Cocaine - Facts About a Highly Addictive Drug, Life Threatening Side Effects and Recovery Challenges

Cocaine comes from the coca plant and has been used by the natives of South America for over a thousand years. This plant, erythroxylon coca, is common to many parts of South America. Cocaine use is common in much of the world and has been for centuries. Coca leaves were used by native populations to alleviate the rigors of high altitude and to diminish fatigue (1).

Cocaine causes addiction or dependency in the brain in a dramatic fashion. This drug increases several neurotransmitters in the pleasure center of the brain. The most important of these neurotransmitters are norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine. Dopamine is the major neurotransmitter providing the feeling of euphoria, which centers in a part of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens in the prefrontal cortex. This area is rich in dopamine receptor sites and is the main site for euphoria and pleasure. Cocaine also gives the user significant energy and flight of ideas. Pressured speech and paranoid behavior are also common. The euphoria is frequently the dominant effect and responsible for ongoing cocaine use, abuse, addiction or dependence.

"Crack cocaine" is obtained by mixing cocaine powder with baking soda. This "cocaine bicarb" got its name from the crackling sound it makes as it is smoked. Crack cocaine has a lower vaporization temperature and can be smoked easily. This explains why these "rocks" are so addicting. Approximately 25 million people in the United States use cocaine at least once in their lifetime (2).

Detox, withdrawal and cravings from cocaine are not dangerous or life threatening. Individuals go into a "crash phase" once stopping cocaine after prolonged use. This crash phase is characterized by extreme fatigue, lack of pleasure and increased appetite. The crash phase lasts for a few days to a week. These symptoms are related to decreased levels of various neurotransmitters or chemical agents in the brain that were depleted during cocaine binging. The withdrawal symptoms from cocaine use generally depend on the individual, frequency and amount of cocaine that was used. Withdrawal, detox and cravings from cocaine are usually diminished over a few weeks.

Cocaine dramatically increases blood pressure and heart rate. This can cause varied health problems: strokes, heart attacks, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and possibly things we do not know about as yet. Cocaine, when mixed with alcohol, forms the compound cocaethylene. This is toxic to the heart muscle and may seriously damage the liver.

Cocaine can cause a multitude of psychological effects. Paranoia, hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks, confusion and psychotic behavior are some of the possible effects. Cocaine is particularly destructive to family and social relationships. Individuals who use become addicted or dependent and may go to extremes to support their addiction. The potential legal ramifications with cocaine use, dependency or addiction are dreadfully serious. There are many individuals doing life prison sentences due to cocaine usage. Keep in mind that, in the United States, the Courts have historically taken a fervent stance against cocaine offenses.

This drug stays in the urine for about 3 - 5 days. Heavy users test positive for longer than that. Treatment or therapy for cocaine use, dependency, addiction, detox, withdrawal and cravings is wide-ranging. The majority of medications used to help with cocaine treatment/therapy provide symptomatic relief. Inpatient care is ideal for individuals strung out on cocaine; but it is, unfortunately, very costly. Probably every antidepressant known to man has been used to treat cocaine addicts with varying degrees of success.

Home treatment, including therapy for detox, withdrawal and cravings for cocaine, is an affordable option to inpatient treatment. Individuals frequently seek alternative treatment for cocaine addiction. There are herbal formulations and supplements available to help addicts. These non-addicting, natural treatments provide individuals with a confidential alternative recovery option. Herbal/supplement home treatment for cocaine addiction should be continued for at least 2 years. It can take that long to normalize the electrical and chemical changes that occurred in the brain during the course of addiction.

Cognitive and behavioral therapies are very important in recovery from cocaine addiction or dependency. Support groups are necessary, especially in early recovery. Relapse is common with cocaine addiction/dependency and the recovering addict must be aware of multiple relapse triggers. Certain people, places and things can cause immense problems for an individual in recovery from cocaine addiction/dependency.

References:
1. PinkyAgarwal, M.D. etal., Mar8, 2011. medscapereference, 9/10/11, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1174408-overview

2. Roxane Dryden-Edwards MD., 2011, WebMD Newsletter, 9/14/11, http://www.medicinenet.com/cocaine_and_crack_abuse/article.htm

Tom Jarvis is the creator of the all-natural and non-addictive Addiction Buster® formulas and an expert in the field of addiction. He was a chemist prior to attending medical school, where he graduated with honors. He has spent over 20 years treating over 20,000 patients addicted to alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviors. Tom Jarvis is also a recovering alcoholic & drug addict.

Visit our site http://www.addictionbuster.org/ to get FREE access to our 4 Step Recovery Plan for Alcohol, Drug & Addictive Behaviors.

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Effects of Alcoholism on Partners of Alcoholics

Many alcoholics are so-called functioning alcoholics, holding down jobs and functioning in a 'normal' family situation with a partner and/or children. The effects of alcoholism on those sharing a home with alcoholics is rarely discussed. The stigmatization of society creates an atmosphere of shame and isolation. The Alcoholic, in moments of despair and in need of venting their frustration often project their feelings about themselves onto their partners, leaving the latter in a state of confusion leading to a lack of self-esteem and wondering whether it is all their fault.

There seems to be no logic in and/or explanation for the transformation of the alcoholic from a kind, loving and caring partner into an insulting, bullying aggressor. Partners are made to feel worthless and inadequate and want to do everything to make things right, turning into carers and organizers, and more often than not, deny the awful truth in order to keep up the façade of a happy family.

But are they right to do so? Have they unwittingly become the enabler for the alcoholic? Alcoholics frequently feel attracted to very caring people who in their turn seem to attract people in need of help. The basis is shaky but looking through the glasses of love, things might not be that clear. Having fallen in love with the soft side of the often sensitive, intelligent alcoholic, the partner feels unable to break up a relationship that has, no doubt, many wonderful, happy and special moments. It becomes easy to forgive and forget but the problem, unless recognized and help sought, goes from bad to worse.

The dark moments creep in and become more frequent. The apologies fade away into a difficult reality where moments of being sorry are quickly replaced by moments of projection and anger. The partner unknowingly and unwittingly becomes an enabler by trying to mend, excuse and heal the situation.

Pleading with reason, with tears, threats and ultimatums that are impossible to stick to, only makes matters worse, aggravating the alcoholic and turning their short fuse into a ticking time bomb. Partners, having to tread on eggshells so as not to say or do the wrong thing, try to avoid discussions and situations of anger, feel increasingly isolated and misunderstood. The ill alcoholic seems to have a need for conflict, apparently looking for a reason to start the drinking session or to continue their drinking spree. There is no logic and arguments can start over trivial matters. Words are interpreted incorrectly and taken totally out of context and proportion; translated into an unwanted situation of mothering and smothering.

Partners are forced to be cruel to be kind with achievable ultimatums as the only way to remain sane and to give the alcoholic an option to reach so-called rock bottom. The latter the only hope to find a way out of a disease so widely misunderstood and for the partner to find a way out of the effects of alcoholism on their lives by seeking help for themselves.

Dutch born author and artist Renate van Nijen has herself experienced the complexity of living with an alcohol-addicted partner. The secrecy surrounding alcoholism in society as a whole and the non-acceptance and judgemental comments from family, friends and outsiders that she experienced have driven her to write about the subject of alcoholism and alcohol abuse from an holistic approach. Renate invites you to visit her website where you will find a wealth of helpful information. http://www.renartsbookworld.com/

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The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meth Addiction

Meth addiction is one of the uglier chemical dependencies you'll run into on the street in terms of the physical toll it takes on the body. We've all seen the billboards, methamphetamine is highly addictive and it can happen very quickly. Users report feeling an incredibly intense high and rush of euphoria when ingesting the drug. Additional reported side effects are increased energy, focus, confidence, sexual prowess and feelings of desirability. Just like many other illicit substances, more and more of the drug is required to achieve that same high that was experienced in the beginning, and before you know it, you've succumbed to the nasty disease of meth addiction.

Meth is a very versatile drug as it can be dissolved and swallowed, smoked, snorted or injected. The psychological and physical effects of prolonged meth use are equally versatile, quickly damaging the brain, skin, tissue, teeth and mouth as well as countless other organs in the body.

Meth Addiction and the Brain

Drug abuse almost always becomes habitual simply because the user likes the way the drug makes them feel. Pleasurable, euphoric feelings are produced in our brains by the chemical dopamine. Every single drug that's abused including alcohol and cigarettes causes excess dopamine to be released from our brain. No other drug on the market causes your brain to produce more dopamine that methamphetamine. It produces such a windfall of the chemical that over time, excessive meth use actually destroys the part of your brain that creates dopamine, making it impossible for those afflicted with meth addiction to feel pleasure. In addition to the complete destruction of the dopamine receptors in the brain, chronic meth abuse can also lead to psychotic behavior including paranoia, insomnia, anxiety, intense aggression, delusions and hallucinations and even death.

Meth Addiction and Physical Appearance

The reason that the billboards scattered across the country with images of meth addicts depicted on them remain so vividly in our minds is because of the astounding impact that methamphetamine has on its user's outward appearances. Many physical implications of meth addiction include the following:

Acne and sores that take an excessive amount of time to heal as a result of the destruction of tissues and blood vessels in the body, rendering it incapable of properly healing itself

Pale complexion

Dry or itchy skin

Strong body odor due to a lack of personal hygiene

Skin losing its elasticity and therefore starting to appear to hang off the bone, making the addict appear significantly older than they are

Extreme weight loss

Hair loss

Discolored, rotten or missing teeth also known as "meth mouth"

Methamphetamine is a terrible drug that in addition to the psychological and physical effects listed above, increased risk factors as a result of meth addiction also include liver damage, stroke, a jump in body temperature which can cause brain damage and death.

Ben Brafman, LMHC, CAP is the President and CEO of Destination Hope, a licensed dual diagnosis substance abuse treatment center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ben has more than 20 years of experience in the addiction and mental health fields, which led him to develop a combination of innovative treatment protocols at Destination Hope. He has been published on various topics including dual diagnosis and chemical dependency, and gives back to the community by educating other addiction counselors at his Academy for Addiction Professionals. If you or a loved one has found yourself with a meth addiction, please call the counselors at Destination Hope today so they can safely help you recover from this self-defeating illness.

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