Why People Turn to Cocaine and How to Seek Effective Treatment

According to a Statista report, some 42 million Americans admit to having used cocaine at some point in their lives, with around 2 million people saying they’ve used it in the past month. While there are many reasons why individuals may turn to cocaine, addiction doesn’t analyze the cause. Of the people who try cocaine, around one in five will eventually become addicted to the drug.

This article takes a look at cocaine addiction, including residential treatment solutions available that can put you or your loved one on the path toward recovery.

The Nature of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a powerful, highly addictive drug. Since it is often easily accessible, especially in social environments, there’s a tendency to downplay the drug’s addictive properties. Over time, the addictive nature of cocaine means that what started as casual cocaine use with friends can turn into addiction.

Because addiction can happen gradually, it’s often difficult to recognize when a person may have a problem that requires residential treatment. Some common symptoms of cocaine addiction include:

Continuing to use cocaine even with awareness of negative consequences
Taking increasing amounts
Heightened withdrawal symptoms
Prioritizing cocaine use over other responsibilities
Engaging in risky or immoral behaviors

Why Do People Turn to Cocaine?

As presented above, some 42 million U.S. adults — approximately 15% of the adult population—admit to having taken cocaine during their lifetime. While anyone who takes the drug is susceptible to addiction, the reasons why people choose to take cocaine in the first place can vary from person to person. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons.

Social reasons

The presence of cocaine is, unfortunately, a reality in many social environments, making access possible even for people who would otherwise not actively seek the drug on their own. Even in social contexts, people don’t always take cocaine because they necessarily want to, but because they feel peer pressure to be involved.

Cocaine addiction doesn’t distinguish between people who actively sought out the drug and those who took it because a friend encouraged them to do so. Simply by taking cocaine, they’re running the risk of developing an addiction.

Increased energy

Some people choose to take cocaine because of the perceived positive benefits, such as an increase in energy levels and alertness, as a way to avoid tiredness, and as a means to allow for working or socializing longer. Over time, the individual becomes dependent on the drug.

Reduced pain

The numbing effects of cocaine can provide temporary relief from physical pain. Believing it to be an effective painkiller, some people elect to take cocaine to self-medicate. However, the pain that cocaine helps mask typically comes back even more acutely once the effects of the drug have worn off.

Escape

Some people use the “high” of cocaine as a reprieve from their emotional distress, life circumstances, or other difficulties. However, the side effects of cocaine often mean that those troubles are more pronounced and difficult to manage once the effects have worn off.

Effects of Cocaine Addiction

The effects of cocaine addiction are compounding, and often get worse the longer the addiction is left untreated. Over time, an individual with an addiction to cocaine may experience physical, emotional, and legal consequences that impact many aspects of their lives.

Mental

Over time, cocaine addiction can result in impaired cognitive abilities, including memory loss, poor impulse control, and reduced judgment capabilities. There’s also evidence that prolonged cocaine use can accelerate the loss of the brain’s grey matter, leading to an increased risk of developing conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Emotional

The emotional impact of prolonged cocaine use is usually the first addiction symptom to be recognized, though it’s usually identified by someone other than the addicted person, such as a friend or family member. The withdrawal periods from cocaine, which become more pronounced as the addiction develops, often result in depression, irritability, and shame, all of which make emotional regulation more challenging.

Behavioral

Cocaine addiction can lead to poor impulse control, resulting in the user engaging in risky behaviors that have negative consequences. Over time, these risky behaviors can lead to relationship breakdown, job loss, and physical injury.

Legal

Carrying any amount of cocaine is considered a felony. At the lowest level, being caught with cocaine can result in fines and probation, but it’s not uncommon for individuals caught with cocaine to spend time in prison.

Social

Prolonged cocaine use can lead to relationship breakdown and social withdrawal. Though cocaine addiction may seem individual, it can have a significant—and negative—impact on the user’s friends and family.

Physical

Long-term cocaine use can cause a wide range of physical health conditions, including:

Seizures
Heart attacks
Stroke
Gastrointestinal problems

Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

The resident treatment program for cocaine addiction at Jackson House Recovery Centers utilizes a wide range of research-based techniques to support addiction recovery.

These include:

Supervised detox to support withdrawal
Coping skills for resisting temptation
Individual and group therapy for addressing underlying causes of cocaine use
Medication management (if needed)
Ongoing support to facilitate long-term recovery

Our treatment programs and facilities have been specially designed to give you the best possible chance of making a full recovery.

Seek Cocaine Addiction Treatment in San Diego Today

Cocaine addiction can be difficult to break without professional help. At Jackson House Recovery Centers, we provide safe, effective residential treatment programs that have proven to help people overcome addiction.

If you believe that you or a loved one is dealing with cocaine addiction, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to get information about admission. Remember: recovery is possible.

28 Mar 2025

Sobriety