Britain is a country of cocaine users, and its love for the drug is growing. The country uses more cocaine than anywhere in Europe and in some big cities like it is being used every day. The above question is a no brainer, especially after reading the following. Interested in quitting cocaine use before the holiday season, get in touch today!
Consequences Of Cocaine Use
Cocaine affects the central nervous system. There are a multitude of negative effects that result from using it. These are some commonly reported consequences of cocaine use:
- Nose bleeds
- Trouble breathing
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Chest pains
- Inability to get or keep an erection
- Insomnia
- Restlessness or anxiety
- Paranoia
- Dry mouth
- Talking rubbish
- Tremors
- Dizziness
- Muscle spasms
- Stomach pains
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Extremely low blood pressure
- Uncontrolled weight loss
And of course, cocaine use may lead to sudden death often due to cardiac arrest or seizures.
Heavy cocaine use also brings additional consequences such as:
- Kidney failure
- Brain haemorrhages
- Lost sense of smell
- Reduced cognitive abilities; including memory loss, lowered attention span, or decreased decision-making ability. Attention span may be permanent, and some may experience a shrinkage of grey brain matter and premature ageing.
- Inflammation of nose tissues. Prolonged inflammation can lead to collapse of the nose and nasal cavity, as well as holes in the roof of the mouth.
- Lung damage. This can include scar tissue formation, “cracked lung”. internal bleeding, new or worsening symptoms of asthma, or emphysema.
- Increased risk of nervous system disorders. Risk of conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as Parkinson’s, may increase.
- There is also the added risk of combing alcohol and cocaine that causes the liver to manufacture a third substance, cocaethylene, which increases the risk of sudden death.
Other Side Effects of Cocaine Use
There are additional nonphysical or psychological consequences of cocaine use such as:
Escalating arguments with your partner because yet again you have put your cocaine use above their needs. This maybe because you have also had a few drinks and then went off with someone else for the night, hour etc. and you’ve been caught out.
Money troubles. Cocaine use escalates as your body becomes tolerant causing you to buy more and use more. It won’t be long before you find you are; consistently paying bills late in favour of spending money on cocaine, maxing out credit cards in an effort to pay bills or get money for cocaine. Borrowing money from friends or family members to buy cocaine. Stealing money from family members or friends to buy more cocaine or engaging in illicit activities, such as other types of theft or selling drugs.
Work issues when you turned up late or not at all. Even when you are at work you are underperforming as you are tired, irritable and not focussed. Lastly, having a “cheeky one” at work to bring you back on point. If you are at this point you are in real trouble.
So with all of the above as possible consequences why wouldn’t you give up now?
We specialise in cocaine rehab and help you quitting cocaine use and staying stopped.
Well here are a few excuses that we hear around quitting cocaine use:
My use is not that bad – denial is a great excuse to keep on doing what you are doing. Unless you can get honest with yourself no one can help.
I am having one last blow out and then I will stop. If I had a pound for every time someone that has a drug or alcohol problem says this to themselves, I’d be a rich man. The simple truth is stopping and staying stopped is not easy as many of you reading this will know. Trying to do it on your own and just relying on will power does not work.
Holiday season is here and it is party month, even in a pandemic situation – Lucy White, a student at the University of the West of England knew the dangers of messing with drugs. She saw 19-year-old Drake Morgan-Baines collapse and die in front of her while she was working at Motion nightclub in Bristol. Just seven short months later, Lucy herself died of a lethal cocktail of cocaine and prescription drugs. “It was the drugs that killed her, but it was also the people she was with, and the peer pressure,” says her sister.
Using makes me more confident, funnier, and more interesting. When I get high it makes me a better version of me. Of course, the reality is that you are not funnier, nor are you a better version of you when using drugs. In regards to confidence issues there are far more healthy ways of addressing this.
A Way Out: Quitting Cocaine Use Today!
The staff at Help Me Stop have been there, done it and got the t-shirt. We know what it is like as individuals but also as professional drug and alcohol therapists. Having found solutions that can help you as well.
Help Me Stop’s intensive non-residential outpatient Dayhab programme is an effective solution that also offers 12 months of free accessible aftercare and family support options. Treatment is delivered face to face either in the mornings or afternoons over 6 weeks right through this Xmas period.
For those adults who are working and can’t access services in the day or get to our centre in West London we offer a 6-week evening online outpatient drug and alcohol treatment programme, run by the same therapists that provide the face to face programme. Again we are running this all through the Xmas period.
If you concerned about your cocaine use, or someone you care about, and want to know what your options are then call us now on 0208 191 9174 or jump onto Live Chat/email us directly at Contact Us.
Chris Cordell is Help Me Stop’s General Manager and is a senior associate member of the Royal Society of Medicine, Certified International Recovery Specialist, member of the International Society of Addiction Medicine and a member of the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals.
