Signs of a Cocaine Overdose

Did you know that, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), more than 14% of all Americans aged 12 or older have used cocaine at least once in their lives? This is a startling statistic because cocaine abuse is the top reason for illicit drug-related ER visits across the country. Cocaine overdose-related deaths in the U.S. are also a common occurrence.

As a central nervous system stimulant, cocaine increases energy levels and keeps people awake while it raises heart rate and blood pressure. It also makes people feel good — the “high” people get from using cocaine is dopamine flooding the brain. However, many negative effects of maintaining a cocaine addiction include eventual death. If you’re looking for a cocaine detox center in Baltimore, contact us today. Call Baltimore Detox Center at [Direct] or reach out to our team online.

What Are the Signs of Cocaine Abuse?

If you’re worried that someone you love is abusing cocaine and may suffer from a cocaine overdose, you need to make sure that your suspicion is correct before doing anything else.

Remember that there are two main types of cocaine. There’s a powder form that’s snorted, injected, or smoked. There’s also a rock form — often called crack cocaine — that’s generally smoked. If you don’t see someone often enough to observe their possibly addictive behaviors, you can check places they frequent for drug paraphernalia, such as injections, plastic baggies, spoons, or razor blades.

Other signs of cocaine abuse include:

Boost in confidence and risky behaviors
Burn marks on the hands and lips
Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Deterioration in hygiene habits
Dilated pupils
Excitability and talkativeness
Financial difficulties
Loss of interest or passion in hobbies or things that once brought joy
Mood swings
Nosebleeds or a runny nose
Social isolation and an increased need for privacy
Weight loss
White powder residue around the mouth and nose

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug. Abusing it can change the chemical makeup of a person’s brain, making it challenging to quit using cocaine without professional help. To prevent a potentially tragic outcome, someone abusing cocaine must seek professional treatment right away.

What Are the Signs of a Cocaine Overdose?

Cocaine abuse happens because using the drug can bring on euphoria and foster extreme alertness. However, cocaine abuse also results in hypersensitivity to stimuli. And while there are many negative short-term effects, as well as long-term consequences, the most immediate danger that’s associated with cocaine abuse is overdose.

Cocaine overdose happens when someone takes enough of the drug to reach toxic levels in their system. Essentially, cocaine can poison someone — and toxic levels don’t seem to be completely dictated by dosage. Some studies show that cocaine overdose can happen after a dosage of a few hundred milligrams, while some can ingest several grams of cocaine without going through an overdose.

Signs of cocaine overdose include the following:

A rise in body temperature
Anxiety and panic
Chest pains
Delirium
Elevated heart rate
Nausea and vomiting
Paranoia
Tremors

What Can Clients Expect From a Cocaine Addiction Treatment Program?

While professional help can be enormously beneficial for many clients, they should get admitted into the cocaine addiction treatment programs that are a good fit for their needs. Clients should work with medical professionals and addiction treatment experts to determine what level of care they need and possibly consider their insurance coverage.

Most cocaine addiction rehab programs usually begin with medically supervised detox. After going through a detox program, clients are then transitioned into an addiction treatment program. Depending on a client’s needs and medical records, their treatment may include inpatient or outpatient rehab, individual and group therapy, and even treatment for a condition other than cocaine addiction — especially if they have a dual diagnosis.