Cocaine is a Schedule II drug that has the highest potential for abuse. Not only can cocaine give you blurred vision, convulsions, muscle spasms, and respiratory problems but can do significant damage to the brain. There is no reason why you need to experience the brain effects that a senior citizen has at a young age when you can go to treatment for cocaine addiction before it gets to that point.
Even if you have only done cocaine a few times, this highly addictive drug can lead to brain damage. Cocaine can interfere with the dopamine that is reabsorbed by neurons. Brain releases dopamine in the brain responding to potential rewards like smelling your favorite food. It recycles back into the cell that released it which shuts the signal between nerve cells. Cocaine stops dopamine from recycling which causes a massive buildup of dopamine between cells, causing communication problems.
The effects of cocaine appear quickly but last for a short time. If the brain is imbalanced, you can develop permanent depression. Cocaine can also increase stress hormones like cortisol in the brain which permanently raises blood pressure and damages the cardiovascular system. You can develop anxiety, panic disorders, or become aggressive. If cocaine ruins the lining of the veins and arteries, this can lead to chronic headaches as the blood flowing in the brain is restricted. Blood clots can lead to a stroke. Cocaine can also cause seizures during binging or chronic abuse or you can develop a seizure disorder which you would need full-time treatment.
Cocaine abuse can reduce the levels of glucose metabolism which means that neurons will underperform or start dying. The University of Cambridge did a study where they discovered that the average brain loses 1.69 milliliters of gray matter a year. Losing gray matter means having memory problems, dementia, and changes in cognitive ability. People who abuse cocaine lose double the rate of gray matter loss of an average of 3.08 milliliters a year. John Hopkins University also discovered that cocaine causes brain cells to cannibalize themselves. Cocaine can trigger autophagy in neurons which means that the cells are eating themselves from the inside out. During metabolism, cells throw out useful resources which leads to a stress reaction on cannibalizing other cell structures. Going into treatment will prevent these long-term problems in the brain from happening, leading to you leading a healthy life.
Located in downtown Midland, The Springboard Center’s mission is to offer programs and services to treat alcohol and drug addiction treatment using an evidence based curriculum, 12 step programs, diet, nutrition, exercise, emotional, mental and spiritual development for a long recovery. For more information, please call us at 432-620-0255 as we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
