7 myths and misconceptions about cocaine

myths about cocaine

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Given the price of this drug and until recently its unavailability, cocaine use is often associated with wealth and power. There are many misconceptions and myths about this drug.

As psychological cocaine addiction can develop after just a few uses – and it is one of the most dangerous illegal drugs – it is important to be aware of these myths. We will mention only some of them…

1. Cocaine is not addictive

Due to the absence of physical signs of an abstinence crisis, one of the most widespread myths is that cocaine does not create addiction. An abstinence crisis that occurs when the drugs stop working is just one of the symptoms of addiction. Its absence is not a proof that there is no addiction.

What unmistakably indicates the existence of cocaine addiction is the attitude that a person has towards this drug. According to this criterion, cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs and the treatment of cocaine addiction is therefore not easy.

Psychological addiction to cocaine can be created after only 2-3 consummations.

Detoxification from cocaine therefore has a special course. Namely, people who take cocaine quickly become obsessed with this drug. Thoughts about substance are imposed and they cannot think about anything else. That is why they spend most of their time procuring and using cocaine. They build an emotional relationship with cocaine, which replaces all other emotional relationships in their life.

The craving for cocaine is strong and overwhelming.

In a state of longing, the addicts do what they do not want to do and what common sense tells them not to do. This craving for cocaine makes withdrawal very difficult and uncertain.

Despite the devastating effect on an individual’s life, and despite the consequences in every field, the addict continues to take cocaine. This is one of the key symptoms of addiction – a link to the pillar page addiction, deo o simptomima.

Cocaine is often combined with alcohol. This increases the addictive potential of cocaine. In the brain, a third psychoactive substance is created – cocaethylene. This substance has an even greater addictive potential than the two mentioned substances.

Since the amounts of alcohol that can be tolerated and used when a person is under the influence of cocaine are incomparably higher, the harmful effects on the brain and body are multiplied.

2. Cocaine only has stimulating effect

The effect of this drug has two phases. In the first, cocaine releases a supply of stimulants prepared to maintain alertness and daily activity. The abrupt release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine rapidly leads to short-term stimulation, lasting 15 to 30 minutes.

However, when the effect of these substances, necessary for the normal functioning of the brain, passes, their deficiency occurs. This means that after a short-term plus, cocaine addicts enter a longer-term minus (cocaine depression).

The shortage of stimulating transmitters in the brain is increasing. If a person takes cocaine again, they will experience a much smaller plus and a much deeper minus. This trend continues until it comes to the situation that, no matter how much drug they take, it no longer has any effect. The cocaine addict is then incapable and has no will for any meaningful activity. They usually fall into sleep, which lasts until the stocks are replenished.

We could compare this with the situation when a person spends the entire salary in 2 days. So for the rest of the month they not only run out of money, but also get more indebted.

The effect of cocaine thus resembles a roller coaster. Up and down, up and down… until all stocks of stimulants are completely depleted. The person is depressed, in a bad mood, with no energy, listless, has an increased need for sleep, feels intense hunger, has nightmares. This condition is subjectively difficult to bear.

Thus, when it comes to cocaine, the consequences are that the addicts try to mask their condition at all costs. They also try to dull their consciousness. Often by taking alcohol, heroin or drugs for calming and sleeping.

3. Cocaine increases work capacity

It is often considered that cocaine gives you infinite energy. You’ve probably heard stories about being able to stay awake at night and work tirelessly. These are, after all, just stories. Remember that the effect of cocaine lasts only 15 to 30 minutes. Also, tolerance to cocaine develops immediately. Therefore, each next dose has less and less effect.

In addition to the stimulant effect in the first phase, cocaine increases anxiety. This often prevents concentration and reduces efficiency and productivity in any business.

What may have been perceived as a pleasant stimulus in the beginning is later increasingly perceived as an unpleasant irritation. Cocaine addiction interferes with cognitive functioning, judgment, planning and consistency in the implementation of plans. The two-phase effect of cocaine, with slowing down and confusion, which occur in the second phase, make intellectual or any other work difficult.

In the plus phase, cocaine leads to an unrealistic assessment of problems and risks and overestimation of one’s own abilities. This calls into question the correctness of decisions in business or in life.

The increase in functionality is only superficial. The overall achievement is far less than when a person works with a clear consciousness.

Despite the glamor that is especially associated with cocaine use in movies, the cocaine crisis contributes to the fact that cocaine addicts in reality are often left without a job, family and home, without a reputation…

4. No one can notice I am under the influence of cocaine

People under the influence of cocaine can be very conspicuous. Accelerated, energetic, constantly on the move, sweating, more talkative than usual. It is often difficult to get a word out of those persons.

They are in high mood, overly self-confident. This can make them uncritical and ostentatious.

And then after a short time, when the effect of the previous dose passes, they become confused, upset, leave the room…

5. Cocaine improves sexual performance

Cocaine initially increases sex drive and desire, but it does not lead to better sexual functioning. Violence of need stifles sensibility and often leads to high-risk sexual activities.

Cocaine and erection do not go hand in hand: cocaine makes it difficult or even impossible to reach orgasm.

Frequent cocaine use over time leads to impotence and loss of desire for sex.

6. Cocaine is not harmful

Cocaine in the blood reaches the brain quickly. There, it interferes with the neurobiology and many important processes that maintain our physical and mental health and functionality.

Cocaine primarily destroys mental health. Bursts of anxiety and aggression in the first phase alternate with a depressive reaction in the second phase.

As cocaine addiction, like all other addictions, has a progressive course, these phenomena become more pronounced over time. Thus depression can even have suicidal proportions.

Depending on the predisposition and length of cocaine use, psychotic symptoms also appear, primarily paranoia. Paranoia and growing aggression can lead to violent behavior. 

Cocaine, when taken frequently, often leads to sensory delusions, to auditory hallucinations. Thus, cocaine addicts hear non-existent sounds or voices.

Cenesthetic hallucinations also occur. Cocaine addicts experience it as bodily sensations.

Cocaine is especially characterized by “cocaine bugs“. A very convincing experience that insects crawl through the skin. There are cases when cocaine addicts cut the skin on their face in order to remove imaginary bugs.

When it comes to physical symptoms, the immediate effect of cocaine is reminiscent of a state of stress. It is mostly reflected on the heart and blood vessels. Therefore, an increase in blood pressure and disorders of heart rhythm occur. 

Heart attack and stroke are common long-term consequences of cocaine use. 

Cocaine causes 3 times more deaths than any other addictive drug.

7. A dangerous myth about cocaine as a cure for covid-19 infection

The time of the pandemic is the time of many controversies (text edited in June 2020). Unverified information is disseminated to the media. One of these is about cocaine as a cure for COVID 19 infection.

This fact has been verified and refuted in many scientific journals.

As we have seen, cocaine is an addictive drug, which has serious short-term and long-term consequences for health and mental stability. Cocaine can cause epileptic seizures, Parkinson’s disease, severe paranoia, auditory and cenesthetic hallucinations, arrhythmia.

Cocaine in no way helps the body increase its immune response or recover.

On the contrary, cocaine actively destroys physical health. It compromises the immune system and recovers from covid infection. Lack of sleep and desire for food deplete the body and greatly contribute to this.

How is cocaine addiction treated?

Cocaine withdrawal begins with a detoxification program. This is the first step in treating addiction.

Cocaine addiction and cocaine abuse are a complex problem whose treatment involves a psycho-biological, social and pharmacological approach. In order to really solve the problem, it is necessary to change the lifestyle and continue the treatment. We have designed our FAST Recovery program especially for this purpose.

Get more information about the treatment and make your first appointment at: + (381) 69 30 88 090 (mobile and Viber/WhatsApp) or help@lorijen.center

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