Cocaine - Death On The Loose

When it comes to addictive drugs that are often abused, cocaine leads the way as one of the most powerful illegal substances on the street. Many who have dabbled in the use of cocaine (even if only for one time), the chances of becoming hooked are quite high. One can never truly control their body's need for the drug once it has undergone an experience. Numerous individuals will continue to use cocaine, eventually developing an addiction that wreaks havoc on their social and personal lives, as well as job performance, emotions, and health.



Cocaine is often sniffed, snorted, injected, or smoked (which involves the use of crack cocaine or free-base). Snorting cocaine powder through the nose allows the drug to enter the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. The use of a needle releases the drug straight into the bloodstream, while smoking sends cocaine vapors into the bloodstream through the lungs. Injecting and smoking quickly intensifies the effects of cocaine because it makes contact with the bloodstream faster than other methods of use.

Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine users often suffer from the effects of the drug throughout their central nervous system. Peripheral blood vessels become constricted, pupils dilate, and an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature may arise. Some users may succumb to periods of anxiety, irritability, and restlessness. In the worst cases, cocaine users may experience sudden death at first use, but at any time, the threat of unexpected death may occur. High doses of cocaine or constant use may also lead to paranoia, aggressive tendencies, nasal damage (when snorting), seizures, or cardiac arrest.

Getting Help for Cocaine Addiction

Since cocaine use is a dire problem in today's society, there are many different resources that help people overcome their addiction. A wide range of treatment programs and opportunities are available for cocaine addicts, including both inpatient and outpatient techniques. Self-help groups are a popular way that cocaine addicts cope with leaving their drug of choice behind.

Many of these associations work from a 10- or 12-step model that aims to prevent a relapse, as well as help individuals stay on track. Medication, counseling, and additional meetings also help break the cycle of drug addiction. To find a self-help group, a wealth of outlets can guide one in the right direction, such as doctors, counselors, the phone book, library, and across the Internet.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Cocaine, as a stimulant, mimics the action of chemicals the brain produces to send messages of pleasure to the brain's reward center. Like adrenaline, cocaine increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. When the stimulation goes too high, it can also produce feelings of panic, paranoia, hallucinations, and rage that can even progress to potentially fatal seizures and strokes.



Treatments for cocaine addiction vary, based on a lot of factors including the severity and length of the symptoms, the amount of damage done from the cocaine use, and the rate of recovery. The most common symptoms of addiction usually noted are drug cravings, irritability, loss of energy, depression, fearfulness, wanting to sleep a lot or difficulty in sleeping, shaking, nausea and palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation, and increased appetite. These symptoms can commonly last several weeks -- even after one stops using cocaine.

Medications to treat cocaine addiction are not yet available, although researchers are working continuously to identify and test new options. The most promising experimental medication existing seems to be Selegiline, which still needs an appropriate method of administration. Disulfiram, a medication that has been used to treat alcoholism, has proven to be somewhat effective in treating cocaine abuse in clinical trials. Antidepressants are predominantly prescribed to deal with the mood changes that usually come with cocaine withdrawal. Treatments are being developed to deal with cocaine overdose.

Treatments such as cognitive-behavioral coping skills are effective in dealing with cocaine addiction, but they are just a short-term approach that focuses on the learning processes. Behavioral treatment attempts to help patients recognize, avoid, and cope with situations that can lead them to use cocaine again.

Staffed by caring, compassionate physicians, nurses, and counselors, treatment programs recognize the intensity of addiction. Based on that, treatment programs provide heavily researched medical treatment techniques, choosing the best for the patient from all of the treatment modalities available .
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Cocaine Addiction in Miami, Florida

Widespread Cocaine Addiction in Miami started thirty years ago. Miami has been the major port of entry for cocaine in the United States for thirty years. Cocaine is responsible for the development of Miami as an International Banking Center. The influx of large amounts of money due to the illegal Cocaine Trade precipitated the necessity for a larger and more sophisticated banking network. Money was being flooded into all avenues of the Miami business district changing the landscape and skyline forever.



Cocaine was relatively inexpensive on the streets of Miami and the tri-county area of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. As this drug's popularity began to spread from high society private parties to the streets, the insidious problem of drug abuse and associated crime started to rise.

As more people started to use cocaine, communities witnessed a rise in the crime rate. Braking and entering, muggings, auto theft and retail boosting were all on the rise. Cocaine offered a more intense "high" than other drugs being used during this period. Although the high was more intense the period of intoxication was shorter causing the user to increase the amount necessary to sustain the high. The need for more cocaine caused the need for more money and thus more crime.

The area also witnessed an increase in addiction or at that time they called it abuse of cocaine. Cocaine was not accepted as an addictive substance because withdrawal from this drug did not cause the severity of physical problems as alcohol or opiates had.

Today Miami and the state of Florida have some of the best Addiction Treatment Facilities in America. If the saying "necessity is the mother of invention" has credence then that would explain the expertise as a result of the thousands of addicts that have been treated for cocaine addiction in Florida over the past thirty years. Free Article on Cocaine Addiction Solutions

The Problem of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction is a still a problem in American society. There seems to be less publicity about it but it still is a popular drug It is serious because cocaine addiction it can lead to serious mental and physical damage, even death.

The effects of cocaine addiction can vary depending upon the individual involved in the cocaine addiction. All of the effects of cocaine addiction, however, fall in to one of two categories: short-term or long-term.



A person who uses cocaine just once is capable of experiencing the short-term effects of cocaine addiction. Some of the short-term effects of cocaine addiction include dilated pupils, rapid and pressured speech as well as decreased appetite and increased body temperature. Other short-term effects of cocaine addiction are increased mental alertness, increased heart rate, and increased energy.

People who think they will try cocaine 'just once' often fall prey to cocaine addiction because they enjoy some of these short-term effects, such as increased energy and mental alertness. This boost of energy helps the user feel as if he can be more productive in life and at work, which leads to an increased tolerance of cocaine, and ultimately leads the need to use more to get the effect and eventually cocaine addiction.

People looking to lose weight also sometimes experiment with cocaine because of the short-term effect of appetite suppression. It is possible for a cocaine user to go days without eating. Unfortunately, using cocaine for this purpose can also lead to cocaine addiction and other health problems such as malnutrition.

A person suffering from cocaine addiction will begin exhibiting the long-term effects after abusing cocaine for an extended amount of time. Extensive use of cocaine, results in a tolerance to cocaine, which forces the addict to use more in order to reach the same high. Therefore, the long-term effects of cocaine addiction can include respiratory failure, heart disease, stroke, heart attack, gastrointestinal problems, seizure and coma. Less severe long-term effects of cocaine addiction include blurred vision, nausea, convulsions, fever, chest pain, and muscle spasms.

In addition to the physical affects, cocaine addiction can lead to psychological problems, such as irritability, restlessness, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, and mood disturbances. Cocaine addiction also can have a negative effect on relationships, when undesirable behaviors, such as stealing, lying, and cheating, croup up as the addict attempts to support the cocaine addiction.

Cocaine addiction can also lead to financial ruin when all of the addict’s money is spent on getting the next high. Or, when the addict is fired from his job for poor performance or excessive absenteeism both related to the cocaine addiction.

Cocaine addiction is destructive in a variety of ways. Therefore, the best choice is complete abstinence and no experimentation.

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Celebrities and Drug Use

Ah, celebrities and drug use. It seems that every time we turn on the television or watch the news or read the latest tabloid, there is at least one celebrity (if not more) who is entering into or just getting out of some sort of drug rehab facility or drug treatment center. We saw this (and continue to see it) happen to singer, songwriter, Amy Winehouse. Is it just me or does it seem as if celebrities don't care about their image?



Contrary to popular belief, the life of a celebrity isn't all fun and games. It is a life that is often filled with gruesome schedules, all nighters, back to back traveling, photo shoots, plane flights across the country and constant attention in the spotlight. After a while, all of the pressures that so many celebrities face begins to wear thin. Maybe celebrities should get more sleep. One thing is for sure; money cannot buy you happiness...but it sure can buy you drugs along with whatever other material things tickle your fancy.

So, then why is it that so many celebrities can't seem to get it together? Perhaps this will remain a mystery. Maybe they spend a little too much time in character. Look at the last celebrity struggle with drugs: Lindsay Lohan. We watched as this young, budding female start took to the silver screen and grew up before our eyes. Everyone has issues- whether it's with their parents, friends or other family members. However the difference between a regular person versus a celebrity is that most of us cannot afford a drug-ridden life style. When you are a celebrity, you have everything right there at your fingertips. All you have to do is say the magic word or words to the right person and you can pretty much get whatever it is your heart desires.

Perhaps celebrities let stardom go to their heads. Nowadays, whenever there is a new, young starlet, I cringe. I try, like so many other regular non-celebrity people, to not get my hopes up on this one. I do this because it is only a matter of time before something happens to sully that person's once sparkling reputation. When you or I become involved in relationships and break up, no one knows about it unless we tell them. We are emotionally distraught, but most of our mourning is done in private until we are ready to move on. This is not the case in the life of a celebrity. For celebrities, everything is under the microscope. From the birth of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's kids to the death of Cameron Diaz's father, we, the American public are there with our prying eyes wondering whether or not our favorite celebrity will be able to make it through another day.

The problem with celebrities and drug use is that many of them think that they are above the law. This is clearly not the case though because 'yes,' even celebrities can and will wind up in jail.
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Drug Abuse Treatment

Drug addiction treatment typically involves several steps to help an addict to successfully withdraw from using the drug. The treatment must be followed by counseling and attending self-help groups to help the recovering addict to resist any crave for using the addictive drug again.



The first step of drug addiction treatment is the withdrawal therapy. Withdrawal therapy is a step by

step detoxification plan which helps the recovering addict to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible. The detoxification is a gradual process that involve reduction of the dose of the drug or temporarily substituting the drug with other substances that have less severe side effects.

The second step begins after a successful detoxification. The goal of the second step is to help the ex-addict stay sober and keep resisting drugs. The second step involves therapies such as counseling, addiction treatment programs and self-help group meetings.

Counseling - Individual or family counseling with a psychiatrist, psychologist or addiction counselor may help an ex-addict resist the temptation to return to using the addicting drugs. Behavior therapies can help the ex-addict to develop ways to cope with his drug cravings, suggest strategies to avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and offer suggestions on how to deal with a relapse if it occurs.

Counseling also can involve talking about the ex-addict job, legal problems and relationships with family and friends. Counseling with family members can help them to develop better communication skills and to be more supportive.

Treatment programs - Treatment programs generally include educational and therapy sessions focused on establishing sobriety and preventing relapse. This may be accomplished in individual, group or family sessions.

Self-help groups - Self-help groups call upon the individual addict to take responsibility for his or her life and lifestyle, at the same time fostering self-acceptance and self-esteem. While most experts in the field of drug addiction view addiction as a medical problem, because of its effects on both brain and body, some see it as a behavioral problem to be solved through the development of self-knowledge, behavioral changes, and coping techniques. There are self-help groups that embrace both views and others that lean toward the behavioral model. Each type of program encourages the individual to understand not only the reasons to refrain from using drugs but the underlying emotional causes of his or her addiction

The road to recovery is far from being easy and it can sometimes feel overwhelming. From a medical standpoint drug use affects your brain chemistry. Once the drugs have been cleansed from the system, it takes time for the body to readjust. Feelings that were masked by the drugs will resurface, and when they do, they will have to be faced because the drug which helped in ignoring them, is gone. Relapse prevention includes identifying triggers to using drugs, learning more adaptive coping skills, and making better decisions when dealing with life's challenges.

The chances of staying clean improve if the ex-addict participates in a social support group like Narcotics Anonymous, have a sponsor, and is involved in an Intensive Outpatient Program or individual therapy. If he chooses not to seek help from a treatment support group, chances are he will revert back to his old habits and relapse becomes more likely. An important thing to think about during the treatment process is how the ex-addict perceives a relapse. If relapse occurs, it is more helpful to look at it as a normal part of the process, rather than a personal failure.

Additional changes in social routine will probably become necessary as well. There are people, places and things that represent a slippery slope for the ex-addict and it's in his best interest to stay away from them. Surrounding him with people who can support his recovery makes things easier.
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Effects of PCP Drug Abuse

Phencyclidine (phenylcyclohexylpiperidine) commonly initialized as PCP is a disseminative drug, which means that by consuming this drug mind feels separated from the body. PCP was illegally manufactured in labs and sold out in form of tablets from 1950s. According to survey conducted by National Drug Control, more than 187 million children age 12 and older have abused PCP at least once in their past life. PCP abuse causes many negative psychological effects and due to these effects, it was never approved for human

Effects of PCP drug abuse
Due to the overdose of PCP, the drug abusers have unpleasant psychological effects. Their behavior will be unpredictable and often violent behavior is associated. Sometimes the abusers can even commit suicide. Under the influence of PCP, the following are the effects on health of drug abuser.

Effects on Brain

The abuse of PCP distorts perceptions of sight, sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and from them-selves also. These effects are caused by disruption of the interaction between nerve cells and neurotransmitter serotonin. This is distributed throughout the perceptual and regulatory system, results in changes in mood, increases the hunger and body temperature etc.

Effects on abusers

Mostly if once the drug abusing becomes habit it may become very difficult for the abuser to leave it. This abuse can also lead to craving and compulsive PCP seeking behavior, despite of severe adverse consequences. During this process, there are many effects both long term and short term effects depending upon the quantity and usage of the drug.

Long term effects

Many long term effects are found due to the regular abuse of the PCP for a long time. This includes negative effects on respiration system and respiration stops within minutes, which lead to sudden death of the person. Vomiting, hazy vision, flicking up and down of eyes etc are few effects caused by abusing. About 90% of PCP drug abusers are brought into emergency rooms with severe psychological effects. With high dose of the drug abuse the central nervous system is affected and the abuser can even go into state of comma.

Short term effects

Most casual effect is mood disturbances for 48 hrs from the use of drug with significant elevators like anxiety symptoms. Breathing rates gets slightly increased and pronounces into rise in blood pressure along with rise in pulse rate. Breathing becomes shallow, blushing along with copious sweating and many other extremities are generalized with regular abuse of PCP drug and loss of muscular coordination may also occur. These drugs can disturb the ability to think and communicate because of the abuse.

Parent should talk about the dangerous effects of PCP drug abuse with their children. Always prevention is better than cure, so better to take necessary steps for not going for any drug abuse. Free Article on Drug Abuse