What is the relationship between cocaine and dependence? Cocaine is a stuff that is obtained from coca plant leaves. When consumed it has a stimulant effect on the central nervous system. When cocaine is consumed it affects the Mesolimbic pathway thus causing the consumer to be addicted to it. It is one of the most abused drugs in the world. Cocaine is used in hospitals as anesthetic substance. This research paper will mainly focus on how it is abused, to what extent and the relationship between its consumption and dependency.
Cocaine is one of the most abused drugs and it is not a new drug in the United States of America as it has been abused for more than hundred years. It is a white fine crystalline powder and is known by many people as coke, snow, blow or flake. It is consumed in various manners for example, it can be diluted in other substance, it can also be inhaled or smoked, and the drug can also be consumed through smoking as well as through injection. This method is a bit risky as it has been one of the means through which HIV virus are transferred or spread because some individuals share syringes and needles.
There are still those that rub it on their muscles. Its users say that it is more effective when it is smoked and especially this type of cocaine that is known as freebasing. This type of cocaine is taken by smoking and it poses greater risk to the body than others and it is reportedly said to be more addictive than others, which are snorted. It is dangerous in that once you smoke, you get ‘high’ so fast but the euphoria disappears as soon as you get it thus leaving the consumer with desires for more. (Carol K.M., Rounsaville B.S. and Keller DS. 1991)
Cocaine has many side effects to its users and they should know that cocaine drug is addictive for it has a strong chemical substance that has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Its physical effects include constricted blood veins, eye pupils become dilated, the body temperature increases and the rate of the heart beat goes up. The users of cocaine can also suffer from high blood pressure. Immediately it is consumed, the user mentally becomes alert, the body becomes hyper stimulated and fatigue level goes down but the effectiveness of the drug depends on the means of consumption for example the much taken and the means of consumption.
It users have also reported feeling irritable, restless and anxious. Consumers may become very sensitive to the drug such that if they consume a lower volume than they are used to, they may even die. When it is taken frequently and in an increasing amount it causes irritability, restlessness and the victim becomes paranoiac. It also affects the heart beat rate and the user develops chest pain and the respiratory system dies. It also leads to strokes, headaches, failure and even gastro intestinal problems for example abdominal pains and also causes nausea. The victim also registers low body weight due to loss of food appetite and this might also lead to malnourishment. (Grabwiski J. 1994)
Different types of means of consuming leads to different complications for example those who use it by inhaling lose the smell sense, may frequently nosebleed and may have throat problems. Their voice might become hoarse and their nose may start running. Those who swallow it suffer from bowel gangrene due to the interference with the blood supply for example when the blood pressure low. (Hammer R.P. 1995)
The syringe users may become allergic to many things and more to this there is another danger of their needles. When cocaine users mix it with alcohol the complications increase and the mixture tends to form a complex chemical substance in their bodies for example human beings are most affected by this as it causes coca ethylene or the sudden increase in euphoric sensation.
The cocaine users number has continued to increase day by day despite the fact that various rehabilitation centers as well as other government and private institutions such as schools and hospitals spread drug abuse awareness. The number for new users is on the increase even today as it was in the past decades for example in 1975 the number of new users was thirty thousands but the figure rose to300, 000 ten years later. This went on such that in 2000 there were about 361000 new users in the United States. (Offices of National Drug Control Policy. Feb 2008)
In America one in every four of those who are between the age of 26 and 34 statistics show that they have used cocaine in their life. As per the Minnesota Institute for public health, there are about five thousand Americans who indulge themselves in drug abuse and to be more specific in cocaine even if it is once. The same report shows that there are about two million addicted Americans and these are people who are completely unable to stop using it. (Dackis C. 2003)
Most cases of cocaine abuse are among the youths and the consumption rate amongst them varies. In 1994 about 2 percent of the students were cocaine users and in 2000 there were 4.8 percent of all students. According to the survey that was carried out on high schools students, it was unveiled that in 2007, about 8.2 percent of them had tried cocaine. Cocaine has continued to be the drug that is most reportedly abused in many emergency rooms.
Cocaine usage varies across gender for example many men use it than women in fact, the number of those who consume it are twice that of women. Currently the youth in the age group between 18 and 25 have registered the highest number of abuse cases.
It was noted that in the period between 1993 and 1997 the cocaine users decreased hundred to hundred and four per hundred thousand people.
According to a 2000 survey that was done, 35.3 of all Americans who were twelve years and above had once in their lifetime tried cocaine, which translates to 14.3 percent of all Americans. In 2005, about 2.5 Americans had used cocaine while in 2006 in January 2.4 million people had tried it and this is about 1 percent. The same survey showed that in the same year there were about 2700 Americans who tried cocaine for their first time in America. In 2007, amongst the students, there was about 3.1 percent of the eighth graders users, 5.3 among the 10th graders and the 12th graders were 7.8%. It was reportedly said that at this time cocaine was easily accessible.
Cocaine dependence results due to the short euphoric it gives to its users thus it forces one to look for more as it lasts for only one hour. When the much consumed subsides, a state of mind that is called “crash” results and the system is reset only if one gets some sleep which it is not an easy thing to get, for this reason one is forced to use sedatives and other medications but its continued use may keep the users alert all the time. This is what leads to addiction or dependency. (Offices of National Drug Control Policy. Feb 2008) According to the cocaine surveys that have been done, the chances of becoming addicted within two years are 5-6 percent while after 10 years it is 15-16 percent. Addicted individuals develop complications that are similar to those of amphetamine psychosis or schizophrenia. Their symptoms include extreme paranoia, become more aggressive and often drift from reality to hallucinations.
On the other hand its usage has some positive effects and this is what is referred to as stimuli. It relieves ones mind especially when one is dull. Though this is true it has a cost burden, as sometimes it requires reinforcements for it to remain effective. Cocaine users are forced to mix it with alcohol for maximum performance. As per the research that was done on Rhesus Monkeys, it was noted that when monkeys were provided with self-administered cocaine, they preferred cocaine more than they did on food; this shows that cocaine reduces food appetite and as the trend continues the victim may end up being malnourished. (Tai Betty. 2001)
Most of cocaine treatment is administered in the form of therapy and this involves behavior intervention and more particularly on cognitive behavior. This is possible to only those who are determined to stop it. For complete and effective treatment to be achieved, both medical treatment and therapy services must be used synergistically.
Summary: American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
Cocaine is a drug that is highly abused in America. It is much abused by the young adults who fall between the ages of 18 to 24. There are various factors that need to be taken into account for example the therapist needs to be familiar with the state of the victim so that he/she could be able to know the possible effects of that treatment. It is only through this that such problems can be controlled and avoided.
It is not a common thing for a cocaine victim to seek for treatment so if you see one then there must be a very good reason behind this. The victim must be doing this out of choice but not because externally pressurized. If the treatment is as a result of compulsion, then the treatment would not be effective. One of the means that therapists use in treating patients is to ask them to make cocaine as unavailable as possible and this should be both psychologically and physically. The abuser should assess the prospects of obtaining cocaine and then formulate ways that would help to limit chances of accessing it.
There are several side effects of cocaine and some of these are that the high blood pressure fluctuates; lack of alertness and the victim may find herself/himself drifting from reality to hallucinations. There are also some medical treatments that can be given to the cocaine victim but the treatment can only be effective if it is done to a willing victim. Cocaine problem cannot be treated overnight as it is something that takes sometime before it is complete. Cocaine is a drug that is addictive and once taken it gives one some euphoria that lasts for a short time leaving one with a strong urge to go for more.
Reference
Carol K.M., Rounsaville B.S. and Keller DS. 1991. Relapse Prevention Strategies For the Treatment of Cocaine Abuse. Online American Journal of Drug And Alcohol Abuse. Available At
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0978/is_n3_v17/ai_11249653/pg_2
Dackis C. 2003. Cocaine Dependence: A Disease of The Brains Reward Centers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. Vol.21 Issue 3
Grabwiski J. 1994.Cocaine Pharmacology, Effects And Treatment Of Abuse. Diane Publishing
Hammer R.P. 1995.Chronic Cocaine Treatment Produces Metabolic Tolerance. CRC Press
Offices of National Drug Control Policy. Feb 2008. Drug Facts; Cocaine. http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drug fact/cocaine/index.htm
Tai Betty. 2001. Medication Development For The Treatment of Cocaine Dependence. United States Government Printing Office.
