For the past three years, cocaine has been one of the top five causes of drug-related deaths in West Virginia.
The good news is, cocaine overdoses aren’t always fatal. In fact, they can be a tipping point for someone to seek out treatment at addiction recovery centers like Hope for Tomorrow. The key in those cases is getting medical attention for an overdose right away. To do that, you need to know what a cocaine overdose is, what it looks like, and what to do when encountering one.
A cocaine overdose happens when you take more cocaine than your body can handle. The exact amount that causes an overdose varies from person to person. In the case of street drugs, purity and other substances included in the supply play a role, too.
The larger the part cocaine plays in someone’s life, the more likely they are to overdose. Because of that, it’s useful to know the early signs of cocaine use so you can get help for your loved one before things get more dangerous. Cocaine use is characterized by symptoms related to its stimulant effects, followed by a “crash.” Recognizing the signs of both is important.
Acting quickly if you witness an overdose is vital. Here are the signs of a cocaine overdose:
If you believe someone is experiencing a cocaine overdose, get them medical help right away. Even if you aren’t sure, it’s better to be safe than sorry. West Virginia has a Good Samaritan Law that ensures anyone seeking help for an overdose won’t get in legal trouble.
Stay with the person overdosing until help arrives. Turn them gently on their side. This will help them breathe and also make sure they don’t choke if they throw up. Don’t give them additional substances or try to make them throw up. Instead, reassure them, and be ready to share as much information about the situation as possible when medical personnel arrive.
Cocaine overdoses most commonly cause heart attacks and strokes. The greatest danger that comes with cocaine overdose is death.
Even non-fatal overdoses can have a negative long-term impact. You could experience permanent organ damage, mental health conditions, and recurring seizures or hallucinations.
You can’t count on surviving an overdose unscathed. That’s just another reason why cocaine addiction rehab is so important.
When cocaine enters the brain, it impacts the reward pathways. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential to feeling pleasure, is usually naturally recycled in the brain. You get happy about something rewarding, and the feeling passes as your body naturally reabsorbs the dopamine. Cocaine disrupts that process entirely, causing dopamine to build up to extreme levels in the brain. This leads to the “high” that cocaine is known for.
It’s absorbed quickly, so the “cocaine comedown” hits within 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the route of administration. You’ll experience unpleasant fatigue and mood changes as the brain adjusts to the sudden surge and loss of dopamine. All of that stimulation leaves the body feeling exhausted and the chemical imbalance from losing the previous levels of dopamine often leaves people feeling depressed.
Anyone is at risk of a cocaine overdose, especially if they obtained their cocaine from a street dealer. The street drug cocaine is rarely pure, often “cut” with other substances, such as fentanyl, to increase the supply. Mixing substances increases the likelihood of an overdose.
People with cocaine use disorders are also at a higher risk of an overdose, as are individuals with untreated mental health conditions.
Whether you’re using cocaine yourself or your loved one is, the prospect of a cocaine overdose is scary. The only way to eliminate the chance of an overdose is to stop using cocaine, and that’s a lot easier said than done. The good news is that help is available. You can find treatment for cocaine use disorder, and live a life free of fear.
Treatment is for everyone – no matter who you are or where you come from. Veterans, pregnant women, and people with physical health conditions deserve recovery just as much as anyone else, and you’re welcome at Hope for Tomorrow. With us, you’ll get to the root of your cocaine use disorder, and if mental health conditions are part of the equation, we can help with that too. Just give us a call at 877-679-8162 today.
