of the stomach or intestines.
Kidneys. Cocaine can cause sudden, overwhelming kidney failure through a process called rhabdomyolysis. In people with high blood pressure, regular cocaine use can accelerate the long-term kidney damage caused by high blood pressure.
Sexual function. Although cocaine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, it actually may make you less able to finish what you start. Chronic cocaine use can impair sexual function in men and women. In men, cocaine can cause delayed or impaired ejaculation.
Treatment at a Cocaine Rehab in Pittsburgh
The reality of cocaine hits after the high. Cocaine has powerful negative effects on the heart, brain, and emotions. Many cocaine users fall prey to addiction, with long-term and life-threatening consequences. Even occasional users run the risk of sudden death with cocaine use. Read on for the not-so-glamorous truth about cocaine use and its effects.
Jade Wellness Center: Cocaine Rehab in Pittsburgh
Located in Monroeville, Jade Wellness Center is the premiere Cocaine rehab treatment facility in Pennsylvania. Jade Wellness Center offers the healing power of the group experience through its Outpatient Therapy Group. We believe group work can be an especially powerful therapy tool for individuals with alcohol and drug addictions. Our groups are for the promotion of social support, peer acceptance, and identifying with other people who share similar experiences through addiction. Under the guidance of a professional drug and alcohol therapist, we create a healthy group culture through which to find your “courage to change” as well as assist our clients in understanding the role that addiction has come to mean in the lives of addicts and their families.
