Can You Become Addicted to Cocaine After the First Use?

People are constantly having the debate over if you can become addicted to cocaine after the first use or not. Cocaine is a dangerous substance which is very addictive. Nevertheless, people try cocaine every day, including crack cocaine. Some people can use this drug recreationally or try it one time and leave it alone. However, there are those who try it once and go on to regular use of it and in turn, become addicted. Crack cocaine is a substance to which some people do become addicted after the first use. Using cocaine once or even only occasionally does not mean that you will definitely become addicted; it does mean that there are those who will become addicted psychologically if not physically.

What are the Effects of Cocaine Use?

Cocaine is a stimulant drug and affects the brain immediately after use. The powder form of cocaine is usually snorted but some users dilute the powder by mixing it with water and either shoot it up or rub it on their gums, and it enters the system this way. It can also be smoked, the powder form and crack cocaine either alone or by mixing it with another substance of abuse. You will immediately feel effects of cocaine like pleasure and enormous well-being, increased talkativeness, decreased appetite, and increased mental alertness. You will also feel as if you have more self-confidence and have a sense of heightened sexual arousal.

Just as any other drug, cocaine affects different people differently. While it does produce a high, it can also have some adverse effects on some individuals. You could experience some effects such as:

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Heart attack
  • Erratic behavior including violence

The dose of the cocaine you use and also the purity of the substance will also impact the effects of the drug which you display. You will develop a tolerance to cocaine quickly, and it will take more of it to produce the high for which you are looking Long-term effects of cocaine use can be very damaging to your health. Some of these effects are:

  • Seizures
  • Headaches
  • Notable weight loss
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Loss of ability to smell
  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Changes in mood, irritability, and agitation
  • Mental health issues such as panic attacks, anxiety, and severe depressive episodes
  • Psychotic symptoms including hallucinations and delusional thought patterns

What is Crack Cocaine?

Crack Cocaine is a form of cocaine dealers process with ammonia or baking soda, and it turns into a “rock” form. Crack is smoked and is the most potent form of cocaine. The name comes from the crackling sound it makes while individuals are smoking it. Crack is cheaper than pure cocaine, but the high does not last long. Smoking crack gives an immediate, very intense high, but the high only lasts about 15 minutes. A person can become addicted to crack after the first use. Addiction to crack can end up being more expensive than using pure cocaine because of the short-lived high.

Crack cocaine is more addicting than regular cocaine because users smoke it, and they feel an immediate and very intense high. Tolerance to crack develops very quickly, and users need more and more of the drug to achieve the high they want. Withdrawal symptoms occur as soon as the effects wear off which causes users to continue smoking the substance to avoid these uncomfortable feelings.

Seek Treatment if You are Addicted to Cocaine

If you are addicted to cocaine, crack cocaine in particular, you should seek treatment right away. In many instances, people who are addicted to cocaine are also addicted to other substances. Mixing different substances is very dangerous and can lead to coma or even death. Cocaine use is very expensive and can ruin your life very quickly. Cocaine and crack addicts turn to theft very early into their addiction to be able to afford these drugs. You can lose everything that is important to you, your job, all of your possessions, your family, and your life. Don’t wait to get help; call today and enroll in a treatment program.