Short-Term Effects Of Cocaine
Short-term effects of cocaine include heightened energy, alertness, and sensitivity to light, sound, or touch. However, it can also lead to feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and paranoia. In extreme cases, large amounts of cocaine may result in bizarre, unpredictable, and violent behavior.
The immediate effects of cocaine are short-lived, typically lasting from a few minutes to an hour. The duration and intensity of these effects depend on the method of use.
Long-Term Effects Of Cocaine
Long-term cocaine use can lead to various health issues based on the method of administration:
- Snorting cocaine: Loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, nasal damage, and difficulty swallowing.
- Smoking crack cocaine: Cough, asthma, breathing difficulties, and an increased risk of infections like pneumonia.
- Injecting cocaine: Skin or soft tissue infections, scarring, and collapsed veins. Injecting also raises the risk of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.
- Other long-term effects may include malnutrition and movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease.
Tolerance can develop with repeated cocaine use, necessitating increasing amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect. Over time, the body becomes dependent on cocaine, and withdrawal symptoms occur if someone dependent on cocaine discontinues its use. These symptoms encompass:
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Bad dreams and insomnia
- Slowed thinking
Furthermore, repeated cocaine use can progress to cocaine use disorder, also known as addiction. This condition extends beyond physical dependence, constituting a chronic brain disorder. Despite the problems it causes in their life, individuals with this disorder persistently use cocaine, affecting their health and ability to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home. For them, acquiring and using cocaine becomes the primary focus.
