The disorder of cocaine addiction
The disorder of cocaine addiction is one of the largest problems of our time. There are a lot of researches, which study cocaine-dependant people. It is rather interesting to study cocaine dependence from the psychological side. As far as cocaine affects human brain greatly, human mind and mentality undergo numerous changes. In this paper, we will make an attempt to analyze some materials, which cover this side of the problem. The reviewed literature focuses on behavioral patterns of cocaine-dependant people.
Cocaine abuse and addiction
Cocaine abuse is one of the greatest troubles in contemporary world. It is reported that almost 15% of American population have tried this drug. Almost half of this people have tried cocaine during their senior school years. At present time cocaine abuse and abuse of other drugs is one of the most disturbing public health issues.
The reason why we discuss cocaine in the frames of the paper lies in the fact that cocaine is highly addictive and its influence on the brain and psychology of addicts is extremely harmful. Although cocaine was named a drug of 1990s, its history can be traced back for many decades. Thus, for instance, cocaine was used in 1900s, but at that time it was an ingredient for numerous tonics and other medicaments.
Cocaine gives an immediate effect, which lasts for about an hour. The duration of the effect is closely related to the so called route of administration. However, the faster cocaine was absorbed, the shorted will be its effect. Cocaine has a great influence on human behavior and can lead to violence and aggression. In addition, a lot of cocaine users report that they experience the feeling of anxiety and paranoia. Panic attacks are also rather frequent. Human brain adapts to the drug quickly and after several doses an effect of tolerance may develop. In other words, a person will need a bigger dose in order to achieve the same pleasure. Adverse effects of cocaine are numerous. They include nose bleedings, problems with swallowing, loss of sense of smell.
Like with many other addictions, it is necessary to start treatment in time. At present time one of the most popular and effective methods is behavioral interventions.
Cocaine and Psychiatric symptoms
At present time cocaine is one of the most highly addictive drugs, which has numerous psychiatric symptoms. They include hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, violence and aggression. In addition, many cocaine addicts experience suicidal inclinations. It is considered that the most pernicious effect has cocaine in a form of a crack.
Cocaine has a large number of effects on neurotransmitters in the human brain. It increases levels of dopamine, serotonin and other neurotransmitters. Affection of these neurotransmitters leads to leads to the feeling of alertness, euphoria, pleasure. Long and frequent use of cocaine may lead to numerous psychotic disorders. A person may experience hallucinations, troubles with sleep, anxiety disorder, etc. Thus, it can be said that cocaine is such drug, which does not only activate centers of pleasure in human brain, but it also activate other systems as well. That is why cocaine users may be nervous, violent, restless.
Probably one of the most widespread illnesses among cocaine users is paranoia. Up to 80% of cocaine users are inclined to it. Paranoia induced by cocaine can last for a different period of time, from several hours to a week.
Psychosis is also widespread among cocaine users and up to 50% of cocaine users may suffer from it. Violence, homicide and suicide are also widespread. For example, in the course of the research it was found out that over 55% of cocaine users have violent and often self-destructive behavior. Numerous studies confirm that there is a clear correlation between cocaine and violent behavior.
One more extremely dangerous effect of cocaine use is a feeling of delirium. Delirium is a fatal feeling, which is characterized by nervous instability. Quite often delirium is entailed by paranoia and other psychotic disorders. Interestingly enough, it is confirmed that almost each 7th intoxication, which lead to death, developed delirium. As it can be seen, cocaine has a complex negative influence on the brain neurochemistry.
Characteristic of cocaine dependent patients who attempts suicide.
As it has been already mentioned, cocaine dependence is often associated with suicidal inclinations. However, it cannot be said that this fact concerns all cocaine-dependant people. It is also important to take into consideration other factors, which might be rather influential. In order to find out this factors, a study was conducted. In the study, two groups of people participated. The first group were cocaine-dependent people, who had suicidal inclinations and another group consisted of cocaine-dependant people, who never had a desire to commit a suicide.
In the course of the research, it was found out that 39% of cocaine addicts attempted suicide. In the course of the study, several interesting characteristics of such cocaine users were found out. Thus for instance, these people were united not only by cocaine dependence, but by other factors as well. For instance, they had more childhood trauma, in their families were cases of suicides. In addition, many of them experienced psychiatric diseases, they experienced cases of hostility and violence. The survey has shown that physical and emotional neglect, sexual abuse and other psychological trauma are key factors, which predispose cocaine addicts to suicidal behavior. Another important factor is that in the majority of cases such people are introverts and due to the fact many of them could not receive in time public support, which is extremely needed in such cases.
Laser Light Zaps away cocaine addiction
As far as cocaine addiction is one of the largest problems in our society, scientists, medical workers and other specialists are constantly looking for methods, which will help to fight cocaine abuse. Recently, researches from the National Institutes of Health together with the Ernesto Gallo Clinic announced that there is a progress in the fight against cocaine abuse. In their experience they managed to receive interesting results in treating cocaine abuse with help of laser. In the course of the study it was found out that laser is able to wipe away cocaine seeking syndrome. Billy Chen, who is the leader of the study, suggests that new method of therapy can be already tested on people.
A multi study analysis of the effects of early cocaine abstinence on sleep
Numerous studies about cocaine dependence underline that cocaine addicts experience chronic problems with sleep. There is a suggestion that regulation and normalization of sleep can be one of the clues to treatment of cocaine addiction. A number of polysomnographic investigations have shown that with the flow of time problems with sleep take a turn for the worse. Not only the time of sleep decreases, but its efficiency as well. A number of studies show that the longer cocaine is used, the worse situation with sleep is experienced.
The reviewed literature proves that cocaine affects human brain greatly. Cocaine dependant people undergo a lot of psychological changes. Apart from experiencing euphoria while abusing cocaine, there are numerous negative changes in behavior, which gradually destroy personality. Cocaine-dependent people are often violent, they experience paranoia, delirium, restlessness. In addition, their sleep because short, ineffective and abnormal. Quite often such people can be inclined to suicide. As far as cocaine has such a great on human brain and behavior, treatment should include behavioral methods.
References
"Cocaine: Abuse and Addiction." (1999). NIDA, Research Report Series. Retrieved 26 April, 2013 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/rrcocaine.pdf
"Laser Light Zaps Away Cocaine Addiction." (2013). UCSF. Retrieved 26 April. 2013 from http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/04/104831/laser-light-zaps-away-cocaine-addiction
Matuskey, D., Pittman, B., Forselius, E., Malison, R.,T., Morgan, P., T. (2011). "A Multistudy Analysis of the Effects of Cocaine Abstinence on Sleep." Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011 May 1; 115(1-2): 62–66. Retrieved 26 April, 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3081928/
Morton, A., W. (1999). "Cocaine and Psychiatry Symptoms." Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 1999 August; 1(4): 109–113. Retrieved 26 April, 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181074/
Roy, A. (2001). "Characteristic of Cocaine-Dependant Patients, Who Attempt Suicide." Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158:1215-1219. Retrieved 26 April, 2013 from http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=174941
