The definition of cocaine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), states that:
COCAINE IS A POWERFULLY ADDICTIVE STIMULANT DRUG MADE FROM THE LEAVES OF THE COCA PLANT NATIVE TO SOUTH AMERICA. ALTHOUGH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS CAN USE IT FOR VALID MEDICAL PURPOSES, SUCH AS LOCAL ANESTHESIA FOR SOME SURGERIES, RECREATIONAL COCAINE USE IS ILLEGAL. COCAINE LOOKS LIKE A FINE, WHITE CRYSTAL POWDER AS A STREET DRUG.
Street dealers often mix it with things like cornstarch, talcum powder, or flour to increase profits. They may also mix it with other drugs such as the stimulant amphetamine, or synthetic opioids, including fentanyl. Adding synthetic opioids to cocaine is especially risky when people using cocaine don’t realize it contains this dangerous additive. Increasing numbers of overdose deaths among cocaine users might be related to this tampered cocaine.
Different Forms Of Cocaine Use
There are many ways that cocaine can be used. One popular method is by snorting cocaine powder through the nose. Another is by dissolving the cocaine into a liquid and injecting it intravenously. Combining cocaine with heroin, called a Speedball, is another way.
Another cheaper and most popular way of using cocaine is by smoking it. The powder form is processed and concentrated to form a rock crystal (known as a crack rock or rock cocaine). The rock is heated up to the point of releasing vapors, which are then inhaled into the lungs (known as freebasing).
Cocaine Overdose: Signs & Symptoms
Cocaine is very easy to overdose from. In addition, it is commonly used, simultaneously, with other drugs and/or alcohol, which are deadly combinations and can lead to accidental overdoses.
Cocaine causes a user’s heart rater to increase, resulting in heart problems. Elevated blood pressure is also common, another factor that can lead to serious health complications. Physical symptoms of cocaine overdose include but are not limited to:
- Elevated heart rate
- Rise in body temperature
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the chest
- Tremors
Some psychological symptoms of a cocaine overdose include:
- Panicked feelings
- Anxiety
- Delirium
- Paranoia
What To Do If Someone Overdoses On Cocaine
If someone signs a cocaine overdose, it is important to act quickly. Recognizing cocaine overdose symptoms and knowing how to act when someone overdoses on cocaine could make all the difference for someone you care about.
- Call 911 – Seeking professional medical attention is the most effective way to treat a cocaine overdose and prevent life-threatening consequences.
- Stay on the Phone – It is common when abusing an illegal drug like cocaine to be worried about seeking help, but the person you are with needs you. Stay on the phone with 911 until help arrives and do as the 911 operator instructs.
- Turn Them on Their Side – If the person is throwing up or having a seizure, turn them on their side. This action can help keep their airways clear and keep them from choking on their vomit.
- Remove Immediate Dangers – If the person is having a seizure, try to remove any sharp objects or could fall on them from their immediate area. Do not put anything in their mouth.
- Stay Calm – It is normal to feel panicked when experiencing a cocaine overdose, but do your best to stay calm. Do as the 911 operator tells you. If the person has temporarily stopped seizing, do not take this as a sign that danger has passed. Instead, continue to seek emergency medical attention right away as seizures may recur.
Get Help Today And Overcome Cocaine Abuse at Aria FL
If you feel, at any time, that you or a loved one may have a substance abuse problem, ARIA FL can help. They are a comfortable, evidence-based drug and alcohol detox in West Palm Beach, Florida. Addiction Recovery Institute Of America in Florida can free you or your loved one from the physical symptoms of addiction and start you or your loved one on the path to recovery. They offer detox from drugs and alcohol on a medical basis so that you can safely resume the life you once lived, the life you thought was lost forever. Addicts emerge from ARIA FL healthy, sane, and prepared for a lifetime of recovery.