Cocaine has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain, including paranoia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and more.
With cocaine being thesecond-most illegally traffickeddrug across the globe, it’s important to understand how cocaine affects those who use it, including the possible dangers and effects cocaine has on the brain in both the long and short term.
How does cocaine affect the brain—does cocaine kill brain cells? Can it lead to the development of neurological disease later on in life? Thanks to multiple studies and ongoing medical research, these questions have some answers.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaineis a potent and addictive stimulant drug derived from the coca leaf. It can be snorted, injected or smoked to achieve a euphoric high — a result of the drug’s hyper-stimulating effect on the brain’s dopamine levels. When used repeatedly,cocaine side effectscan cause severe healthproblemsin addition to the development of physical and mental dependence.
Cocaine is commonly taken recreationally,either bysnorting, smoking, or injecting it into the bloodstream. When cocaine is purchased from an unknown source, it is always possible that the drug isn’t pure cocaine—a situation that presents its own risks.
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The Dangers of Mixing Cocaine with Other Drugs
There are many risks associated with cocaine use in general, butcombiningcocaine with other substances is especially dangerous. The risk of overdose is heightened when you take multiple substances together, and there’s also a risk of dangerous or fatal drug interactions.
Cocaine can be cut with a variety of substances, from non-drug substances like laundry detergent to drugs likefentanylandlevamisole. By cutting drugs with other substances, drug dealers can make more money by selling smaller amounts of the intended drug and larger amounts of “filler”.
For the person purchasing the drugs, the stimulatory effects of cocaine may be prolonged by alonger half-lifeof another substance taken at the same time.
How Does Cocaine Affect the Brain?
In order to determine how cocaine affects the brain overall, it’s important to consider both the long-term and short-term effects of this drug.
When someone uses cocaine, the brain begins releasingextra dopamine, a feel-good brain chemical responsible for the feelings of a high or euphoria. Cocaine prevents the breakdown of dopamine, leading to a buildup of large amounts of it in the brain. The sudden flood of dopamine changes how the brain and body function.
The effects of cocaine become apparent quickly once someone takes it, but these effects are short-lived. They typically end within a fewminutes to an hour after the drug is taken.
In the short term, people often use cocaine for the high it produces,causingfeelings of euphoria, boosts in energy and mental alertness, and sensitivity to light and sound. Irritability, paranoia orviolent behaviormay also occur in the short term.
Physical Health Risks of Short-term Cocaine Use
There are other short-termhealth risksof using cocaine:
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- High body temperature
- Rapid heart rate
- Seizures
- Heart attack
- Stroke
Though it is rare, sudden deathcan occureither when cocaine is used or shortly afterward.
Long Term Effects of Cocaine on the Brain
Cocaine also has lasting adverse effects on the brain over the long term. Extended cocaine usecan contribute to:
- Severe paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Seizures and seizure disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
In general,research suggeststhat many cognitive functions can be adversely affected by cocaine use in the long term. These functions include motor skills, decision-making skills and memory.
Does Cocaine Kill Brain Cells?
As a person ages, their brain experiences a gradual reduction in gray matter. Over time, the loss of gray matter in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord can lead to natural complications related to aging, such as changes in memory and cognition.
However, people with a cocaine use disorder can lose a significantly greater amount ofgray matter,and at a more rapid pace, than someone with no history of a substance use disorder.
Cocaine can also causeautophagy, where brain cells die in response to the neurological stress and neurotoxicity that occur from cocaine use.
It is possible that cocaine can kill brain cells both in the short- and long-term stages of cocaine use. However, there are many other toxic effects associated with a brain on cocaine. Every time someone repeatedly exposes their brain to cocaine, there is a possibility of dangerous or even fatal side effects.
Don’t Wait — Help Is Here
If you or a loved one are concerned about a cocaine use disorder, it’s time to seek professional help. The Recovery Village provides care to those struggling with cocaine use through evidence-based addiction treatment and therapy.Reach outto one of our knowledgeable representatives today to learn how you can start on your path to recovery.
