“Cocaine is a hell of a drug…”
– Rick James
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that’s made from the leaves of the coca plant, which is native to South America. It’s known to produce short-term euphoria, intense energy, and increased talkativeness.
Often referred to as “Coke” or “Snow,” it’s usually found in the form of a white, crystalline powder. Most users snort the drug, or dissolve it in water and inject it.
The “Party” That Never Ends
Cocaine is loosely defined as a “party drug” and a feel-good drug. It’s also considered “high-class” in comparison to other drugs, because it’s fairly expensive and relatively “clean.” However, cocaine is quite often diluted or “cut” with numerous substances—sugars, flour, cornstarch, laxatives, local anesthetics, amphetamines—in order to stretch profits.
Some might say that stigmas associated with cocaine abuse are less demeaning, because the terms “junkie” and “addict” are more often applied to users of other hard drugs, like heroin or methamphetamine. Though cocaine abuse can affect anyone, it’s traditionally been considered a rich-man’s drug and an expensive habit.
Some cocaine users turn to crack cocaine because it’s much cheaper. Crack is usually found as small chunks of white “rocks,” and it’s typically smoked.
( If anyone knows of studies examining the financial demographics of cocaine users, please leave a comment or email tim@sobernation.com. We’ve looked all over the internet to no avail.)
In 2014 in the U.S., about 1.5 million people aged 12 or older were current users of cocaine—with about 354,000 of those people using crack. In the same year, about 913,000 people aged 12 or older in the U.S. had a cocaine use disorder. That’s nearly 2/3 of all cocaine users who develop a dangerous habit using this highly-addictive drug.
The Lure of Cocaine
Throughout history, cocaine has been used and abused for the intense high it produces:
- Some ancient cultures chewed on coca leaves in religious ceremonies, or to improve work performance.
- Sigmund Freud was a regular cocaine user, promoting it as a “magical substance” to cure depression.
- In the late 1850s, cocaine was popular in elixirs, tonics, and the new soft drink Coca-Cola for several years.
- Through the 1970s to 1980s, cocaine frequented Hollywood party scenes, glamorized as a drug that provided energy and helped people stay “up.”
Despite these early misconceptions about the drug, cocaine use can have severe long-term effects on the mind and the body.
By the 1900s, the dangers of the drug were clearly evident as cocaine-related deaths and hospitalizations increased. In 1922, the United States officially banned the drug, but it has remained one of the most popular and dangerous drugs of abuse. In 2008, it was the 2nd most trafficked illegal drug in the world.
The Dangers of Cocaine Addiction
What separates cocaine addiction from other drugs is the extreme shortness of the high:
The average high a user gets from snorting cocaine only lasts for 15-30 minutes. These highs are less intense, as it takes longer for the drug to be absorbed into the bloodstream when snorted. A smoking high, although more intense due to the rapidity in which the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream, lasts for an even shorter period of only about five to ten minutes. After the euphoric high comes the crashing low, in which the addict craves more of the drug and in larger doses.”
This is what makes coke incredibly dangerous. People often go on four-day coke binges because—generally speaking—it’s too difficult to stop unless you pass out, run out of money, get arrested, or end up in the hospital.
When a recreational cocaine user crosses the threshold into addict, they can spiral into a miserable cycle. It’s not uncommon for a cocaine addict to receive a paycheck on Friday, but be broke by Monday. They start the next week depressed and anxious—dealing with the consequences of their actions, as well as crashing dopamine levels. They may get through the week, swearing off cocaine for good. Yet, once Friday comes, that first line of cocaine starts the cycle all over again.
Once you’re caught in that downward spiral, it’s very difficult to stop yourself before you hit a bottom.
Your Brain and Body on Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that floods the brain with dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Usually, your brain produces and recycles these chemicals naturally, but cocaine stops that process from happening. As these neurotransmitters build-up, users experience intense, short-lived euphoric feelings which keep them coming back for more. Tolerance to cocaine develops rapidly, so a regular user needs increasingly higher doses to feel the same high.
Particularly dangerous is the dopamine crash a user experiences after a cocaine binge. Because dopamine is interpreted as a reward by the brain, giving a user intense pleasure, it gets more and more difficult for a cocaine abuser to feel pleasure from other things. The drug becomes their focus and overrides basic desires for food, sleep, and meaningful relationships.
Psychological Effects of Cocaine:
(varies with dose and the tolerance of the user)
- increased alertness, wakefulness
- decreased fatigue
- increased energy
- clearer thinking
- increased concentration
- elevated mood
- mild to high degree of euphoria
- increased athletic performance
- increased irritability
- restlessness, anxiety
- insomnia
With high doses, an individual may enter a cocaine psychosis—often characterized by confusion, irritability, fear, paranoia, hallucinations, anti-social behavior, and aggression.
Physical Effects of Cocaine:
- elevated heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- increased body temperature
- sweating
- increased speed of breathing
- dilated the pupils
- decreased sleep
- lack of appetite
Contrary to what many people believe, it is possible to overdose on cocaine. Cocaine abuse can decrease the body’s seizure threshold and produce seizures or strokes in susceptible individuals. It can also cause heart muscle damage, leading to cardiac arrhythmias, rupture of the aorta, and heart attack—all of which can be fatal.
Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal
When you try to quit cocaine, you can experience withdrawal symptoms—the severity of which will depend on your history of cocaine use. One of the strongest symptoms is the craving for more cocaine.
The withdrawal symptoms of cocaine don’t cause the same physical sickness as other drugs like heroin or alcohol, which create a dependence in the body. It can be described as more of a crash than a withdrawal. Nonetheless, withdrawal from cocaine can be extremely uncomfortable, mentally and psychologically.
As the body and brain is craving more cocaine, withdrawal symptoms can include:
- anxiety
- depression
- confusion
- paranoia
- hallucinations
- fatigue
- restlessness
- irritability
- appetite problems
- delusions
How to Quit Cocaine
The best way to quit cocaine safely is with help from professionals. We recommend attending an addiction treatment center with the supervision of medical professionals.
It’s best to start with detoxification, because your mood and vital signs should regulate before you begin to work on treatment. In detox, doctors and nurses can monitor your health. They may prescribe medication to ease your withdrawal symptoms, but there are no drugs that are FDA-approved to help people quit cocaine or ease cravings.
Complete detox from cocaine can take several days, and the recommended course of action after detox is a stay in a rehab center. Inpatient rehab will provide you with a safe, controlled atmosphere that’s separated from any potential relapse triggers or temptations to seek out drugs.
In treatment, you’ll learn skills and coping mechanisms to help you manage cravings and move forward in life without cocaine. Therapy will be a huge factor in learning to modify your behavior and your impulse control.
Successful cocaine addiction treatment helps you transition from addiction into recovery. You’ll begin to embrace new ideas and make meaningful changes in your everyday behavior.
Life After Treatment
After-care is just as important as treatment. Many recovered addicts give credit to a 12-step program for their continuous and long term recovery. Cocaine Anonymous is a 12-step group that will help you dig into the reasons behind your cocaine use, form a support group around you, and build a life without cocaine.
There are many other non-12-step addiction support groups that you can look into as well. In general, attending at some form of recovery meetings is highly recommended to provide you with social support.
Also, continuous therapy or one-on-one counseling is helpful in maintaining recovery. Getting sober is difficult, but it’s staying sober that’s the challenge. Recovery is a process, and constant maintenance is essential. All it takes is one small slip or relapse and the entire cycle can start all over again.
Can’t I Quit On My Own?
It is possible to quit cocaine without the help of a detox or rehab, but it isn’t recommended. More often than not, the do-it-yourself approach eventually leads to relapse. For your physical and psychological health, you should always consult a doctor before you try to quit cocaine.
I struggled with quitting cocaine binges for 10 years. (20 years of total use, 10 years spent in relapses).
My struggle came from having even one drink of alcohol… I would have an itch for cocaine…
I did not want that itch, I hated it… It never went away…
I ended up being diagnosed with add. I was so bad that I could not even clean my house. It was too much for me to grasp… I was overwhelmed.
After taking 20mg of adderall each day for a month, a magical thing happened…. I had a drink … And realized the craving that had been haunting me for 10 years was no longer there…
After 6 months on adderall, I decided to try to wean myself off of it. I felt comfortable with things that would have overwhelmed me in the past… I also had no craving for cocaine..even after having a drink or two. (The first 6mos. Of straight abstonsnce from cocaine in 20 years…
I am now off adderal and cocaine. 1 year strong. Cleaning, working, living and enjoying life without that Demon craving that haunted me….
I honestly think it was the adderall that flooded my system to the point of a dependency “restart”. The craving that could have killed me is gone, and I love my drug free life.
hi… this may sound shocking but im a 15 year old with a coke problem.. but im scared about getting help…. any ideas
this comment was posted on my bday but i think u should email me
I kind of have same the problem I’m 19 and consume a 0.5 of flake Atleast three times a week mainly weekend and I want to stop but the temptation is always there b
You should get help don’t scare and don’t be shame before it is to late . You are young and strong you can do it . Change you invorment .good luck
I want to join and be carrying cocaine please I need to join.
I hope U kicked it by now. I really do. Your future is going to be full of underachieving and nothing to be proud of otherwise
Really do hope. At your age im so sad. But I promise you this. Your parents will find out one day when U have no choice and they have dealers at their door to pay off. If that hasn’t happpened already. I’ve lived it and seen it over again . people think they’re family will hate them for taking it. As a dad, what we would hate is you ruining your life and not trusting the parents built in objective. To protect our own from harm. We may be angry U were stupid enough to do A-class drugs but that’s just love and fear being expressed. They’re your best weapon to fight the addiction. You’ll break their hearts in time if not.
When all the friends are gone. They will still be there.
Pressuring the guilt of what a child’s parents may or may not think of them is not helpful in guiding anyone with a potential addiction to any substance.
Often peer pressure or plain curiosity initiates an individual to use for the first time.. but when recreational use manifests into addiction it could be stemming from a plethora of reasons.
Was the child ever molested? Exposed to verbal or physical abuse from famiky or friends..bullied at school? Parents not setting a good example themselves or at the very least open and honest with themselves about their parenting methods. In some cases a family member may have had a damaging effect on the child and when the addiction is brought to the table, addressing the psycological reasons that child/individual are unimaginably conflicting…
As a mother who spent years with an abusive/alcoholic husband and one daughter turning to alchol and substances to “self medicate”.it took years for her to complete her recovery as addressing her fathers abusive and my low self exteem as templates for her psychological foundations as a child…recovery, treatment and healing take so much support, raw honesty and pateince.
Anger and guilt and project in your own shame onto any addixt a child of yours or not absolutely worsens the addicts mind set. Many of us adopt addictive behaviours in life, addicted to music, exersice, hobbys, you get thr idea. Understanding the human brain is just the beginning. There are so many options for treatment depending on your geographical location.
Namaste
Seek help please
Man took the word out my mouth
After being together for a year,my fiancé one night after coming home from a night of clubbing has living room set up with porn and coke. I am very sexual woman and do not object to trying different things but wasn’t comfortable with using drugs. So he did the coke and wanted all nite sex marathon hard for me to hang cause wasn’t doing coke. He wants to do this once a month says not addicted well I give in to this eventually I try coke to keep up with him I feel like I sold my soul to the devil.. I tell him how I feel and his usage has increased to every other weekend. I enjoy the sex but told him can’t do this anymore. He say he will quit and I love this man. I feel like this has the power to destroy us if he can’t
I can definitely understand how you feel regarding your fiance’s coke addiction. He was probably surprised when you eventually tried just out of curiosity. Trust when I tell you that he probably feels guilty at the fact that you caved in. But you both need to sit down someplace quiet and just talk and let him know how you really feel about increase usage. Don’t ever be afraid to speak your mind with him. Once you tell him how you feel and he responds in a somewhat positive way than I suggest that you give him a chance to seek treatment for this disease and be firm with him. I’m sure he has other great qualities so focus on that and maintain busy together. Thank you.
I’m a little over three years clean from crack cocaine. It’s very sad to hear that you’re engaged to a coke addict. What you say may or may not be true. There are coke addicts and then there are coke users. For your sake, I hope he’s only a coke user, but from your description, it sounds like there’s a bit of a downward spiral present. I’m not sure where you’re located. I cleaned up in Canada. There are subsidized rehabs. I think the States is different. Which is very unfortunate because by the time people are ready to clean up, they generally have no money. Also, I hope he’s young, because statistically, 96% of people who go to rehab relapse in the first year, and the number is a little lower for those under 25. That’s not very helpful, sorry. A really good thing that helped me was having a lot of support from people who loved me. It sounds like you really care about him, and that will definitely help in some way. Here’s hoping a) you live in Canada and b) you guys live happily ever after.
Also, you’re not fucking clean if you drink, idiot. Alcohol is a drug too.
That’s directed to ” Glad to be clean”
I always said its a mind thing….I hv lost my mind..I hv several cousins on crack.. I use cocaine .l use to use recreational…I always said …I knw what im doing..I can handle this…20 years later…I want to stop soo bad..n I can’t…I lost my sister..last yeat…divorce this year…diagnosed w lupus….no job..I AM MENTALLY A WRECK! I hv no drive for anything…I hv three children…five…thirteen..twenty-one…im soo tired of lmyself..n all this.!.sometimes I wish I wasn’t even here..I dont want to display this to my parents nor anyone else…I NEEd HeLP
I understand how your feelings regarding having your family know that you actually have a disease. You probably think that life is way too hard especially when dealing with this problems. You are at a point right now where you craving drug that can make you forget the fact that you really want to sniff instead.
If you love your wife and respect her because she gave you three beautiful children whom are ever observant of whats going on with you. They know that something is wrong with you because of your behavior around them. They probably looking for a good opportunity to sit down with you and have a therapeutic conversation. You will be surprised how much they know about your problems.
Please seek their help before your usage of cocaine drives them away. Please go to a drug outpatient facility near you because they will help you in a big way.
I met my boyfriend a year and a half ago, got pregnant two months after we met, on purpose, cuz i was about to get a DIU and he said we should have a baby, be a family… and so we did.. but now it turns out he’s a coke head.. and we have an 8 month old baby.. he confessed a week ago.
Plus lately, after the high is over, he starts talking about moving out with the dog and leaving me with the baby,, because he can’t stand me or my family or the neighborhood.. saying he’s not inlove with me, that he wants to be with many women.. and that he regrets having a baby… and all this stupid shit that i feel comes from hitting bottom when the coke effects fades off..
He doesn’t even work, i have to ask my parents to help us out… so embarrassing..
i can’t take it anymore.. to top it off i have an 8 year old from my last matrimony,, and i don’t want him to be exposed to all of his coke drama.. i had no idea he was into that when we met.. and now i want to help him cuz i love him, but at the same time i’m not the kind of person that is OK with coke use.. and i feel unloved by him.
should i move out with the baby and my 8 year old, and see if he gets better at a distance or should i keep living with him and trying to help him quit.. just don’t know how to,, he says he’s not hooked and will definitely not go to rehab.. but i think that 3 times per month is way too often…
please help!!
To confused: i too felt ur pain and hopelessness. I was terrified to tell anyone for fear or judgement And rejection. But there are thousanda of people who feel and have felt and are going through what you are. I got sober by going to cocaine anonymous. I told my parents (who are strict muslim) that i had a problem amd they were underatanding when i thought that they would disown me. Look up some local cocaine anonymous meetings and try it. It worked for me and thousands of others. Ive been sober for 2 years now and owe my life to the 12 steps and the program. It really works wonders.
I have no problem not doing it till I’m around my Frinds then they do it so of corse I want to feel good so I do it and we all work live normal law abiding lifestyle yet I know coke is no good for me my family or my pocket but I’m drawn to do it I used to think I was superp I. The willpower department now on second guessing myself Jesse any advice don’t want to loose my buddies I. The process
just couldn
Ben Sharf! U sound like my kind of person… 🙂
Hi I m deaf female I have bad addicd cocaine straight 20 less years I really need big help. I have depression and axanily made worse down.. I don’t know what to do now. Help me!
Mya – you have to call us! 866-317-7050. We will help you.
Just Sick and tired of being sick and tired. I’m addicted to cocaine (Crack) and I cant seem to shake this Monkey off my back! I WANT TO STOP! But The Cravings Keep Coming. Im Losing everything and everyone Around Me That I Love and Loves Me Please help? Is there a Medication That I Can Get Prescribed that Will Help?
# Desperrately Need Some Help ASAP!?!
Call us!!! 866-317-7050
Just Sick and tired of being sick and tired. I’m addicted to cocaine (Crack) and I cant seem to shake this Monkey off my back! I WANT TO STOP! But The Cravings Keep Coming. Im Losing everything and everyone Around Me That I Love and Loves Me Please help? Is there a Medication That I Can Get Prescribed that Will Help?
# Desperrately Need Some Help ASAP!?!
Tim Stoddart: what do you offer for help? I live in a South American country and need help. I need to control this before it ruins me. And after I get a little better I need to quit it for good. I don’t want anyone close to me finding out that I’m an addict but I need to talk to someone who has cleaned himself/herself. I need to know what to expect if I continue using so that I convince myself completely that I absolutely need to quit for good NOW. My family is going through a member (my little brother) with cancer and I have to be well fast. I can’t be another problem for my family now that the have their hands full. But I still tell myself that I can control it and that I don’t have to completely quit. Which I know is bullsh!t but the addict in me is strong.
You need to call us. We will do whatever we can to help. 866-317-7050
Whats your hrs of operation?
I dint think i was addicted to cocaine but now im thinking i am i regually use cocaine only half a gram every few days tho its 40 a time iv spent thousands on the shit im trying to stop it last night i used cocaine and it going to be my last time otherwise i will get addicted will i find it hard ???
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What’s up mates, how is the whole thing, and what you desire to say concerning this post, in my view its in
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I am losing the battle I just took medical leave went to rehab. Almost had 90 days adn I used. I am going to lose every thing in my lose. I have been fighting this for 30 years. I am going to die soon
I’m too embarrased to get help but 10 years of cocaine use has spiraled into a horrible addiction, it sucks. I am a different person I dont feel normal.
I’m just sooo tired of this addiction. I have truly lost everything and have no money. Can someone please help me. With information of a rehab I can go to that is out of the St . Louis are and I can b there fir at lease 30days and takes people with no insurance and no money!!!! I want help really bad, someone out there help me please!!!!
Yesss my husband can stay away from smokin coke for 6 months but then he relapses….its a pattern…we r in church..n I am a good family oriented woman that keeps him in track the best I can….We have a 9 month bby boy n everything else is great!!! But it seems he always fails nomatter how hard we both try…He tried it graduation day in 2002 n has been on n off since…and I can not take this anymore….He will just disappear n stay away for like 6 hours n then show up at my door at 2 or 3 am….same pattern for years….except now its like every 6 months….he already lost alot…n I know he dont want this in his life…but when the cravings come he struggles!!! I LOVE HIM…n other then this problem he is great…what do I do???
Hi, I’ve been on a four month coke soft binge now and I’m trying to quit. But its so damn hard. I was a opits\merphine aka pill addict for 10 years then I got clean for about a year then relapsed and started doing coke. I can’t live this life anymore. Plz give me some advise cause I just can’t shake this habit….!!!!!!
Hi, I’ve been on a four month coke soft binge now and I’m trying to quit. But its so damn hard. I was a opitsmerphine aka pill addict for 10 years then I got clean for about a year then relapsed and started doing coke. I can’t live this life anymore. Plz give me some advise cause I just can’t shake this habit….!!!!!!
I just found out that my husband snorts powder. . . . . .he admits to having a problem but then turns around and says that he doesn’t have a problem because he can stop at any time. Is it even a chance of hope for my husband because he was able to admit that he had a problem even though he turned around in the same sentence and said that he can stop at any time. . . . . .or am I just wasting my time. Don’t know what to do, don’t know how to feel. . . . . . .I need HELP!!!! I’m trying to not give up on my husband, but my mind is going a hundred to nothing and I really don’t know what to do. How do I even go about trying to help him if this DEMON as they call is really that powerful and strong. HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME. . . . . .PLEASE!!!
I’m new to this..I binge twice a week…and it is getting out of hand and I refuse to allow this to beat me or any of you! 🙂
I feel everyones pain
I am a 24 year old girl who has been living in London for 2 years and last October came back home to Australia. I had never touched coke before London but all my friends over there did it every weekend, sometimes during the week. They would be these huge binges that would go for a whole weekend, we wouldn’t sleep and would just keep ordering more and more. It is relatively cheap over there and we all started to spiral out of control. Now I am home and still addicted, I use it every weekend as does my boyfriend. We have both tried to stop but after one drink its all I can think about. I don’t know how to enjoy myself any more without it. I get moody, severe anxiety, depression and such bad agitation all the time. It is horrible. I hate this drug, it has ruined me. I am broke all the time, I am angry, sad, sometimes suicidal and I don’t know how to stop this. I am too scared to tell my family and non of my friends know just how bad it has gotten. I miss the old me…. I don’t like the person I am now.
I’m 15. Soon I’m going to turn 16. I live in United kingdom and I’m addicted to cocaine. I’ve been doing it for a year. I can’t not do it because I get very bad cravings. I have to have aleast about 4 to 6 lines everyday or every 2 days to feel okay. I have spent lots of money on it and I am in a massive debt. I need help. I cannot tell anyone from my family. I’ve been stealing and lying… I need this to stop
I have been doing cocaine for three months. I didn’t realize I had a problem until last week when I had these strong urges that twisted my stomach. I’m a father who has two young kids and a wife has a gambling problem. I do coke about once a week, but recently I’ve been doing it twice. I always talk myself in setting money aside for it. I don’t drink, but I chew tobacco. I feel that without chewing tobacco I don’t get the same high with coke. Its weird because tobacco has been a life long problem. I smoked for ten years, but then got married and quit. After being sober of cigs for 5 years I started dipping. Then about nine months into dipping I started coke. I have done drugs decade ago but mostly ice and it was just a few times. I had coke on ice and never felt any difference. Now I am older I have realized coke is very powerful and I just hope I’m able to shake it before my wife finds out.
clean for years with god and AA
34 now…. and have been addicted to snorting coke (3 grams each time i binge, which can be every 4 days for over 10 years now)…. in recent it has cost me my job my girlfriend, my family I have no more money… once where i was considered by most to be quite successful. I have been to three treatment centres and gone through numerous 12 step programs. I have had tones of support and love… In my heart of hearts i want to live again. I have been blessed with so many good things but i can’t seem to appreciate them over the drugs. I feel like a lost case to the point where i am starting to believe i have lost my soul and can’t be saved i feel nothing no love or sadness. Spoken to people and they tell me i have not hit my bottom I’m not desperate enough or i don’t want to let go, i feel like telling them i do but i get sucked back when i least expect it the longest i stayed clean was a year and 6 months and then after that 6 months then it was 3 months now i can’t put a week together. I plan on going to Africa for business in a week or two for a month i know i don’t use or drink when I’m away from home but the minute i land home i end up using almost the same day. I truly feel cursed or possessed.
i am a user for ten years on and off and it justs steals everything from me i have tried to stop and ill go for a couple of months, and then ill see it in a movieor on tv or i see an old buddy shit like that. and ill go out and get it. I know I need to stop and i dont even enjoy it anymore. it feels good to just tell people this thanks for reading
I’m lying in bed right now and I can’t sleep because I have been sniffing cocaine for the last 24 hours strait. I have been binging for about 8 years now. I tell myself every time it’s going to be the last but it never is. Please God how can I make these cravings go away. This drug is the devil and it has kept me from becoming the person I could have been. Pleaseee help.
disclaimer: im on my first NEGATIVE binge and i DO NOT like what im seeing.please excuse my run on sentences and rambling.i just feel out of wack right now but im being honest and sincere when typing this.
Im a 20 yr old young man whose hasnt even been doing coke that long(less than 5 months) but tonight at my job was a sure sign that i need to stop immediately and get help..im currently on my first real ADDICT binge and i don’t like it at all.last night at work(i wait tables) i felt horrible..even while on it!it felt like i couldnt operate or function properly.i was speaking in a low scared tone all night i was mentally out of it. and doing it only brought me to a non depressive state(i felt like it was the only way i could think straight).i was slow and unresponsive and every everyday sympton from my excessive molly use came out to play(low self esteem,anxiety,depression)and tho i experience these feelings daily,tonight they really consumed me.i want to fix this problem quick. ive already decided to get a psychologist and book into rehab by the end of this week.im watching all my dreams fade away and i want to honestly see a change in me quickly .any advice you can give.please help me!
sorry for rambling once again.
Words can’t express how evil and powerful this drug is. I even using for 15 years. It creeps up on you and it gets to the point where u don’t enjoy it anymore but u stll use.even after loosing job family and a property I still find a place for this evil thing cocaine in my life. I feel for all you people out there . God help us .
My partner was heavily addicted to snorting cocaine before I met him.He had a serious problem with the stuff. When we got serious and I found out about the issue I asked him he had to leave his circle of friends, move away from the area and cut all ties as a step to dropping the addiction (which I understand is extremely difficult)which he agreed to. I have never seen anyone in such a state before and it’s so hard to watch someone you love struggle like that every day. My partner is doing so well having not been around drugs for at least 1 year now which is an amazing achievement and makes me so proud of him. I just would like to know if there is anything else I can do to help him through this as I couldn’t begin to imagine how hard it must be every day. Please give me some advice so I can try to make things better for him?
I’m shooting about a ball a day. I’m getting to the point where if I don’t feel like I’m going to od then I’m not high enough. I was clean for more than 18 and relapsed about 5 months ago on pain pills after my knee surgery. Well I pretty much knew it was only a matter of time until I try coke again. So sure enough two weeks ago I got a call saying that my pill buddies got coke. I made them save me some for the next day. So I did some on Wed morning and I think I shot up Thursday night. It’s been off the hook since. I’m losing everything I had gained back from being sober. The things I’m putting my wife and kids through is unreal! So I called a guy I’ve looked up to since I first started trying to get sober. He tells me to flush the shit and hit my knees. So I flushed what I had taken from the 8 ball witch wasn’t much. Saying I was done after this next shot, cause I didn’t flush that! Long story short I’m up at 6am wanting more when I was supposed to call Dan. Wtf!! Talk about hopelessness! The thing is I know I can’t do it alone, yet I can’t do it with help either. I don’t know where else to turn?
I am killing myself with cocaine, I have been doing coke for 15 years and I can’t stop,have tried everything, rehab,counselling, moving job, moved different countries, nothing works, I have lost everything and fucked every opportunity I have had cause I am the problem,wish It would just take me,I am so tired of it all, I feel sick cause I know that something bad always happens when I do it, but still I do it,it will kill me eventually and that will.kill.my mum so she will also become a.victim thro me.How selfish is that, knowing that but still.I do.it, I am beyond help.
I stopped doing cocaine when I realized the purpose of doing cocaine was to run out of cocaine
Lost my soul to the stuff and drove anyone who ever cared for me away
I’ve been binging for about two years now and I hate myself afterwards, almost suicidal. No one knows and I do it by myself. As I sit here watching another sunrise, I know, just like I knew the last time and the time before that that this has to stop. I haven’t lost everything like a lot of the folks here, but I’m definitely heading down that path. Every time I use, I feel like I’m selling my soul and loosing a part of my self that I’ll never get back. I want to get help, but I don’t want anyone to know. Please help
My husband was a long time addict to crack before I met him. When I met him he had been sober two years. Now I realize he wasn’t really sober for that long because about a year of that he was incarcerated…and that time doesn’t count for much. We got married and he was sober to crack, but had a serious addiction to sugar and sweets. I could not believe he had to stop at every single store in the hood to purchase little Debbie’s. Spend $3 to$5 every time. Clearly it is an addictive personality that he possesses. Anyways, we married in 2011 and he was sober until June 2013. What he claims his trigger was (which to me is a BS excuse) was that everything was being taken from him… I had gone to prison for something I allegedly committed in 2010, my sister took charge of our son after promising to allow my husband to take care of him… so instead of using this time to further the greatest reputation he had build for his work in the community he turn to crack, women, addiction, alcohol! I found out on a phone call in prison…. Think for a minute how that feels for a women to be away from her entire family… and her husband tells her he relapsed! He has never taken personal responsibility for his own addictions. He always tries to blame other people, things, situations. I got out of prison WAY BEFORE MY TIME BY THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD AS HE ANSWERED MY PRAYERS… As they say BE careful what your wish for. I wanted to come out so bad to help save my husband… 48 the punt the whole community disowned me for being with him. People would literally going around saying that they would have helped me of I want with him. Well…. he just strolled in from a 5 day binge… I just told him it’s either rehab today or the streets. Please pray for us! If I don’t drop him off today somewhere I know he will keep playing this game…. (or is it a game)? How do wives/girlfriends/family members put their foot down to this Demon? I need a piece place to vent and tell my story hope you can ask give me advice.
first of all, no one and nothing can make a crack addict want to be sober.
that said you must take care of you and your child. period. you must have a ZERO tolerance for the drug use, in or around your home, unless you are willing to go to jail, lose your kids, etc,. there is an amazing site called crackreality.com. look at it because it saved me. i was married to a crack addict, and i couldnt fix him, when i walked away he had no one, went to rehab on his own, now we are rebuilding, but i refuse to live together until 1 year drug free!! be tough , be strong, GOD BLESS YOU
Derik— snap im laying on my bed right now not slept for 48hours done about 12tickets G but i can honestly say yh i have a habbit wen i get on it which depending on how the weeks month has gone, who ya been with blah blah u lot no wat i mean depends on how much i get on it but wen i do it i do it for 1 maybe 2 , 3 or even 4 whole days n nights , but adding to my problem ive got the biggest sex drive i no out off all the people i know and they wud n do all agree with that and so me n gf if shes here have our fun four hours u all no then i cannot stop wanking she’ll be asleep next to me n i cant stop rite now shes at her mums n the last 48hours i see her for about 6hours but i cant stop playing with myself whilst on the coke n the coke just another thing to do inbertween the coke cock wanks n i cudnt tell u n express to u all how much it fucks me off!! missing work letting my gf down feeling like shit getting a sore cock all of that… but hands down the only time i get tempted n it all starts is wen i go round or out with friends then they mention it i say to myself yh y not have a couple then go home leave them doing wat they want then just starts going downhill wank line wank fat line u get the gist i swear this isnt healthy n it really bugs me sorry im a lil fucked atm (but least im off porn i suppose lol) so it may be abit gibber jabber but its the truth im addict to sexual activities (haha activities sorry sounded good) whilst on coke n my gf who i love very much is slowly starting to give up on me n i really dont want to loose her …..please any ideas people o n im 23 its prob been on n off for about a year any suggestions ……..
but reading through ur comments of how its messed up ur lifes but glad to see people trying to do somthing about it i did take photos of some of ur comments so wen i feel like doing it i may have a quick read through n i think it mite steer me otherwise n i didnt or dont mean any offence in there im just thankyou u shared what u did, love to u all n WISH U ALL WELL AND CLEAN!! =)
O JUST ONE MORE THING SORRY ABOUT THE LANGUAGE IM STILL ON IT XX PEACE
My boy friend has been using coke for about 20 years. All the same promises not to do it anymore, i’m sure you’ve heard all the horror stories. I kicked him out last weekend and haven’t heard from him since. I’m soooo scared he’s going to die and he’s in denial. How can I get him to admit he’s an addict so he can help? And how do you trust that he won’t relapse?
Im lieing in bed right now, trying to sleep, coming down from a night snorting, binging, drinking, popping pills. I just slept with my ex’s bestfriend the girl who im in love with. Of course she told her, now I know she’ll never give me another chance, all because I was high on cocaine.I recently had a foot surgery, which got infected and have to have another, so I don’t get out much and a friend of mine comes over with it, and I get high all night, I just did 2 grams last night, and another one tonight. I hate who I am and what Ive become. I feel gulty and ashamed. I thought I was different, I thought I was strong, turns out Im weak willed and addicted. I always kept it under control, but now I use everynight. I was a promising youth too, gifted at school & sports, then I found cocaine, I lost my will to succeed and seem intent on self destruction, especially with the one I love, who now hates me, leaving me. It seems my friends, can get high and then just be good, but I cant just be good, I have to drink, smoke, pop pills and have sex. I say I need help all the time to my friends, but after 1 talk, they leave me to my own and I get high. Im losing myslelf in this whole process, my core beliefs, the things that make me who I am, I don’t even know myself anymore, I cant be with anybody, because I hate myself. How can I love others, when I don’t love myself. Hopeless & heartbroken.
Ok ive always had to deal with the one i love most doing drugs.some of the people in my life and now im with thisman who means the world to me and he makes me soo happy and in love we.have been liveing together for 2 years now and we act like wwere married. We are but no papers. Im not going anywhere and hes not gunna me. He has a BIG BIG problem with coke. When we first got together. He did it alot more then what he does now but this is how it was in the beginning it never bothered me as much as it does now it seems like thats all he ever wants to do he stop going out to the bar and now does it home. He knows how i feel about it and what ive went thu. We fight allll the time bc i throw him an attitude as soon as i come home and he is doing it every other day. I dont want to get mad about it and fight about it no more. He tells me a person cant make someone change thats bullshit if he loves me the way he does and everryone who knows us knows how much hes in love but i feel like im to my braking point. We always fight.when.he does it. I love.him but i WANT AND NEED HIM TO STOP SOMEONE PLEASEE HELP US. He is hatian and he is very stubborn and its his way or no way most of the time im spoiled and stubborn also. So i get mad i want to talk about it and all my probloms and he dont im a mess i feel like i hate the person he is when he uses but i dont he is my man i love him some one please help.me understandwhat i should do should i leave him or stay and enable it i cant control how it makes me get sooo red hot now and i want to leave and go somewhere ever time he does it PLEASE HELP ME WHAT DO DO TO GRT HIM TO STOPBD heartbroken
The only way to stop is complete stop all – drinking that is the trigger is the one start with . No drink no blow. Find another way to be happy , only solution.
i have been using cocaine for 15 years and have found out the one trigger that surpasses all triggers is ALCOHOL. If I don’t drink. I don’t do blow. Simple as that. My wife has left me and threatened to take my child away for good. If this doesn’t make me stop I may be on the road to death quicker than I thought.
Hello im coming off of coke as im typing.Im 31 year old male married no kids. I have been doing coke since 2001 since my “cool cholo” cousin forced me to take some . Ever since i have been a mess been to jail 4x not caring but in reality i feel like a scared little kid who tried to be cool only to be an outcast and antisocial with a very polite attitude but when i get angry i lose it .I get in a non caring attitude not caring wether i live or die …I cant keep going like this i fear for others and myself…I wish i had the balls to go live in the wild away from temptation and sins. I need to get closer to God i have disrespected him very bad especially on cocaine….This is not the type of person i want to be . I messed up my military career and dream of becoming a cop. This life sucks i cant wait to get to the next stage in life but i want to leave in good terms and i relly hope their is a mission for me in this world ….Please if you can send me a reply with some encouragement i really need it guys . Why did this happen to me ??? I was smart responsible outgoing and all that has been fading away i have many homicidal thoughts please this is not normal. Im scared to ask for help in person .,,,,Im ashamed . I really would love for our higher power to help me and guide me to be someone in life and not just another statistic ..,..I hope everyone here recovers and betters their life . My wife it saddens me ….she wants to quit but my relpses have also been the cause of her relapses……I hope next time I OD since i havent learned my lesson .,,,,,,What do i do????? Ive been thru halfway houses SAFPF multiple rehabs 12 step meetings sponsors ….
I am 54 yrs old and have been addicted To heroin for 4o yrs along with cocaine and I have managed to what I think stay on top of the heroin problem but not really because smoking crack has now became an everyday demon and now I know that I must stop. I have been through every treatment imaginable and to not much avail. Lost it all 3x but I have came to the conclusion that this is a life time problem and the only chance I have is God. He has helped me in unbelievable ways. Anotherwords He has given me the tools to quit and even showed me how to use them but it is up to me nomatter how hard it may be to completely stop. We must over power something that at times we believe is much stronger than us. We will never be totally right ever again but the less we do the better it will be and that is the satisfaction that we must put in place of the high until the end. God bless and good luck to everyone who is stuck in this Hell on earth. DONT GIVE UP!!!
I have just discovered a close relative has been doing cocaine and pain killers for several years now..I am a believer in Jesus and the power of prayer, and I believe there is a demon associated with these addictions. There has been such a feeling of hopelessness by the user trying to quit, or asking for help. It’s a country wide problem and probably worldwide as well, but for each one it must be a living hell, and knowing so many others suffer the same way doesn’t make it any easier I’m sure. I would like to pray for them, for their release from this addiction, and strength and will power to stay sober. I believe that God loves them, and has the only answer. It may not seem to the addict that he is loved..he may feel alone in his suffering. But there is a way out..and a person who is very much interested. His name is Jesus Christ and he paid for the sins of the world, including the sins of the addict. He offers forgiveness for anyone who asks, and will give them new life in exchange for their search for the truth. The bible says ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God’ It goes on to say ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever would believe on him, would not perish but have eternal life’ and that ‘if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.’
If a person is in the clutches of this demonic influence, possibly the only way to be truely released is to get on the other side, with God as his defender. There is no risk in trying…after all else fails. The bible also says ‘Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.’ I believe there is hope…for the person who desperately cries out to God.
Nina- Ultimately you are probably correct for a person of faith who has fallen into abuse.
The problem for me is being diligent in the pursuit of freedom from addiction thru spiritual practices.
The very nature of the drug demon is to make it most difficult, to cause one to want to give up and return to using. As most people of faith know, it’s a long , difficult journey and seldom will you see a sudden miracle cure. These things must, in most cases, be worked thru with time , pain, suffering and an unbreakable steadfast faith. …That is almost impossible for an addict to do alone…..That is who I am and I cannot quit, I will quit with spiritual help, but i need to check into a medically professional rehab to make it happen. I have tried and tried spiritual only and I am just not strong enough to do that alone
you can quit just replace the good feeling you get from coke with something else.
i used motorcycle my brother sky diving
you brain is used to a rush from drugs now just replace it with something exciting….scuba,hoops,hockey,biking ANYTHING…..food, sex, running, college, pottery class.
everytime you want to get high get up and do something else…..bowling, movies, boxing ANYTHING
to give you a rush
if i can quit after a ball a week for ten years anyone can!
Hi everybody , here´s Fabio from Brazil.So , forgime me about the bad english.
I really believe that there´s a kind of demom like Nina said , but the problem is that this demom makes me ( forgot to say , I´m cocaine addicted) stay away from God.What I´m trying to explain is that I cannot find a good reason when trying to quit.
In this line I would like to comment Chuck´s post.I know there are lots of ways to have fun , to replace cocaine pleasuer , problem is that I suffer from depression ( it begins when I was 24 , now I´m 43 and 3 year addicted , so there is not a strog relation) , and like the doctor said in the article cocaine brings pleasuare cause it changes dopamine , serotonime and other hormones that are related to pleasure .And this makes all the difference , after 3 days whitout cocaine I kind of trash!!!!More than a ” normal” addicted.I can deal whit craving , and this stuffs , but I feel so down that I have to use agin.Is unbeliveable , 5 minutes after snell?(is it rigth?)let me say just use again , I happy again.Sorry , I have other things to say : Was in all kinds of psycologist , psychiatr ( going now) and used all kind of anti depressive , take this pills and others to sleep or anxiety since i Was 24 old.If you ask me If it helps I´ll say that some of them make felt better ( nothing like the guy I was before 24 years age).But cfocaine make feel the ” good” Fabio.This thing is ” better” than all I can buy in drugstore.Just for the records , what I use is trash , once I was in Italy I tried a pure cocaine , so this one (98% non cocaine , impure) should be easy to leave.
I must continue , rehah is a crazy thing , I speak about brazilian clinics and cause I was in the best of all.Not for cocaine , to leave the anxiety pills ( I was abusing) , was about 10 years ago , so no cocaine.Problem is that this people thinks the addicted is a idiot , I am sick , not dummie!!!
The only way I think that I can leave it is having peace whit my books, but I can´t try , my mom keeps annoyng ( I know is for love , but must be me and my books for 15 days at least) , friends ( good ones) calling .Is difficult to not depressed people understand that I love them but I need a little break of .
Well , sorry about the terrible english , thanks a lot for the patience and a great 2015 to all of you.
Fabio.
So I want to quit but I find a way to always do. It. Its consuming me. I do a ball a day. And. Havnt slept in 3 days. But then I don’t do it for few days then I do. I hang with non users but I find a way to do it secretly. I just did a ball and half in last 24hrs and want more. Is this normal to do so much at once? And what is the amount to od and die. I work at a. Restaurant and recently seen. Its everywhere now and hard to stay away from it. I’m depressed and hate myself to let. Myself get here. Not that it’s good but I have had all sorts of. Drugs offered to me and I never done it and refused to even start and try. I have strong. Will power there but super weak with coke. How is that possible
one day at a time
forgive your-self
sometimes when that little monster start talking to you … you just gotta tell it to shut up your not gonna play with them today !! it might be hard at first because it’s like a kid it wants to play . stand firm and keep telling it no . just like a child it will move on letting it’s hold on you go . self talk your-self to a better place . one day at a time !!
I think my husband has been using cocain and I d like more information and help he doesn’t know I suspect him
Mine came clean to me last night. It’s tearing my family apart. He broke down because I told him he was going to lose us. I need to know how to help him.
I use cocaine everyday, I work hard and make a lot of money most days in excess of £450 worse day £300, I work 7 days a week and don’t let this habit interfere with my work. My girlfriend hates it and has never used it, she knows instantly when I’m on it and this causes major problems for us.
Like every user I have justifications such as
1) it’s my money
2) I look after everyone financially
3) I pay all the bills and everything else
4) it doesn’t afftect my work
5) I’m a fully grown man I will do as I please
6) I don’t hurt anyone or do any wrong while using
7) I don’t drink alcohol at all
8) I don’t go out drinking or clubbing
9) I’m really friendly and generous while using
10) I love cocaine
Am I right or wrong?? In my opinion ciggerettes and alcohol are 10 times worse.
My friends say you deserve to do as you please as you still get up at 8am everyday and get the work done, you still make ridiculous amounts of money and your far from shy with it if anybody needs your help.
Any comments are welcome
everywhere you turn to for help it’s about money.there is no good help out there if you can’t pay.the attitudes of the free help is rude and disrespectful..where can people turn to with no money….no it’s not me it’s my son he’s 42 and he’s been trying to stop for a number of years now but he keeps relapsing… he’s trying so hard….HELP.
Cocaine is terrible there’s no justification, it’s stripped me of everything, the best and only way now is up starting fresh and cutting out all my so called mates who continue to go down that route, time to go old school and get my head back into religion as it seems the only good that ever come good
My husband was sober from doing crack for 1 1/2 year. Well last night he was snorting it. I woke up this morning for work with him on his way home (from the party he was having by himself with the drug). I really want to help him because he doesn’t want to do the drug but the drug keeps calling him. He said it is a hard drug to fight. I don’t know what to do!!!! Please give advise
You must work with him to identify the trigger point. you need to be polite with him so as he can be comfortable and not hide anything from you. Also try to quit something that you love which he is aware of e.g. coffee, carbonated soft drinks and claim that you might also be addicted to it. Sometimes we cannot always be honest, if it is for the greater good then it is okay to be dishonest.
Tony its smart to get money but doing cocaine why where does it get you I have tried and my fathers done it for plenty of years and I hated it it waste you money for you just to get high and sleep you should try to give up on it
My son is a cocaine addict (I think) or that’s what he told me.
He spends every cent on it and if he has no money, he buys booze instead.
He also pees the bed every night. Is this a side effect of cocaine?
He is 32 and just getting wore, has no where to live now as he never pays his rent. Is also very delusional. I am scared for him but he always has an excuse not to go for help.
I am tired of putting my wife tru hell doing drugs maybe I need help and I can’t face it
Hi
My close friend suffers from cocaine binges, but interstingly he only does it when he is with his ex-girlfriend after a couple of drinks and talks of their memory lane. It is clear that the use starts with a certain trigger for him Namely: the girlfriend. Blatantly; he must stay away from the trigger even if it leaves an empty space. My point is that everyone must identify the trigger in order to take the first and important step in rehabilitation. Befriend a rehabilating person who was addicted to a different substance and support each other, prefarably someone who is not your peer.
Ridiculous to suggest that detox is necessary or even possible. Where is the funding for this? A good drug and alcohol agency will be able to advise someone to reduce use, then come off and stay off cocaine. I’d love to know which council or agency pays for this
Well quieting an addiction or drug is not at all easy task and rather says that it is herculean task. Well at initially it is easy and then it becomes worst. Thank you so much for sharing this post.
Well wow seriously after reading this post I am very much inspired and at the same time I am impressed too. Drug addiction is very serious case and would rather say it diseases that can take one’s life.
I don’t judge you. I envy your support system. I have never tried cocaine but guess what… I am trying to get over a crush… maybe it is love with an abusive type of individual that I have not admitted it to and have no intention of. You may say “WHY ARE YOU POSTING!!” Well let us break it down… Cocaine releases dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine and gives you a feeling of euphoria just to have it crashing down… Being in love releases dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine… and gives you a feeling of euphoria and guess what, if you are attracted to jerks or for guys the female equivalent… you crash.
The only difference is I don’t have a support group/therapy group/real advice on how to kick it even though it literally mimics a cocaine addiction. I will be damned if I end up with a marriage like my mothers. What do I do, well I’m taking your program and replacing the word cocaine with bad love cause honey it is the same deal.
I need support I have no one I have to cut off my friends because they do coke.. Drinking and depression guided me here drinking is my trigger . And both drinking and coke aren’t used for fun it’s more less an escap I started using once on Fridays .. This week I used weds Thursday and Friday and I have many been to sleep.. my run was 3 years and I’m done but I say that now I need help through the my systems depression anxiety and need for these negative friends but again I have no family. I went to my family for support and they everything they shouldn’t have I need someone positive and motivating someone who understands . I feel like this demon won’t leave me alone I pray???? I’m so disappointed it’s one thing to fail those around you but failing myself is messing me up all I have is my dogs as they depend on me as corny as that sounds.. If there’s a angel please.. I’m on my last leg I’m ready to end it all I hate it im afraid this mother ticket wants me to hurt myself
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Hi my boyfriend been doing cocaine for 23 years . In he needs help what can do to help him?
Well with the Crash on the site that happened, a bit has been lost perhaps??
It’s that time of year people, Xmas and NY….it all becomes a bit tempting and we let our guard.
I just wish you all come through this period safe and sound and strong to battle this evil in 2017!
Cheers
Stuart
(Melb, Australia)
I’ve been an addicted to coke for 20 years and I don’t even enjoy it anymore but I still do it. I risk losing everything. It’s controlling everything I do!! I’d rather get a bag than use the money for shopping. I keep promising my very understanding gf
that I’ll stop but I continue to use…2 bags today (hence still awake at 5 in the Morning). It’s bad that I’d rather do coke than go up and sleep with my gf!???I know I need help and to stop my triggers mainly alcohol I’m so depressed it’s killing me!!!! It’s been reassuring reading some of the posts that I’m not the only one going through this hell. I wish I never touched it but that ship has sailed. I used to be so strong willed and now I don’t even recognise myself in the mirror. I hate myself for doing it so I go and get some more to make me feel better and the cycle begins.. I need help
I am 19 and I consume around 7 grams of cocaine weekly for around a year now and have been using off and on for about the past 3 years but I have really lost control of the situation and can’t go a day without cocaine or else I am so aggressive that nobody wants to come around me. This addiction has ruined my life and I just want to be clean