Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug that people snort, rub onto their gums, inject, and smoke. It is a fine, white, crystal powder also known as coke, crack, blow, rock, or snow. Cocaine is known to produce feelings of extreme happiness and energy, mental alertness, hypersensitivity to sight, sound and touch, irritability, and paranoia. Many people are familiar with the effects of cocaine and even the side effects – constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, nausea, faster heartbeat, restlessness, tremors, and more. What may be less known is that cocaine has been shown to increase risks of cancer.
Many cocaine dealers will mix cocaine with other substances to generate more of the product and get more money. Some of the substances used are carcinogenic, which is shown to increase the risk of cancer and kidney issues. Smoking cocaine can lead to lung, throat, or mouth cancer, and can also cause damage to the lung tissue. According to Sober Nation, cocaine causes elevated heart rate and blood pressure, both of which are associated with cardiovascular problems and heart disease.
Cocaine is often laced with chemicals that can be extremely damaging to the body, as Independent, a UK-based website, notes that nearly two-thirds of cocaine is cut with a substance that can rot human flesh and 80% contains a chemical linked to bladder cancer. A recent study found that 65% of street cocaine is laced with levamisole, a chemical supposedly used by farmers to “purge their livestock of parasitic worms.” While this chemical has been shown to be too low to harm users, some individuals who consume a “bad batch” of cocaine may suffer severe consequences.
For individuals that inject the drug, cocaine has been shown to speed up HIV infection and those who already have HIV and continue to use cocaine are at increased risk for also contracting Hepatitis C, a virus that affects the liver, even if they do not inject the drug. Long-term cocaine use can cause nosebleeds, severe bowel decay, malnourishment, restlessness, and more. An overdose of cocaine can lead to death.
If you are addicted to cocaine and are ready to seek treatment, call us today at 888-958-7511. Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and addiction recovery treatment center. Our licensed, experienced professionals truly care about your success and will serve as your support team that you can rely on. Make the decision to overcome your addiction and call us for a consultation.
