The warnings signs of someone using, overdosing, and withdrawing from cocaine.  This is the fifth article in a series of six on: the history of cocaine; the use of cocaine: the reason people use cocaine; the effects of using cocaine; the warnings signs of someone using, overdosing, and withdrawing from cocaine; and cocaine statistics and treatment.

The most common signs of cocaine usage include:

• Dilated pupils
• Sweating
• Extreme weight loss
• Overly “chatty”
• Over-sensitivity to light and sound
• Muscle twitches and spasms
• Insomnia
• Exhaustion and over-sleeping
• Lack of appetite or intense hunger
• Dramatic mood changes including:
  • Elevated self confidence
  • Euphoria
  • Depression
  • Paranoia
  • Suicidal tendencies

Some Signs that you need help:

• You deny you have a problem • when someone questions you about your cocaine use.
• You lie about your usage.
• You have insomnia.
• You have financial problems because of your need to buy cocaine.
• You manipulate those around you so you can continue to use cocaine.

Withdrawal

Researchers in the 1980’s believed cocaine users did not experience true withdrawal symptoms. However, we now know that when cocaine use stops, symptoms are similar to a cocaine crash and can last months, even years, depending on the type of use, frequency, time spent using, and any pre-existing mental problems. The major symptoms of withdrawal include:

• Anhedonia - The lack of ability to feel pleasure
• Anegia - The total lack of energy
• Loss of motivation or initiative
• Emotional depression
• Nightmares
• Insomnia
• Hunger
• An INTENSE CRAVING for the drug

This intense craving generally causes the recovering compulsive user to relapse time and time again.

Overdose

Most often an overdose is not fatal, it only feels like it. An overdose of cocaine can be caused by as little as 1/50 of a gram or as much as 1.2 grams. This is known as the “caine reaction”. Most users survive the overly sweaty, cold and clammy sensation accompanied with the feeling of impending death.

However, the direct and indirect effects of cocaine use, in fact, kill thousands. These deaths are the result from cardiac arrest, seizure, respiratory failure and an extra-high body temperature known as severe hyperthermia.

First time users along with chronic users can experience an exaggerated reaction far beyond what they might normally feel. This is because of the phenomenon known as

•  Inverse tolerance 
• Kindling

As people use cocaine they become more sensitive to the toxic effects rather than less sensitive and therefore can experience an overdose with less drug than they are use to using.

Source:

• Uppers, Downers All Arounders, Darryl S Inaba ‘Executive officer Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, San Francisco CA.’, William E. Cohen, ‘Haight Ashbury Detox Clinic’

Related Article: Cocaine Statistics / Treatment >>