Cocaine use can lead to severe long-term effects on your mental and physical health. Major damage can happen to your heart, brain, and even nose with prolonged use. Quitting early can help you avoid some of the long-term effects, and cocaine addiction treatment can provide the support you need to quit with confidence.
Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use
When you use cocaine, a stimulant, it raises your heart rate and sends a rush of feel-good chemicals through your brain. This short-lived rush makes it addictive, making you want more to continue feeling good. Over time, though, your body depends on cocaine to feel good at all, and, at the same time, it takes a toll on your brain and body.
Heart Issues
Stimulants cause a spike in your heart rate and blood pressure while constricting your blood vessels. With consistent use, these effects can result in serious conditions such as heart disease, heart attacks, or irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Chronic cocaine use can also weaken your heart muscle, leading to a condition known as cardiomyopathy, which reduces your heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently and may result in heart failure.
Respiratory Problems
If you use cocaine for a while, you may damage your respiratory system. Smoking cocaine can result in chronic coughing, respiratory infections, or more severe conditions like lung damage. Snorting cocaine can cause issues with your sinuses and frequent nosebleeds.
Mental Health Concerns
Abusing cocaine can eventually lead to cocaine use disorder. Cocaine use disorder—addiction—causes you to feel dependent on the drug to feel happy or, sometimes, even functional. This pattern of using, coming down, and needing cocaine can make your mental health worse. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can stem directly from addiction. Or, if you already struggled with your mental health, addiction can make it worse.
Cocaine can also impair kidney and liver function due to its toxic effects on these organs over time. Additionally, prolonged use can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and illness. When you recognize signs of cocaine addiction in yourself or a loved one, reach out to Red Oak Recovery® for help quitting.
When to Find Help for Cocaine Addiction
The earlier you find help for someone abusing cocaine, the more likely it is they can avoid the long-term effects of cocaine. If you’re concerned that your loved one is struggling with addiction, look for signs like:
Physical Effects of Cocaine
- Frequent nosebleeds or nasal damage
- Dilated pupils and excessive energy
- Rapid weight loss or loss of appetite
- Signs of restlessness, tremors, or muscle twitching
Behavioral Changes
- Increased secrecy and isolation from friends or family
- Noticeable financial issues due to spending on the drug
- Risky or impulsive behavior, including legal troubles
- Unexplained mood swings, anxiety, or paranoia
Psychological Signs
- Intense cravings for the drug
- Obsession with obtaining and using cocaine
- Depression or lack of motivation when not using
- Difficulty maintaining responsibilities at work, school, or home
Our team at Red Oak can meet you or your loved one where you are and create a personalized plan for overcoming cocaine use.
Effective, Compassionate Addiction Treatment at Red Oak Recovery®
Don’t wait. If you or a loved one need help breaking the cycle of cocaine addiction, we can help. Our men’s treatment center in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the place to make a fresh start. Call 828.382.9699 or connect with us online now to get started.
