There is a myth surrounding cocaine addiction. Because it does not have the same, painful withdrawal symptoms as heroin or prescription pain pills, it is believed to not be addictive. This could not be further from the truth. Cocaine is highly addictive. It takes very little of the drug to become addicted. It is the number one abused illegal stimulant in America. It is responsible for thousands of emergency room visits. Cocaine has the power to get a hold of someone. It changes them psychologically. If it were not addictive…why do so many people struggle with cocaine addiction? Cocaine does not discriminate; it can affect every age and gender the same.
The majority of the cocaine coming into the United States is being brought in through the Mexican border. Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant. It is most commonly grown and harvested in Mexico, Argentina, Columbia and Brazil. The Peruvian Indians would chew the leaves to battle illness and fatigue. It was the western culture that began snorting/injecting the drug. Of course, this is not the first instance where a plant-based remedy that was used in early medicine practices turned out to be a highly-addictive and abused substance. Opium is very similar to cocaine in this respect.
Since we have come a long way in the world of modern medicine, cocaine has very little medical value. Opium has been quite helpful with synthetics based off the chemical compounds of the drug to treat pain, but cocaine is really not relied on at all. It does have topical numbing capabilities and worked well for eye surgeries decades ago. It also has the ability to constrict blood vessels, which has proved useful for nosebleeds and stopping bleeding cuts. It is still available, but hardly used. A major problem with the drug is that even though it can stop bleeding, it does not promote fast healing and can leave a person scarred.
Because of the highly-addictive principles of cocaine, it is generally avoided in modern medical practices in the United States. Using even a small amount on a patient for whatever purpose could lead to cocaine addiction and drug treatment later on. Practicing medicine with cocaine tinctures are mostly found in the places that are actually growing the coca plant.
Where is the most cocaine being consumed in the United States? According to reports by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, most cocaine is being converted to crack and being sold and used in inner-cities. The biggest hot spot for cocaine right now is Texas. Big cities like Houston, Austin and San Antonio have reported incredibly high rates for cocaine addiction.
Cocaine addiction is similar with both humans and animals. Extensive studies have been conducted using a variety of laboratory animals. People and animals alike will express unusual behavior to obtain more of the drug. They will continue to use until the supply is extinguished. Under the influence of cocaine, nothing else matters but obtaining more. This is one reason cocaine can be so deadly. A person will use line and after line of the drug, trying to maintain the high they had when they used the first amount. This can easily lead to cardiac arrest because of an accidental overdose.
Drug treatment for cocaine addiction is similar to treating all other substance abuse problems. Inpatient therapy is recommended for cocaine or crack addiction. 12-step programs help a person to work through their addiction little by little. When drug treatment is rushed, it can make a person apprehensive. Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico believes in treatment that involves care and consideration of the person battling addiction. When treatment is done this way, it is more thorough and leads to long-lasting sobriety. Withdrawal from cocaine addiction can be painful and bring on anxiety and guilt; Vista Taos helps patients to work through both the mental and physical side of addiction.
Cocaine is highly-addictive. Anything that states otherwise is a fallacy. You can read countless stories from a broad range of people; teachers to professional athletes have lost their careers because of cocaine addiction. Their habit cost them thousands upon thousands of dollars, their families and in the worst cases…they lost their lives. Drug treatment is essential for battling cocaine dependency. Get help before it is too late.
