When someone uses cocaine for an extended period, cocaine-induced psychosis can occur, often involving potentially dangerous hallucinations and delusions.
Cocaine is a commonly used drug that produces feelings of euphoria, increased energy and a false sense of well-being. Cocaine psychosis is one of the dangerousside effects of using cocaine.
What is Cocaine-Induced Psychosis?
While some people may find that using cocaine allows them to feel happier and sociable, other people feel the effects of paranoia or symptoms similar toschizophrenia. When someone uses cocaine for an extended period, a condition referred to as cocaine-induced psychosis can occur.
Psychosisis a symptom of several mental health conditions, but the symptoms of cocaine-induced psychosis only occur during intoxication or withdrawal. It can produce elaborate hallucinations and delusions.
How Long Does Cocaine Psychosis Last?
Cocaine-induced psychosislastsanywhere from a few hours to as long as days or weeks.More than halfof the people who have used cocaine reported experiencing cocaine psychosis symptoms after using cocaine. The more someone uses cocaine, the more severe the symptoms of cocaine psychosis can become over time.Research suggeststhat cocaine-induced psychosis is a result of a dopamine imbalance.
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Symptoms of Cocaine-Induced Psychosis
The symptoms of cocaine-induced paranoia can resemble the symptoms of amental health disorderlikebipolar disorderandschizophrenia. Some common symptoms of cocaine-induced psychosisinclude:
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Disorganized thoughts
- Delusions
- Violence
- Anger
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
- Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
Risk Factors of Cocaine Psychosis
Because cocaine affects dopamine, there are several risk factors for someone developing cocaine-induced psychosis. Researchers found that studying these factors could provide answers for why psychotic symptoms emerge following substance use.
The risk factors of cocaine psychosis mayinclude:
- Amount of cocaine used
- Diagnosis of an antisocial personality disorder
- History of marijuana use
Related Topic:Cocaine Addiction Self-Assessment Quiz
Treatment Options for Cocaine Psychosis or Paranoia
The first step for treating cocaine-induced psychosis is detox in a hospital or arehab facilitythat offersmedical detox. It’s important the personstops their cocaine useso that the psychosis can be treated as well. Once detoxification is complete, the person can eitherinpatientoroutpatienttreatment depending on the severity of their addiction. In both programs, the person will likely engage in therapy and could be prescribed medication for their psychosis.
Thetype of therapythat the person receives is determined by their:
- Mental health disorder
- Overall health
- Recovery goals
- Potential threats to sobriety
In addition to treating the person’s cocaine addiction, treatment providers can address their psychosis as well. Clinicians may feel that the person needs to take medication to help manage their psychosis symptoms.
Some of the medications prescribed forpsychosis treatmentinclude:
- Antipsychotic
- Antidepressant
- Anti-anxiety
Treatment providers may not consider using some anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines because of the high risk of addiction.
If you or someone you know struggles with cocaine use and psychosis, help is available. At The Recovery Village, a team of professionals can design an individualized treatment program to suit your specific conditions. Call andspeak with a representativeto learn more about which program could work for you.
