Cocaine Abuse, Essay Example

Positive effects

Cocaine though associated with negative effects but have few positive. Due to its anesthetic effect, cocaine has been used for eye surgery. Since cocaine has profound ability to vasoconstrict blood vessels, it can lead to delayed and scarring cornea healing. It has the ability to make arteries and veins narrow and thus can reducing bleeding. Also cocaine has been used in reducing nose bleeding, nose surgery, and as painkiller for cuts (has medicinal effects).

Negative effects

Abuse of cocaine and addiction has affected various people and nations. It has effects on the user within 15 minutes after consumption. Their physiological effect entails dilated pupils; blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature; increased breathing rates, and the users have increased appetite. However, for long-time abusers, cocaine can lead to nausea, appetite loss, seizures, and problems with heart, comas, and even brain damage (permanent). Also cocaine may have dopamine and norepinephrine activity (effects alike to amphetamines) and it stimulates brain cortex. It causes euphoria feelings, self-confidence, optimism, and well-being, and hallucinations may results as consequence. When cocaine is consumed internally, it is toxic to nervous system.

Signs and symptoms of intoxication

The symptoms and signs of intoxication includes; severe paranoia, rapid heart beat, lack or impaired judgment, severe agitation, angina, hallucinations, hypertension, heart arrhythmias, and at times death.

Best treatments

A person under the influence of cocaine can be treated through Cognitive-behavior therapy or behavioral Intervention depending on the applicability and expected outcomes (Carroll, 2009: pp 37).

Presently, there are no medications’ for treatment of addition of cocaine. Behavioral Interventions and Cognitive-behavioral therapy however, have been regarded as the most effective in treatment of cocaine addition.

Behavioral Interventions

Individuals are encouraged to avoid cocaine by the use of a program. For example, based on urine-test, suppose indicates lack of cocaine consumption, the person earn points that can enable exchange for items.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

It is the short-term approach in assisting addicted individuals to abstain from other substances and cocaine. The method assists the affected to identify, avoid, and cope without the use of cocaine (Jimmy, 2005: 28).

Work Cited

Carroll, D. (2009). Trends and Prevalence in Drug among US youths:  2005 research: JAMA, 303, 35-41.

Jimmy, W. (2005). Associations amid Childhood-behavior and Drug Abuse: Children Activities and Drug Abuse; Pediatrics 103 (5): 27–34.