Cocaine addiction is an illness that affects many people around the world. Cocaine is a stimulant that leaves users feeling energized and confident. This makes it popular with people who feel that they need an edge to cope with life. There is not a way to definitively spot somebody who has a cocaine addiction that might need treatment in a drug rehab in South Africa but this article will help you identify some of the signs.
How to spot a cocaine addict
1) Nosebleeds: Cocaine is usually snorted up the nose. It is an acidic substance that eventually destroys the membranes of the nose. Somebody who has been using a lot of cocaine will have frequent nose bleeds and may often sniff.
2) Fatigue: Although a person is energized while using cocaine when the effect wears off users are left feeling very fatigued. They often feel depressed and struggle to engage in their daily tasks. After a cocaine binge a user may try to catch up on sleep and otherwise recuperate from the effects of the drug. This means he/she might sleep excessively
3) Financial problems: Cocaine can be an expensive drug and using large amounts of it will consume a lot of money. People who are abusing cocaine may need to dip into savings or take out loans to cover the expense of the drug. Cocaine addicts may sell off their posessions in order to buy more cocaine.
4) Social and vocational problems: As Cocaine abuse develops into addiction the drug starts to take an ever increasingly large role in the life of the user. The addict may start to neglect work responsibilities while recuperating from cocaine binges. Addicts will avoid social situations that preclude the use of cocaine and so may drift away from their friends. Cocaine addicts show changes in behaviour that may make them less effective at work and less desirable as friends.
5) New friends: A cocaine addict will seek out new acquaintances who are accepting of his/her cocaine use. This means that a cocaine addict will frequently eschew old friends and start mixing with other drug users.
6) Paranoia: Cocaine causes chemical changes in the brain. The excitation that it causes comes at a price and can leave psychological effects that persist after the effect of the cocaine has worn off. Cocaine addicts may suffer from paranoia or be subject to sudden panic attacks. These feelings might be made worse by being around people so a cocaine addict might try to avoid being in social situations entirely.
7) Pressure of speech:Cocaine addicts have a tendency to talk very quickly as if there is some urgency in what is being said. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that leaves people with a great deal of energy. They often have grandiose or unrealistic thoughts as a result of not thinking things through properly.
If you suspect that a friend has a cocaine addiction then it is adviseable to seek professional help in assisting him/her to treatment. Addiction is a progressive illness which means that delaying addiction treatment means that the addiction will get worse and worse. Effective treatment in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in South Africa can help somebody find cocaine addiction recovery and be restored to living with dignity.