Cocaine, an illegal drug, stimulates the central nervous system, which increases the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine triggers the portion of the brain associated with pleasure and movement. Over the long term, cocaine use may lead to...
Cocaine addiction affects the user physically, socially, emotionally and environmentally. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that treatment is hopeful for a cocaine addict and that many options are available for help. However,...
Cocaine is an addictive illegal drug that causes tolerance, withdrawal, preoccupation with the drug, unsuccessful attempts to stop use, severe cravings, and continued use despite severe consequences. It can also cause sudden death.
Cocaine and alcohol are two commonly abused substances with opposing effects. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant, increasing energy and speeding up thoughts; alcohol depresses the brain. Both drugs can activate the pleasure sensors in the brain,...
Drug treatment for cocaine addiction is a controversial topic. According to Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated there is no known drug treatment recognized for treatment of cocaine addiction. However,...
A cocaine addiction can be particularly hard for individuals to conquer. Offering a quick high and a stable street price, cocaine is considered an attractive drug of choice. Those interested in leaving cocaine behind also find that treatment...
Cocaine addiction affects about 1.6 million Americans and accounts for about a third of all emergency room admissions for drug abuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Office of National Drug Control Policy cites cocaine as...
When cocaine is processed with ammonia, then heated, a smokable form of the drug known as freebase cocaine is formed. This inhaled form of the drug makes a crackling sound when burned, hence its street name, "crack." The blood vessels in the...
Cocaine is commonly used for recreational purposes. The drug can induce powerful physiological effects by inhibiting the re-uptake of the brain neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain cells. Since dopamine plays a major role in behavior by...
Chemical dependency is a complex condition. The reasons for addiction may have to do with neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly dopamine, that produce feelings of arousal, satisfaction and reward. Experiencing these feelings encourages...
Cocaine, a crystalline drug derived from the leaves of the coca plant, is a commonly abused central nervous system stimulant. It exerts its effects on the brain by interfering with the flow of neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, such as...
Crack cocaine is a form of cocaine that is reduced to a freebase state through processing, most commonly with baking soda and water. The result is a brittle compound referred to as "crack rock," which can be either snorted or smoked. Regardless of...
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that effects the user physiologically, socially, emotionally and environmentally. Cocaine abuse may lead to a long term addiction and often the addiction is so powerful that it can alter a person's life...
The National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health reported that 5.3 million Americans 12 or older abused cocaine at some point in 2008. Cocaine produces an immediate pleasurable effect that makes the user energized for a brief time. Cocaine causes a...
Cocaine addiction produces both short- and long-term effects, making it a complex addiction to treat and cure. The addiction not only creates biological changes in the brain but involves a number of family, social and environmental factors as...
Short-term memory is the ability to store sensory information for relatively short times, ranging from a few minutes to a few days. The main site for storing short-term memories is the hippocampus, a region in the brain's limbic system. In order...
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant of the central nervous system that impacts over one million Americans in a given month, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration. The propensity for cocaine use turning into a...
The withdrawal symptoms that occur when abruptly stopping cocaine can be unpleasant and difficult, so much so that many people give up and resume taking the drug. In order to successfully quit using cocaine, people should familiarize themselves...
The American Cancer Society does not recognize acupuncture as a proven means to quit smoking and drinking. However, it may be used to alleviate secondary symptoms of withdrawal such as headaches and nausea. Acupuncture is effective in treating...
Cocaine is a highly addictive street drug that produces a sense of extreme joy when it triggers the release of higher than normal amounts of biochemicals in the brain. The drug is classified as a stimulant and heightens energy, alertness, heart...
Drug detoxification is the most important action a recovering addict experiences before rehabilitation begins. Detox cleanses the system of toxins that the drug has cause to accumulate in the body. It allows the body to rid itself of the drug and...
Cocaine, an illegal substance used recreationally by many Americans, has proved highly addictive. Researchers see case after case of cocaine addicts that lose their homes, their jobs and their spouses because of the drug yet continue to seek it on...
N-acetylcysteine, also called acetylcysteine or NAC, is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in your body. Like all antioxidants, it helps protect your cells from the effects of particles called free radicals, which potentially play a role in...
Infants who have been exposed to smoked cocaine, or crack, during pregnancy typically show a wide spectrum of symptoms after birth, although it is not uncommon for some infants to be asymptomatic, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse. At...
Methadone is a synthetic analgesic that causes sedation and relaxation. Methadone generally is used in the aid of treating narcotic addiction, including heroin, morphine, hydrocodone, fentanyl, vicodin, oxycodone, codeine and benzodiazepines....
During pregnancy, all substances that the mother consumes, either beneficial and dangerous, are passed on to the child. If a pregnant woman consumes cocaine during her pregnancy, the child may not develop properly. Consulting a doctor is the ideal...
According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 2,000 Americans start using cocaine each day. Unfortunately, due to the highly addictive nature of cocaine, many of those...
Created from the coca plant, cocaine can cause addition because of its heightened stimulation effects. Chemical dependency treatment includes short-term therapy for withdrawal and long-term psychotherapy for psychological issues. Cocaine causes...
Viagra increases the blood flow and relaxes the muscles in certain areas of the body, according to Drugs.com. A doctor prescribes this medication for a man who has erectile dysfunction, a condition resulting in his inability to get or keep an...
