Cocaine Addiction Causes
Cocaine Addiction Causes
Table of Contents
The Dangers of Cocaine Use
Cocaine use has been a problem in America and throughout the world for many years. Approximately 2% of all adults and 10% of all drug users use cocaine. In 2018, 5.5 million Americans reported using cocaine in the past year. Between 2012 and 2018, the number of cocaine-related overdoses increased from 1.45 to 4.5%. These increasing numbers have brought more attention to the risk of cocaine addiction causes.1
What Causes Cocaine Addiction?
There are many causes of cocaine addiction, including:
- Genetics: Some people may wonder, is cocaine addiction genetic? Statistics show that close relatives of people with addiction are more likely to develop dependency issues as compared to people that do have a family history of drug use.2
- Mental illness: Many people choose to self-medicate instead of getting help for mental illness.
- Social pressures: Cocaine dependence may be due to social pressures including peer pressure, such as friends urging you to use, or the stress of everyday life which makes you want to use cocaine as an escape.
Most Addictive Drug
Cocaine is among the most addictive drugs because of its binge and crash effects. Many people take large quantities of the drug in a short amount of time, which causes a soaring high followed by a devastating low.
People turn to the drug to cure their ‘hangover’ which kicks off the deadly addiction cycle. After taking the drug for some time, cocaine tolerance starts to form so people need more of the drug to get the same high. Cocaine tolerance is one of the main symptoms of cocaine addiction.
Mental Illness and Cocaine Addiction
Mental illness is one of the primary cocaine addiction causes. Many people choose not to get help for their emotional disorders due to stigmas or financial issues or they may not think their problem is that bad.
Instead of treating their symptoms in a healthy way, they use cocaine to try to feel better. However, this use causes a psychological dependence that leads to a downward spiral.
Common Underlying Conditions
Here are some conditions that are often underlying causes of cocaine addiction.
- Anxiety: Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worries and fears that get in the way of a person’s ability to deal with everyday life. People may turn to cocaine to forget about these worries, but the drug can cause paranoia that makes anxiety worse.
- Depression: A depression disorder involves feelings of extreme sadness. The stimulating effects of cocaine may be temporarily uplifting but they are followed by lows that make depression worse.
- Trauma: When a traumatic event occurs, a person may live with memories that cause a mental disorder. They may use cocaine to escape from these memories.
- PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder often develops in people who have experienced trauma. Those who suffer from it may experience flashbacks and nightmares and use drugs to reduce their occurrence.
- OCD: Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by an obsession with a specific activity that causes a person to develop unhealthy behavior due to irrational thinking.
- Others: The illnesses listed above are only some examples of cocaine addiction causes. Others include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, personality disorders, and the list goes on.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Because mental illness is one of the common causes of cocaine addiction, dual diagnosis is a common part of treatment. It works on the theory of comorbidity which means there are two or more medical conditions present in the patient that need to be addressed. In this case, it would be both the addiction and the mental illness.3
When comorbidity exists, a therapist will identify the underlying cocaine addiction causes and come up with a cocaine addiction treatment that is best suited for the patient’s needs. It will treat the mental illness to stop the cycle of addictive behavior.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
If someone you love is exhibiting symptoms of cocaine addiction, seek help as soon as possible. Here is what cocaine addiction treatment is likely to entail.
Detox
Detox is typically the first step of cocaine addiction treatment. It involves the patient allowing their body to free itself of harmful toxins.
During this state, the patient will experience withdrawal symptoms that make them want to go back to using. Fortunately, a medical team will be by their side to administer cocaine withdrawal treatment that will keep them as comfortable as possible.
Therapy
Once detox is completed, the patient will go into therapy. The therapy used will target cocaine addiction causes such as mental health issues, stressors, and more. It will get to the root of the problem and introduce healthy coping mechanisms to replace the urge to use.
Medication for cocaine addiction may be integrated into therapy. It will work with receptors in the brain to make cocaine’s effects less pleasurable, therefore making the drug less desirable.4
Inpatient/Outpatient Care
Inpatient and outpatient care can be used to treat cocaine’s psychological addiction. This factor means that patients can receive care while living in the facility (inpatient treatment) or while splitting their time between therapy and everyday life (outpatient care).
Outpatient care can be the primary form of treatment, or it can be used as a follow-up to provide the patient with the support they need to maintain sobriety and fight cocaine dependence after inpatient care is completed.
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies include art therapy, yoga, acupuncture, pet therapy, and more. The idea is to provide a calming outlet that will reduce stress and replace unhealthy habits while boosting creativity, self-confidence and providing a sense of accomplishment.
How Arrow Passage Can Help
Cocaine addiction can have devastating effects and take over control of one’s life, but Arrow Passage provides solutions to help patients get past their cocaine dependence issues.
Our facility at Arrow Passage offers leading dual diagnosis treatments when it comes to addressing the symptoms of cocaine addiction. Our dedicated staff will determine what causes the addiction and discover the root of the problem. We analyze each patient to find their specific cocaine addiction causes and come up with a customized plan that works best for them.
Do not let cocaine addiction rob you of another day of your life. Call Arrow Passage to find out the many ways we can help. We will determine the causes of cocaine addiction and provide you with the treatments that help you live a happier, healthier lifestyle.
