The Addictive Properties of Cocaine Vary Depending on Who you are

For years and years cocaine was one of the most dreaded drugs. It was labeled as highly addictive and then along came crack cocaine and that was placed in a league of its own, one that was extremely lethal. Maybe it is the hype surrounding the surge in prescription opiate addiction but it seems that the talk about cocaine has been reduced to a low roar. Does this mean that fewer people are abusing cocaine? The answer to that question is no. Are there less people that are addicted to cocaine now? No.

It has been discovered that cocaine addiction has many factors to consider. The purity of the cocaine must be considered, how the drug is taken, the environment in which it is taken in, and also the genetics and general characteristics of who is taking it. These are the criteria on how one person develops a full blown addiction and another does not.

With a very short half-life, how cocaine is ingested is very important. People who use cocaine will get the maximum benefit from the drug very quickly. For example, smoked, cocaine delivers the max benefit is under one minute but if it is snorted the maximum high may take as long as an hour to occur. The high does not last long so this is why cocaine has always been a binge drug and people tend to overindulge. This is usually followed by a “crash” period where the drug is not used.

For some this is not the case though. There becomes a mental compulsion to use cocaine. This is not comparable to people who abuse a drug like heroin and have to continue to use it or they become physically ill. Never underestimate the psychological power of cocaine though. There are plenty of instances where parents have sold their kids toys to get more cocaine. A cocaine addiction is very real and very dangerous.

It is more important to look at the person that is abusing the cocaine instead of just categorizing cocaine as an addictive drug without assessing the other risk factors involved. Is cocaine addictive? The answer is yes, very much so. Will you become addicted if you use it? The answer to that will vary on other factors but it is a hell of a risk to take.

People with low self-esteem, those with mental disorders, and those who have a family history of addiction are placing themselves in grave danger when they use cocaine. These are not the only people that can become addicted or that likely will become addicted but the chances are greater. Even those who do not have the significant risk factors may find that they are in the right place at the right time and succumb to a cocaine addiction.

Help is available if you or a loved one has a problem with cocaine. Hand the problem over to the professionals and start a new life, one that is free of cocaine and other substances that are altering being who you know you can be.