Find out what Cocaine Does to the Body.

One of the misapprehensions about cocaine addiction is that quitting is just a matter of willpower. The latest scientific research proves that is not the case. Research performed at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and other respected institutions has proven what addiction specialists have known for years that cocaine addiction causes significant changes to the addict's brain and body. These changes act in a variety of ways to motivate and intensify drug use. As individuals increase and continue their use of cocaine, these changes become more pronounced, reinforcing the drive to use cocaine. The science behind cocaine addiction is clear: what cocaine does to the body and mind of addicted individuals makes it extremely difficult for them to quit using the drug without help.

What does cocaine do to your body when you take it (short-term effects)?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that affects your body in a variety of ways. When you take cocaine, it constricts the blood vessels in your body and increases your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Cocaine boosts your energy and alertness and decreases your appetite. This hyperstimulation puts stress on your heart and circulatory system that can lead to:

* Heart Attack

* Stroke

* Convulsions

* Death

What happens to your brain on cocaine?

When you eat, engage in sexual activity, or perform other pleasant activities, your body releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical that affects the reward or pleasure center in your brain. This creates positive, "happy" feelings that elevate your mood. Your brain then transports and recycles the dopamine to be used again. What happens to your brain on cocaine is that the transporter that recycles dopamine becomes blocked. This causes the dopamine to pool and overload the pleasure center of your brain, creating intense feelings of energy and euphoria so you feel "high". What does cocaine do to your body and brain over time (effects of cocaine addiction)?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that tolerance develops with chronic, repeated cocaine use so users need to increase the frequency and size of doses to get the same pleasure and euphoria. Your body develops sensitization, so that increasingly smaller doses cause toxic effects such as anxiety and convulsions. As cocaine addiction progresses, adverse effects in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous system develop. The twin effects of tolerance and sensitization contribute to the chances of a fatal overdose, which keeps increasing as your cocaine addiction persists. At the same time, your brain adjusts to cocaine and becomes less sensitive to natural dopamine levels, so you feel irritable and experience symptoms of withdrawal except when you are using cocaine. Studies show that cocaine diminishes functioning in the orbitofrontal cortex, leading to poor decision making and an inability to appreciate the dangers of cocaine addiction. What is the best way to deal with cocaine addiction?

When you look at the science behind cocaine addiction, it is clear that what cocaine does to the body and brain of users makes recovery difficult. Based on advice from SAMHSA, NIDA, and other reputable sources, treatment in an accredited addiction rehab center offers the best chance for overcoming the effects of cocaine addiction.