A highly addictive stimulant drug, cocaine comes from the coca plant leaves mainly found in South America. It has numerous uses, and providers of health care use it as anesthesia during surgeries. However, most individuals use it illegally for recreational purpose. When manufactured, cocaine is in a fine, white powder. In a bid to maximize their profits, dealers blend it with synthetic opioids, amphetamine, and fentanyl (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). By mixing it with opioids, the dealers make it highly addictive. Most reported deaths from cocaine emanate from overdose, and especially due to tampering it. Notably, cocaine has numerous effects on the body among them reducing blood flow, loss of appetite that leads to loss of appetite, effect on cardiovascular system, chest pain just as heart attack, and stroke among others (Sordo et al. 2014). Indeed, prolonged use of cocaine can end up having effects on the user’s brain as seen in the following discussion.
Cocaine in whichever form has dire effects on the brain. It destroys the brain even in cases where the person has used it a few times. Whenever cocaine damages the brain structure, addiction is triggered (Donroe & Tetrault, 2017). In its context, addiction is simply a disease that affects the dopamine and reward circuits system. Cocaine abuse is likely to cause long-term damages to the brain. According to health experts, it affects emotions, mood and mental health, all of which has connection with the brain (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). Powdered and freebase cocaine is associated with prolonged mental health destruction, and it manifests itself in form of emotional or mood disturbances. Reports indicate that cocaine interferes directly with dopamine re-absorption by the neurons. In fact, one of the major symptoms associated with cocaine is serious depression. Whenever the brain fails to reach the equilibrium, then someone who has fought with the abuse of cocaine for a prolonged period is likely to get permanent depression and require continuous mental health treatment (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018).
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Cocaine has serious effects on brain and leads to mental health issues among them paranoia, psychosis, restlessness and auditory hallucinations. Individuals who stand a chance a developing schizophrenia or psychosis are the ones that use cocaine in the powdered form (Donroe & Tetrault, 2017). The drug leads to an increase in stress hormones such as cortisol, which is produced in the brain (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). The hormone leads to a permanent increase in blood pressure, and end up causing damage to the cardiovascular system. According to health experts, in the event a person is lucky not to develop paranoia or psychosis, they may end up developing panic disorders, anxiety, and problems of being violent and aggressive (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018).
In addition, cocaine is associated with increasing the levels of the dopamine, a natural chemical located in the brain circuits. The chemical is associated with the control of reward and movement. In often cases, dopamine is recycled back into the cells that manufacture it, leading to a shutdown of the signals located within the nerve cells. However, the presence of cocaine in the brain hinders dopamine from being recycled (Donroe & Tetrault, 2017). By so doing, large volumes of the chemical are accumulated between the two nerve cells, hindering communication. The accumulation of dopamine within the brain influences the drug taking behaviors. Eventually, the person taking cocaine continues to develop extreme urge to take it. He or she starts to take high doses and more frequently to achieve the feeling of being high. In that state, it becomes difficult to stop the habit.
According to experts in healthcare fields, prolonged intake of cocaine and its abuse leads to damage of the cardiovascular system (Sordo et al. (2014). Consequently, many other organs within the system, among them brain, is damaged. Research indicates that, the brain structure is damaged by cocaine in numerous ways. It can lead to blood clots, which leads to stroke (American Addiction Centers, 2019). Cocaine intake damages the linings found in the arteries and veins. Eventually, the person experiences chronic headaches and the flow of blood is restricted. Cocaine is associated with causing seizures, and once developed; the victim may take long seeking treatment. Further, research indicates that, individuals who suffer from addiction experience reduced amounts of glucose metabolism in numerous regions of the brain (American Addiction Centers, 2019). Consequently, the neurons perform poorly and they begin to die.
Prolonged cocaine use affects the process of brain aging. Naturally, gray matter in the brain tends to change as individuals age. In the case of a healthy person, the process takes decades and it continues gradually as one joins adulthood. Dementia, change in the cognitive ability, and memory problems are often linked to the reduced gray matter. Recently, University of Cambridge carried out a study on brain aging among individuals who abused cocaine drug (American Addiction Centers, 2019). They also carried out research on those without previous substance abuse history. The researchers revealed that, a normal brain experiences 1.69ml loss of the gray matter annually (American Addiction Centers, 2019). However, the situation was different on cocaine abusers, as the loss of gray matter stood at 3.08ml annually. John Hopkins University carried out a study, and found out that cocaine causes cannibalization among brain cells (American Addiction Centers, 2019). Researchers concluded that, cocaine is responsible for influencing cells to consume themselves.
Individuals who use cocaine for longer periods end up developing cravings for it, and the high feelings that comes with it. Eventually, the brain tends to get adapted to the drug. The victim will require to consumer a stronger dose to experience the highness feeling. The habit leads to an overdose or a possible addiction (Donroe & Tetrault, 2017). Frequent consumption causes change in the brain chemistry. The mind and the entire body can hardly function without the drug. The person consuming it finds it hard to sleep well, think, and may experience memory loss. Reaction time of the victim becomes slower, and the person is even at risk of having lung complications, stomach, and myriad mental problems (Donroe & Tetrault, 2017).
In overall, cocaine use has both short term and long-term effects on the brain as revealed by this study. Prolonged use of the drug destroys the structure of the brain leading to addiction. People who use cocaine damage their brain and they suffer from paranoia, psychosis, restlessness, and auditory hallucinations. It interferes with dopamine activities in the brain, causing the increased urge to use cocaine. Prolonged use of cocaine affects the cardiovascular system, besides affecting the process of brain aging. It affects the brain chemistry, and victims often find it hard to survive without using it.
References
American Addiction Centers (2019). What Are the Effects of Cocaine on the Brain? Retrieved from <https://americanaddictioncenters.org/cocaine-treatment/effects-on-the-brain>
Donroe, J.H. & Tetrault, J.M. (2017). "Substance Use, Intoxication, and Withdrawal in the Critical Care Setting". Critical Care Clinics (Review). 33 (3): 543–558.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2018). Cocaine. Retrieved from <https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine>
Sordo, L et al. (2014). "Cocaine use and risk of stroke: a systematic review". Drug and Alcohol Dependence (Systematic Review). 142: 1–13.
