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The Dangers of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine's effects are short-lived, intense and extremely pleasurable to the user. Euphoria, feelings of power, and intense bursts of energy are all commonly experienced by cocaine abusers and addicts. However, once this brief euphoric episode wears off, users are left with intense feelings of sadness and depression. The crash from the previous high can last for several hours and cause the user to feel extremely lethargic, and they will often sleep for several days.

At The Canyon, our mix of conventional and unconventional therapies help patients suffering from alcohol and drug abuse to break their addictions and learn the tools they will need to protect themselves from relapse in the future.

Dangers of Cocaine Addiction: Health Effects

Medical complications from cocaine can be swift and devastating, and while some may take time to manifest, some can show up after the very first dose. Cocaine can affect the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system and the neurological system. Some of the effects include heart attacks, respiratory system failure, headaches, strokes and nausea/vomiting. Cocaine has also been linked to different types of heart disease and can wreak havoc on the heart and its connect systems.

Dangers of Cocaine Addiction: Methods of Administration

There are three primary methods of getting cocaine into the body, and each has its own set of adverse side effects. Inhalation is one of the primary methods of ingesting cocaine, and prolonged use can lead to nasal passage damage and a consistent runny nose. Injection, another popular method of ingestion, can lead to an increased risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C. Finally, cocaine can also be swallowed, which can cause severe damage to the intestinal track and bowels.

Dangers of Cocaine Addiction: Mixing with Other Drugs

If you take cocaine and drink alcohol at the same time, you are risking very serious injuries and increase your chances of developing deadly liver diseases. Recent research shows that alcohol and cocaine combine in the liver during the digestion process to form cocaethylene, which stays in the body for a long period of time and is more toxic than either alcohol or cocaine alone. Unfortunately, death due to the poison created by the combination of alcohol and cocaine is not uncommon, as many cocaine users will drink while they are snort, swallow or inject the drug.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment at The Canyon

At the core of The Canyon's Healing Life Program is the goal of helping you to develop a positive relationship with yourself, your dreams, your future... your life. Through a variety of well-known and new therapeutic options, you'll have the chance to reclaim your personal dreams and goals, as well as to awaken an authentic relationship with yourself. The Canyon's treatment programs are specially tailored for each patient and reviewed weekly to ensure that every person receives the highest quality care possible.

At The Canyon, we want to help you break your addiction to drugs, alcohol or other substances by providing you with a holistic, healing start to your recovery in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains. Group therapies, individual therapies and family therapies are incorporated with treatments like psychodrama and adventure/ropes therapy to create a truly unique drug rehab experience. Contact us at The Canyon today at for more information.