How to Tell If Someone Is on Cocaine: Recognizing the Signs and Seeking Professional Help
Recognizing the signs of a friend or loved one’s problem with drugs or alcohol can be a crucial first step toward encouraging and helping them get the professional treatment they need. But how can you be sure that the person you care for has a problem with addiction and isn’t instead suffering from some other issue? If you’re wondering about how to tell if someone is on cocaine, you’re not alone.
While the specific warning signs will vary depending on the substance and their past history of use, there are some general red flags that could warn of a drug addiction. If you’re wondering about the signs of cocaine use, there are specific indicators to look out for, and if you see these, there’s a very good chance that your loved one could benefit from professional addiction treatment at a facility like WhiteSands Treatment.
At our network of drug and alcohol rehabs in Florida, we offer effective, compassionate outpatient and residential addiction treatment programs for cocaine that can help your friend or family member address the physical and mental aspects of addiction. Together, we can work with them to get on the path to recovery. Let’s explore more of the specifics of cocaine intoxication and how addiction to this potent drug can be treated by professionals.
What Signs Indicate Cocaine Intoxication?
Cocaine, a stimulant, is a widely used illegal drug—nearly 5 million people 12 or older in America use it each year, according to national statistics cited by Healthline, and half a million are addicted to it. If you’re wondering how to tell if someone is on cocaine, let’s get into the specifics.
While there are some common side effects of cocaine use, such as bloodshot eyes, rapid talking, twitches, increased energy, excitement, euphoria, and a boost of confidence, it’s also important to understand the warning signs of a more serious condition: Cocaine intoxication.
According to Verywell Mind, cocaine intoxication happens when someone is more than just high on the substance but instead also is suffering from other physical symptoms and illness. Most often, this is caused by taking too much or too concentrated a dose of cocaine or mixing it with alcohol or other drugs. Cocaine intoxication signs include:
- Jumbled speech, confusion, and anxiety
- Muscle tremors
- Dilated pupils
- Increased heartbeat and blood pressure
- Nausea or vomiting
- Breathing problems
- Fever and sweating
- Being unaware of their surroundings or losing control of their bladder
Because extreme cocaine intoxication can be toxic, leading to things like seizures, strokes, heart and organ failure, and even death, it’s vital to get immediate medical help if your friend or loved one is showing signs of cocaine toxicity or an overdose.
What Are the Characteristics of a Cocaine Addict?
People use cocaine to get a euphoric “high” caused by what the drug does to the central nervous system. While they might enjoy the energy and rush of the drug, they’re also likely to suffer from irritability, impaired judgment, mood swings, and other problems because of this substance and how it affects the brain. Look for all aspects of these changes if you’re wondering how to tell if someone is on cocaine.
Someone who is addicted to and regularly using cocaine will tend to display certain changes in behavior and mood that can be a warning that they need help. Behavioral red flags can include neglecting responsibilities or personal hygiene, poor performance at school or work, and significant changes in routines, hobbies, and social groups.
Other aspects to watch include aggressive or violent behavior, acting bizarrely or unpredictably, being secretive or suspicious, and engaging in risky or unsafe behavior. Someone who uses cocaine and becomes addicted will likely have major weight loss because the drug generally decreases the appetite, and that’s why one of the first things you might notice is a drastically different appearance of a friend or loved one who has become addicted to this drug.
What Are the Behaviors of Cocaine?
Made from the leaves of the coca plant, cocaine can come as a white powder or rock and can be snorted, injected, or smoked. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says cocaine works by triggering mechanisms for rewards and reinforcement in the brain.
Like other substances, it causes a buildup of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which floods the reward pathway of the brain, and this reinforces the desire to take cocaine again, which is why it can be so addictive.
The euphoric high of cocaine is relatively short—lasting 15 to 30 minutes if snorted or only five to 10 minutes if smoked. In the short term, cocaine can constrict blood vessels, cause dilated pupils, and boost the body’s temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Typically, users will feel euphoric and experience a boost of energy.
They’ll likely be talkative and feel alert, and they’ll feel less of the need to eat or sleep. In larger amounts, people might feel a more intense high but could also feel restless, irritable, anxious, panicked, or paranoid, and they can be prone to erratic or even violent behavior.
How Do You Manage Cocaine Use?
The idea of managing cocaine use is a bit of a misnomer. Unfortunately, this highly addictive drug becomes nearly impossible to manage. Instead, it’s better to think about ways to quit using cocaine entirely.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved medications specifically meant to treat cocaine addiction. However, help is still available in therapy and behavioral treatments; these can be highly effective if done correctly and followed through on.
One such early treatment is known as contingency management, which helps people find motivation to not use cocaine or other drugs by receiving vouchers or prizes when they follow the rules. This can be an effective way to start and remain in treatment early on.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a mainline treatment for addiction and is also effective for treating cocaine use disorder. This kind of therapy involves working with a therapist to identify flawed, unhealthy, or unproductive behaviors and ways of thinking about the world and then changing these behavioral and thought patterns to better meet challenges in life and not relapse to cocaine use.
Group therapy and aftercare programs after completing rehab are also essential components of treating cocaine addiction and remaining in recovery after an addiction treatment program.
Call WhiteSands Treatment for Help on How to Tell If Someone Is on Cocaine
If your friend or loved one is on cocaine and has a problem, it’s important to know that help is available. All across Florida, WhiteSands Treatment has a network of premier drug and alcohol rehab facilities that offer the support, assistance, and expertise that’s needed to successfully quit using drugs like cocaine and get on the path to long-lasting recovery.
Quitting cocaine requires professional help, and the team at WhiteSands Treatment is ready to help your loved one today. Learn more about how we can help by calling us at 877-855-3470.
External Sources
- Healthline – Recognizing the Signs of Cocaine Use
- Verywell Mind – Signs of Cocaine Use and Intoxication
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Cocaine
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
