Cocaine is a drug in the stimulant category which is derived from two species of Coca plant found in South American countries, these plants are known as Erythroxylum Coca and Erythroxylum Novogranatense.
It is found in the form of a white powder and is typically snorted, although it can also be injected.
Cocaine is a psychoactive drug which means it contains chemical elements that can affect and alter our brain chemistry and biology, causing us to feel a range of physical and psychological desired effects.
For example, psychoactive drugs can improve our mood and make us feel better or make us concentrate for a longer period of time. (15)
This can be a difficult condition to break, which is why getting proper treatment for cocaine addiction is so important.
As a drug, cocaine can be snorted, smoked, or injected, and it is quickly absorbed by the body and rapidly enters the bloodstream and then the brain.
Like most psychoactive drugs that people take cocaine begins to take effect straight away after one dose is taken, these desired effects can last between several minutes and one hour.
The length of time a person experiences cocaine’s desired effects is dependent on how the user administers the drug, the faster the body can process and absorb the drug the stronger the positive experiences will be however, these euphoric feelings will not tend to last for long.
Research indicates that users who snort powder cocaine will experience a slower route to the “high” but it will last for longer compared with someone more smokes cocaine and receives an almost instantaneous but shortened (10 mins) high. (10,11)
Cocaine is a stimulant drug, which means its predominant effect is to stimulate the Central Nervous System. Cocaine generates its psychoactive effects when its chemical constituents activate specific regions of the brain’s limbic system, which is an interconnected network of brain nerves and cells that are responsible for managing human pleasure and levels of motivation.
As a stimulant drug, it will increase blood pressure and energise the body, placing the body into a state of higher arousal ready to perform physical or mental action. (10)
The desired effects that occur when cocaine takes action mainly include:
Because of the many desired short-term effects of taking cocaine, people who take cocaine may find that they develop a psychological dependence very quickly, particularly if they become reliant on the drug to help boost their low mood and/or to provide them with prolonged concentration and mental stamina.
The addiction will more than likely be strengthened as they will develop a tolerance toward the drug, which means that they will need to take higher doses of the drug to give them a mood boost and increased concentration compared with when they initially took the drug. (9)
The feelings of euphoria and increased alertness and concentration it provides lead to users developing a strong motivation to continue taking the drug in the future as it provides them with psychological resources that they would not have had if they did not take the drug.
Cocaine addiction is further strengthened when people become physically dependent on the drug and they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking cocaine.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms produce strong cravings and negative symptoms such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, irritability and depression and the quickest way to alleviate these symptoms is to take more cocaine.
Thus, people who take cocaine to avoid unpleasant cocaine withdrawal symptoms are negatively reinforcing the likelihood they will continue to take the drug. (9,13)
Cocaine manages to achieve its main, almost instantaneous psychological effect, which is commonly known as the high—by stimulating the increased presence of a neurochemical called dopamine which is situated in the reward pathway in the brain, which is the mechanism that is responsible for governing our emotional life.
The dopamine pathway in the brain then releases these chemicals which cause users to feel a sense of euphoria and positivity. Cocaine contains chemicals that act on the brain’s limbic system which is responsible for controlling our emotional state.
When a person takes cocaine the body is automatically programmed to break down the drug and eliminate it from the body.
The body also attempts to adapt to the presence of the drug if a person continues to consume it so that it has a minimal effect on us as we carry out our daily lives and can function at an optimal level.
To achieve this the brain and body have to slowly make certain adjustments to maintain homeostasis (achieving a physical balance in the body).
Therefore as the user continues to take cocaine they will find that they will build up a tolerance to the drug which means they will gradually need to take more of the drug to experience the same physical and psychological effects they experienced when they initially took the drug.
Having built up a tolerance to the drug if any cocaine user suddenly stops taking the drug they will experience negative physical symptoms as their body has been thrown into a state of confusion, as it has adapted to functioning with cocaine present and this has now stopped and so the body produces withdrawal symptoms in response to this confusion.
Bearing in mind that the reason people take cocaine is to boost their mood and give themselves a mental boost, the withdrawal symptoms users will experience will tend to be the opposite effect to the main effects of cocaine.
These are usually fatigue, depression and low mood, agitation, increased appetite and anxiety.
Heavy cocaine users will find that they may suffer consequences that last for months as cocaine use can change the structure of cells and how they operate which can make a person more susceptible to experiencing cravings and more sensitive to drug-using triggers based on their memories of using cocaine.
This means cocaine users are still at risk of relapsing back into cocaine use after several months if not years of stopping their cocaine use, which is why aftercare is so important in helping someone with a cocaine addiction remain drug-free. (4,5)
Cocaine does have a longer-lasting effect on our memory structure and efficiency and on the limbic system which is responsible for controlling our emotional states.
Cocaine also affects areas of the human brain that are responsible for assessing the range of options we have available and then making decisions, and also more importantly affects the area of the brain that is responsible for showing control and restraint.
So, it is no wonder people struggle to control their drug use as the very drug they are taking (cocaine) is damaging the areas of the brain which are required to weigh up whether to continue to take the drug or not and to exercise control and decide to stop taking the drug. (3,6)
There are many short-term and long-term effects of cocaine misuse, which can include:
According to the 5th version of the Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Health disorders, which is perceived as a legitimate authority on diagnosing and classifying mental health disorders, cocaine addiction now falls into the category of a stimulant use disorder.
The following criteria have been set down to help with a diagnosis of stimulant use disorder:
There are no pharmacological interventions available to help clients detox from cocaine, so the main focus drug treatment service staff is to offer advice and emotional support to the clients as they go through the withdrawal process, and monitor their physical and mental health. (5,9)
The physical withdrawal symptoms that appear when coming off a stimulant drug like cocaine tend to be the opposite of the main effects of the drug that people were seeking when they started taking cocaine and include:
The physical symptoms people will experience when withdrawing from cocaine are overall generally mild for most patients when compared with heroin, although some patients may find these symptoms mildly to moderately uncomfortable.
As is the case when patients are recovering and withdrawing from all psychoactive drugs great care must be taken by practitioners treating patients recovering from cocaine addiction in rehab centres.
These practitioners are on hand to monitor all patients during the sensitive early withdrawal phase to ensure their physical and psychiatric health does not deteriorate.
Patients are provided with basic medication to deal with symptoms relating to flu-like symptoms and sleep problems and other inconvenient physical symptoms that may need managing including stress and anxiety.
As cocaine is a stimulant drug that has the potential to significantly elevate a person’s mood and energy levels it also means that the withdrawal symptoms they experience when they stop taking the drug will dramatically decrease their mood and energy levels, so much so that they may be vulnerable to feeling severely depressed and indeed suicidal.
It is important to carefully monitor clients withdrawing from cocaine during the first 1-3 days of withdrawal just in case they need psychiatric support to help them deal with depressive symptoms and a potential mental health crisis. (5)
Treatment staff overseeing patients’ withdrawal from cocaine can access doctors and psychiatrists to prescribe relevant medication (e.g antidepressants) if required to stabilise the patient whilst they withdraw.
There are many psychological interventions used in treating cocaine addiction including the traditional and alternative, but the following interventions are generally considered to be particularly effective:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been used to treat alcohol addiction but it has also been adapted into a form of therapy that has helped people with cocaine addiction.
Patients work with a specialist drug counsellor to work through the underlying thoughts that drive cocaine use.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is founded on the assumption that people develop unhelpful patterns of behaviour to help them cope in situations where they feel a degree of psychological discomfort which can be beneficial in the short term but extremely counterproductive in the long term. (7)
An example of this would be taking cocaine if you are feeling low and want to improve your mood and/ or experience a positive emotional state.
By identifying and understanding a person’s irrational beliefs and unhelpful thought patterns therapists can begin to help clients develop more effective coping strategies when they are experiencing psychological discomfort or emotional distress instead of taking cocaine.
For example, many cocaine users may incorrectly assume that taking cocaine is the only way to achieve a positive state of mind and do not consider other options, whereas others may see cocaine use as the only way to cope when faced with stressful situations.
By learning new cognitive skills people can learn to react differently when they are in stressful situations instead of automatically and habitually turning to cocaine use. (7)
CM is more of a psychological strategy than individual therapy, although it has produced excellent results when applied to patients with cocaine addiction.
This strategy is based on the behavioural principle of operant conditioning and aims to shape a client’s behaviour by using certain monetary and gift incentives to persuade people to give up taking cocaine.
For example, if a patient has managed to reduce or stop their cocaine consumption and can prove this by producing physical evidence such as a drug test, then they will be given money or a gift as a reward for their efforts and determination and commitment they have shown to get better.
The closer the reward is given to the time when they produce evidence of their positive progress then the greater the motivation it will give them to continue abstaining from cocaine use. (12)
All patients entering rehab for cocaine addiction will benefit from engaging in group therapy, these sessions unlike self-help groups such as cocaine anonymous are facilitated by a professional therapist who will encourage all members of the group to explore their feelings around their cocaine use, and the dysfunctional patterns of behaviour they tend to exhibit when interacting with others.
Cocaine addiction can be an isolating condition and part of a patient’s recovery involves rebuilding connections and social relationships with people.
The group setting also provides the opportunity for all participants to encourage and support each other in their quest for recovery. (16)
Cocaine Anonymous is an organisation committed to helping both men and women who have struggled with cocaine use, whether this struggle is recent or being going on for years.
This fellowship is based on the principles and beliefs of Alcoholics Anonymous – the same 12 principles of the proven 12-step recovery program – and offers a platform for cocaine users to discuss their problems with cocaine abuse and both give and receive support to help themselves and others move forward with their lives.
The only thing that people need to attend their meetings is a desire and commitment to abstain from cocaine use and overcome their addictive tendencies.
They run weekly meetings across the UK that give all its members a chance to talk about their struggles with cocaine use in the company of other people who have been through similar experiences.
CA believes in a mutually supportive philosophy where all attendees receive support from other members and in turn, offer their support and encouragement to other members who are present as cocaine addiction is not something that people should ever consider battling through on their own.
There are no medical nor therapeutic practitioners present at the meetings and the meetings are free from any religious, political or business influences, as a supportive non-judgemental attitude is shown at all times. The overriding purpose of the group is to help people give up cocaine, improve their mental health and help its members move forward with their lives.
SMART Recovery is a leading UK charity which prides itself in the support, assistance and guidance it offers many individuals seeking to overcome alcohol and substance use.
They run a series of programmes and meetings to provide its attendees with the knowledge, skills and resources to overcome substance addiction.
Their main aim is to provide people with the psychological skills to help them deal with cravings, negative thoughts and emotions.
They also aim to enhance people’s personal development, build clients’ motivation and help them cope with strong urges to take cocaine and achieve a healthy balance in their lives.
They also run weekly meetings online and in person to help people talk about their experiences with cocaine addiction and how they may implement certain psychological strategies to respond more productively when they encounter psychological discomfort and distress instead of resorting to cocaine use.
Cocaine misuse and cocaine addiction are very serious conditions, whether the person suffering from it happens to be yourself or a loved one.
Some of the most popular searches for addiction support in the UK are for cocaine addiction.
Thankfully, help is always available.
Our team is ready to help you find the right cocaine addiction treatment facility for your unique needs.
When you reach out to us, our expert team can conduct a free addiction assessment to ensure that you get the most appropriate treatment for your cocaine addiction.
This will be in the form of a tailored treatment plan designed to work with your strengths and give you the best chance of recovery.
Both inpatient and outpatient rehab treatment is available across the UK for cocaine addiction, as are private and free addiction treatment options.
Whether you want to seek help from a GP or refer yourself directly, we can help you find success.
Please call Rehab 4 Addiction on 0800 140 4690 for advice and support on a local drug treatment service.
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(2) Dimeff, L., Linehan, M. (2008) Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Substance Abusers. Addiction Science and Clinical Practice. June 2008.
(3) Ghodse, H. (2002) Drugs and Addictive behaviour: A guide to treatment Cambridge University Press.
(4) Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (2022) Focus on. Stimulant use. available@ Focus on… Stimulant Misuse | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk)
(5) Herie, A. & Skinner, W. (ed) (2014) Fundamentals of Addiction: A Practical Guide for Counsellors. CAMH. Canada.
(6) Kahan, M. (2014) Physical Effects of Alcohol and Other Drugs. In Herie, M. & Skinner, W. (ed) Fundamentals of Addiction: A Practical Guide for Counsellors. CAMH. Canada.
(7) Kennerley, H., Kirk, J., Westbrook, D. (2015) An Introduction to CBT: Skill and Applications. SAGE Publications.
(8) Miller, W., Rose, G. (2009) Towards a theory of motivational interviewing. American Psychologist. Vol 64 No 6 p527-537.
(9) Moss, A, Dyer, K (2010) The Psychology of Addictive Behaviour. Palgrave McMillan. New York.
(10) National Institute of Drug Abuse (2022) What are the short-term effects of cocaine use? availabe@What are the short-term effects of cocaine use? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
(11) Nestler, E. (2005) The Neurobiology of cocaine addiction. available@ The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction – PMC (nih.gov)
(12) Petry, N. (2011) Contingency Management: What it is and why psychiatrists should want to use it The Psychiatrist. May 35 (5) p161-163.
(13) Rassool, G.H. (2011) Understanding Addictive Behaviours. Palgrave MacMillan. New York.
(14) Tavistock and Portman NHS (2022) Family Therapy. available@Family therapy (tavistockandportman.nhs.uk)
(15) Wills, S. (2005) Drugs of Abuse. Pharmaceutical Press. London.
(16) Yalom, I.D. (1995) The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy. Basic Books. New York.
