Can Cocaine Kill You?

Cocaine Overdoses and Other Deadly Elements of Cocaine

Can cocaine kill you? A common scare tactic used in anti-drug ads; this query is more than it seems. It’s based on the actual risks of cocaine addiction.

Cocaine overdose is responsible for the deaths of thousands of individuals every year. Thousands more experience the many negative health effects of cocaine use or misuse. Therefore, the simple answer to “Can cocaine be deadly?” is yes. Cocaine has a high potential for fatal overdose, especially with an explosion of fentanyl in the US leaking into coke nationwide.

If you’re looking for treatment for cocaine abuse, Resurgence Tennessee is available for multiple forms of therapy. To find out more regarding our program and the pitfalls of cocaine abuse, continue reading until the end.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a substance that acts as a stimulant drug. Due to its potency, it is also extremely addicting. Cocaine was first extracted in South America from coca leaves. Natives used to chew the leaves to get an energy boost that was comparable to coffee. The isolated and synthesized chemical was developed after the purification process. Even by the middle of the 20th century, it was commonly used as a surgical and another anesthetic analgesic.

Cocaine as we know it now has little resemblance to its original form, which was extracted from coca leaves. Cocaine use is widespread but almost often undertaken illegally, where it poses serious health risks. It’s still occasionally used for specific procedures that call for local anesthetic.

Cocaine powder is the most common form of distribution and usage. To increase its potency, dealers frequently mix it with other narcotics. The frequency with which cocaine is combined with other narcotics, such as heroin, significantly raises the dangers associated with its usage. Adding two highly addictive chemicals together, like cocaine and heroin, can be fatal.

Is Cocaine Overdose Possible?

Cocaine use of any kind is dangerous. There is no getting around the fact that cocaine is poison. However, most people who use cocaine don’t die as a direct result of their habit. Beyond the understandable worry about cocaine’s lethality, there are a plethora of other negative health effects. Some of the more serious consequences of cocaine consumption include:

• Parasites and viruses
• There is an increased risk of contracting infectious infections among people who abuse or are addicted to cocaine. Cocaine addicts have a higher incidence of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C than the general population.
• Disturbances in mental health
• Heart attack
• Constricted blood vessels
• Other problems with blood vessels
• Cocaine overdose
• Damage to the cardiovascular system

Consistent cocaine use has been linked to a variety of psychological problems. Cocaine addicts are more likely than the general population to suffer from a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety, with as much as 40% of those who abuse the drug also suffering from such conditions. Cocaine use can amplify the symptoms of preexisting mental health problems. It could also trigger the onset of a previously undiagnosed mental health condition.

How Much Cocaine Can Cause You to Overdose?

Unfortunately, there is no set amount of cocaine it takes to overdose or kill you. Even the smallest amount can affect blood flow or cause a heart attack. The central nervous system is also at risk during an overdose.

Cocaine has also caused sudden death – most notably in the case of a former Maryland college basketball player, Len Bias. Seemingly out of nowhere, he collapsed on the court during a game – dead of a heart attack at a very young age and just picked in the first round of the NBA draft.

Issues That May Last for Years After Long-Term Cocaine Use

An addiction to cocaine can cause a broad list of negative health effects. Cocaine use is associated with an elevated danger of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, organ failure, stroke, and convulsions. Thus, the effects of cocaine on the body’s systems are potentially lethal, even in the absence of a cocaine overdose. Coca use can also result in sleep disturbances, unhealthful weight loss, and respiratory problems.

Impaired Thinking

Consistent cocaine use has catastrophic effects on brain function over time. Substance abuse addicts have impaired memory, reaction time, and focus. Long-term cocaine abuse has been linked to lasting harm to those brain processes.

Beating a Deadly Cocaine Habit

Recovering from cocaine abuse is a difficult process. Still, your life is on the line since cocaine is poisonous. Any drug abuse must be addressed immediately. Numerous severe, irreversible health problems arise as a result. If you’re addicted to cocaine and are putting off getting help, you’re taking a huge risk with your life. The effects of cocaine use should never be understated.

What Increases the Odds of Cocaine Overdose?

The possibility of cocaine overdoses increases in the presence of several conditions. The manner of drug administration is one of these variables. When compared to when cocaine is snorted, injecting it carries a greater danger of cocaine overdose. This is because the effects of cocaine are amplified when injected rather than when smoked.

Cocaine Mixed with Fentanyl

The purity of cocaine is another aspect that can raise the possibility of an overdose. An overdose is more likely to occur when cocaine is combined with other drugs like fentanyl. This is because mixing cocaine with other drugs can greatly elevate its harmful effects. The use of fentanyl in cocaine is on the rise. The CDC has issued a warning about the dangers of consuming cocaine that has been laced with fentanyl because it is becoming increasingly widespread.

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid, as powerful as morphine but up to 100 times stronger. Since it is inexpensive and widely available, it is frequently used to cut or lace harder substances like cocaine. On the other hand, fentanyl is extremely lethal and can quickly cause an overdose.

Victims of cocaine addiction should be aware of the risks posed by fentanyl-laced cocaine, as reported by the CDC, and take precautions to avoid using it.

Polysubstance Abuse with Alcohol

Using cocaine in combination with other substances, such as alcohol, also greatly enhances the danger of an overdose. This is due to the fact that combining these substances might produce a more potent and difficult-to-control high. If you experience chest pain, rapid heart rate, or other symptoms, contact help immediately.

The Benefits of Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

At Resurgence Tennessee, we provide the following benefits regarding cocaine addiction:

• Dedicated detox centers for both men and women
• Addiction Rehabilitation in a Residential Setting
• Alumni events
• Therapies based on behavior
• Community resources

Long-Term Recovery from Cocaine: Found Here

If you or someone you love is suffering from cocaine addiction, it’s important that you get in contact with us right away. Every minute is borrowed when you’re on a drug like cocaine, and treatment is usually the only way out.

Typically, medically assisted detox isn’t needed for cocaine addiction treatment. However, you’ll still be assessed, and we’ll go from there based on recommendations from our physician. In fact, many clients are able to overcome their cocaine addictions via outpatient treatment.

Contact a member of our Admissions staff today to find out what course of therapy and treatment is best suited for you. With the right team behind you and the proper personalized treatment plan, we can help you beat cocaine addiction and find a whole new way of living!