Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine addiction can occur very quickly and be very difficult to break. Animal studies have shown that animals will work very hard (press a bar over 10,000 times) for a single injection of cocaine, choose cocaine over food and water, and take cocaine even when this behavior is punished. Animals must have their access to cocaine limited in order not to take toxic or even lethal doses. People addicted to cocaine behave similarly. They will go to great lengths to get cocaine and continue to take it even when it hurts their school or job performance and their relationships with loved ones.
Regular use of cocaine can lead to strong psychological dependence (addiction). Those who abruptly stop their cocaine use can experience cocaine Withdrawal symptoms as they readjust to functioning without the drug. The length of cocaine Withdrawal varies from person to person and on the amount and frequency of use.
Cocaine related emergency room episodes have increased from 80,355 in 1990 to 199,198 in 2002. And even more horrifying, 3502 of that total are for children between the ages of 6-17 years. For more information log on to www.cdc.gov.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:
” agitation
” depression
” intense craving for the drug
” extreme fatigue
” anxiety
” angry outbursts
” lack of motivation
” nausea/vomiting
” shaking
” irritability
” muscle pain
” disturbed sleep