Cocaine is one of the most abused drugs in the U.S. and has stimulating effects that produce desirable feelings of euphoria, increased energy, talkativeness, and mental alertness. For this reason, many people who struggle with mental disorders will use cocaine to get relief from the symptoms of their mental distress. Cocaine addiction dual diagnosis is a common analysis among cocaine users, as is depression and cocaine. Cocaine abuse is often paired with these and other mental disorders, and both problems should be treated together to assist the patient in making an effective and successful recovery.

Cocaine abuse is a drug-use disorder that is often accompanied by addictive behavior and chemical dependency to alcohol or other drugs. Cocaine has a powerful physical and psychological effect on the brain, and psychological addiction to the drug is quite common. Cocaine addiction dual diagnosis exists when the drug user also has a mental disorder, and both issues adversely impact each other. Cocaine addiction dual diagnosis is common with these mental disorders:

* Anxiety Disorder

* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

* Chronic Depression

* Attention Deficit Disorder

* Bipolar Disorder

* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Cocaine addiction dual diagnosis often affects specific areas of the brain simultaneously, and creates overlapping symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish apart from one another. Dual diagnosis treatment must address both the cocaine abuse and the mental disorder. Drug addiction itself is defined as a mental disorder that fundamentally changes the brain, and creates compulsive behaviors to acquire and use the drug.

Cocaine addiction creates psychological mood changes and contributes to the stress of coping with a mental disorder, and both problems exacerbate each other. Dual diagnosis treatment should include individual and group counseling, pharmaceutical treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, relapse prevention strategies, and other addiction recovery interventions. By addressing both problems together, dual diagnosis treatment is effective in achieving addiction recovery and also helps the patient manage his mental disorder.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder and cocaine addiction is a situation where the addiction exacerbates the mental disorder. Bipolar disorder causes shifts in mood that often go along a spectrum from mania to depression. People who struggle with this disorder have a difficult time trying to stay on an even mental and emotional level, and sometimes feel depressed and euphoric at the same time. These shifts in mood can occur at anytime without warning or reason, and can make the person feel completely out of control of his life.

About 30% of people with bipolar disorder abuse cocaine, and the results can be life-threatening. Cocaine addiction can cause shifting moods of paranoia, hallucinations, and depression which, when combined with bipolar disorder, can cause suicidal thoughts and acts. The shifting moods of cocaine can make a person with bipolar disorder and cocaine addiction feel more mentally and emotionally unstable.

Depression

Depression and cocaine addiction is another deadly mix, with depression being the tenth leading cause of death by suicide. Again, the shifting moods of cocaine use can create increased instability in someone who suffers from depression. Dual diagnosis treatment for depression and cocaine addiction that includes psychological counseling and psychotropic medications is very effective. Depression can be managed by being aware of sudden mood changes such as: manic episodes, suicidal thoughts and behavior, aggression, insomnia and impulsivity. Various therapies used to treat depression are: interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.

Cocaine addiction dual diagnosis treatment should be integrated to treat both health issues simultaneously. Patients can receive evidence-based dual diagnosis treatment at a drug treatment center, where they will be able to overcome their addiction and effectively manage their mental disorder with the assistance of medications, therapy and psychological skill sets.