People often believe the misconception that cocaine addictions are avoided if the drug is snorted infrequently. True, smoking forms of cocaine make the drug even more addicting, but even snorting and injecting it can lead to addiction. Many people with cocaine addictions began using it recreationally, thinking that they can stop at anytime, but eventually develop a chemical dependency.

Derived from the Coca plant from South America, cocaine is a stimulant that directly affects the Central Nervous System. When first developed, cocaine started as a prescribed remedy for depression, fatigue, and many other common ailments. After discovering negative effects and a rise in violence among cocaine users, the drug was prohibited in the early twentieth century.

Today, cocaine is still used heavily in various forms. The rate of tolerance with cocaine increases dramatically when smoked as freebase cocaine or crack cocaine. Cocaine addictions occur much quicker in these instances because as tolerance increases, the user must consume more of the drug. Dopamine levels are altered in the Central Nervous System, and users are likely to experience cravings, depression, and paranoia during withdrawal.

Seeking Help for Cocaine Addictions

Often, the chemically dependent person is not the one to proactively seek treatments for drug abuse. Drugs like cocaine create such a strong physical dependency that the user may believe they are still able to stop eventually, but just aren't interested yet. Family members and friends often come together with some intervention plan to motivate the addicted person into drug rehab. When the addiction is severe, forceful confrontation sometimes occurs.