Can you become addicted to cocaine after using it once?
Using drugs to treat back pain is a completely normal response to constant paid. However there is more and more case of pain killers and street drugs becoming more of a problem rather than a solution. Take cocaine for instance.
There is a common myth that after a single use of cocaine, you can become irreversibly addicted.
The good news is that this idea is not correct. Addiction to cocaine develops over time and repeated use.
However, the bad news is that cocaine is still a highly addictive drug and there can be significant negative medical implications for cocaine use from the very first instance.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Cocaine is a drug that affects your central nervous system, the physical effects on your body after one use can be dramatic, with consequences including;
- Bleeding nose
- Breathing difficulties
- Chest pain
- Paranoia
- Nausea
- Very low blood pressure
Extremely troublingly, for those with a pre-existing heart condition, cocaine use can cause sudden death by cardiac arrest, even on the first use. Learn more.
How addictive is cocaine?
Despite not being immediately addictive from the first use, cocaine is nevertheless a highly addictive substance and one that can be very difficult to withdraw from.
Because the ‘high’ offered by cocaine includes extreme energy and happiness, as well as enhanced mental alertness, some users will continue to go back to the drug because they do not experience the same negative consequences as, for instance, alcohol abuse and the hangover the following morning.
You can learn more about spotting the signs of cocaine addiction here.
Getting help
There are several different avenues you can go down when it comes to treating cocaine addiction, from physical detox to talking therapies.
In less severe cases of addiction, group therapy through organisations such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous.
Speak to your GP and consult the NHS guide to cocaine abuse to get a better understanding of how to best treat your addiction.
Alternatively, you may wish to tackle the problem with a stay in a residential rehab facility that specialises in drug abuse, especially if the problem is particularly acute or severe.