Recovery from a drug addiction implies acknowledging the problem and being willing to seek help from a drug treatment center. Since denial is normal amid drug addicts, getting them to a cure center may involve aggressive pleading from relatives or friends. In spite of this, once an addict accepts treatment and starts detoxification, which clears the body of damaging toxins, they can begin the path to recovery.

Drug treatment centers are necessary because drug addicts are usually unable to overcome dependencies on their own. Many will attempt self-treatment. However, without support or supervision, a setback is inescapable. By entering a drug treatment center, patients go through continual mental evaluations. Before a patient can begin recovery, medical doctors must help the patient understand the origin of drug addiction. In some instances, deep mental distress from the loss of a loved one, unhappiness, failure, and so forth play a role in prolong drug use. Once a patient identifies the factor(s) that causes vulnerability, and discover ways to deal with these problems head-on, he or she can begin recovery.

Upon entering a drug treatment facility, patients are required to cooperate. Recovery does not come about immediately. Unfortunately, many patients become very impatient, and leave the treatment center before getting better. This is usual at some stage in withdrawals when a patient’s body strongly craves the narcotic. However, if patients can endure the symptoms and finish detoxification, the chances of a full recovery are higher.

After an initial psychological exam, patients must consent to detox. On average, it takes about 3 days for a person’s body to rid itself of toxins and other substances. Withdrawal symptoms may become intense during this period. Long-term drug users experience the worst symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and sweating are common. In rare instances, patients may suffer a seizure, which can be life-threatening. For this matter, undergoing detoxification and withdrawal in a drug treatment center under the supervision of physicians is strongly recommended.

Following detoxification, patients begin therapy sessions. Counseling is purposely postponed until the completion of detox. This way, patients are in the right mindset. Individuals and group therapy sessions are effective with helping ex-addicts address and resolve hurt feelings. If family or friends become a road block to recovery, counselors may recommend a family therapy session. In some cases, drug abuse is the cause of deep rooted family issues.

Upon completion of a drug treatment program, patients are encouraged to attend support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, or join online support forums. Aftercare is extremely important, and helpful with preventing relapses. If necessary, patients also have the option of continuing treatment on an outpatient basis.

There are hundreds of drug treatment centers in the United States, each stating that it offers the best in treatment for an addicts particular needs. Some function on a holistic basis (a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual needs), some on a chemical needs basis, some focus more on psychological needs, and some strictly on abstinence and 12 step programs. Some are in-patient only, some out-patient only, some a combination of the two. The key to finding the drug treatment center for any addict is to find one that will build it’s treatment upon the needs of the addict, and not a set script or assembly-line method of treatment.

For an addict to be completely drug free, it is ideal that if at all possible, they enter a short or long term residential program first. This will give them the structure and medical supervision that stopping any drug use requires in a safe environment. Should they have severe symptoms of withdrawal, the staff is well trained to intervene and ease the symptoms and also trained to judge when it might be better for the interests of the addict to be moved for a short time to a hospital until the worst of the withdrawal issues and any complications resulting from withdrawal have been resolved. Needless to say, the heavier the drug use, the more important this becomes.

Then the addict and the addicts family or support group or counselor can sit down and determine which would be the best option for the addicts continued progress into recovery.

For the addict in serious need of psychological, medical, nutritional, and structural assistance, the long-term residential drug treatment center is the best choice. This offers a trained counseling and re-education staff for helping the addict identify and resolve any underlying emotional or psychological causes for the addiction, and education in how to live a drug-free life (such as avoiding triggers, environments that are associated with previous drug use, and rebuilding the self-worth and self-confidence to face the daily trials of living in the drug-available world without succumbing to temptation). This also offers rebuilding of the body through nutritional means, helping to repair the physical ravages of drug use. It offers medical staff to deal with issues of infections or diseases or physical ailments brought on or aggravated by drug usage, as well as medical treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, or any other psychological cause of the drug addiction. And it offers the structured environment an addict needs to rebuild his or her life after the chaotic spiral caused by addiction.

Short term residential drug treatment is best suited for those addicts who have plans to go back to work or back home to raise children/tend to family members. It offers the same medical staffing as the long term residential drug treatment centers, with an emphasis on abstinence and 12 step programs for support. It is, unfortunately, the justice systems idea of a “cure-all” for drug addicts”, and therefore tends to be crowded at all times.

The outpatient programs, both drug-free and drug-assisted, are more suited to those addicts who have other responsibilities, whether it be a job, schooling, or family that needs caretaking. It offers the support system an addict needs, some medical supervision while at the program, some counseling while at the program, and some re-education. It also works extremely well when combined with either long-term or short-term residential programs, further embedding the skills and tactics for remaining drug-free learned at the other facilities.

Once again, however, it should be noted. The final decision ultimately rests on the addict for which treatment they should use. Unless it is their decision, their chances of long-term success are drastically reduced.

There are many reasons why a person chooses to take drugs in the beginning. At first, they may be trying to avoid emotional or physical pain they are going through, which may work in the beginning stages of drug use. Drugs provide the user with a temporary escape from their reality, but over time, drugs will only serve to make their situation much worse. They will eventually get to the point where they are no longer able to able to control their impulses, and the drugs will take over every aspect of their lives. In this situation, a rehabilitation center is crucial in saving their lives.

Once a person has gone from being a drug user to becoming a drug addict, they no longer are in control of their actions. The addiction will cause them to behave in such a way that they will continue their cycle of destruction, even in the face of losing everything that they hold dear. Drug addiction can interfere with their normal way of life, and disrupt their homes, their jobs, and eventually lead to dire consequences to society as a whole. Drugs can even put the abuser at a higher risk of illness, thereby endangering their very lives.

Drug rehabilitation can alter the path they are on, and save their lives. Because drug addiction is so complex, treatment is not simple but it may be their last chance. Due to the nature of drug abuse, intervention by family and friends is often the first step to recovery. Drug addicts live in their own reality, and often times, they must be hit in the face with the damage they are causing to themselves and to those around them. If intervention is done properly, it can force the addict to face the reality of the situation they are in and make the rehabilitation process easier for them to agree to. Keep in mind that if you do choose this option, it is helpful to have a professional involved in the process. They have the experience in this area that is necessary to ensure a successful intervention.

When speaking about rehabilitation, it is important to understand that drug abuse is classified as a chronic condition. This means that long-term abstinence can sometimes require sustained and repeated treatment. Rehabilitation centers are by no means a quick fix. Rather, they are the best way to help get an addict on the road to recovery, which will eventually lead to a drug-free life. That being said, drug rehabilitation centers can and do work. In the three decades they have been around, it has been found that more people get off of and stay off of drugs in large part because of drug rehabilitation centers.

One of the important things that the past three decade has taught us is that in order for drug rehabilitation to be successful, there needs to be a variety of approaches to treat drug addiction. It isn’t a one size fits all situation. The type of rehab that will work depends on the type of drug being abused, the personality and background of the abuser and the support the addict has outside of the treatment facility. To this end, there are many different drug rehabilitation centers out there that offer a myriad of approaches to drug addiction problems.

Not all drug treatment programs are the same. They differ in staff qualification, credential, cost and effectiveness. Before you make a decision as to which program is right for you, you must ask questions. You will want a drug rehabilitation center that offers a wide range of treatment programs in order to endure they will meet your individual needs. Along with differing methods of treating drug abuse, there are also different types of rehabilitation centers to choose from.

Some of a drug addicts options when choosing a rehabilitation center include inpatient treatment facilities, residential treatment facilities and outpatient/or short-stay treatment facilities. The difference between a residential rehabilitation center and an inpatient treatment center lie in their credentials. Inpatient treatment centers are licensed hospitals, while residential treatment centers usually do not meet the same rigorous standards of medical care. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t highly successful in treating drug addiction. When a drug addict is seeking some type of residential or inpatient rehabilitation, their length of stay will depend on the severity and stage of their illness.

There are also outpatient or day treatment facilities to choose from. The patient doesn’t reside in the treatment facility, but they do go to intense treatment almost everyday of the week for anywhere up to 8 hours a day. One of the deciding factors when choosing a rehabilitation center may be the costs involved. Before you make a decision about where to go, you need to know how much your insurance will pay, what is included with the price you are quoted by the facility and what is considered fee-for-service. Although rehabilitation may get pricey, it is worth every penny because it can save the addicts life. Family plays a big role in rehabilitation, which only makes sense because drug addiction is effecting there lives as well as the addicts.

They type of involvement family members will have in the recovery process depends on the treatment facility the addict decides to go to. Some encourage many visits and family counseling, while others prefer less family interaction, at least for the time period that the addict is in the treatment facility. But, whichever way a rehabilitation center goes with regards to family, they all agree family involvement is vital to the ongoing recovery process. This is especially true when discussing aftercare.

Many treatment centers offer some type of aftercare program. However, some may only provide it at their center, which can make it difficult for the recovering addict to get to on a consistent basis. A good treatment center includes good aftercare because they understand how vital it is to the long-term prognoses of the addict.

Drug treatment and rehabilitation are not easy, but they are of the utmost importance when helping an addict get off the drug and return to a normal and productive life. The long range goal of any rehabilitation center is not only to get the addict off the drug, but also to ensure that they remain abstinent for their life time.

You probably know a drug addict without even realizing it. When most people think of a drug addict, they envision a dirty, high strung; out of control individual that they fear may cause them harm. What most people probably don’t realize is that drug addicts can look and act as normal as your next door neighbor. In fact, your next door neighbor just may be a drug addict.

Prescription drugs are hooking millions of Americans and causing devastating consequences to their lives and the lives of their families. It starts off innocently enough, you have an accident and a doctor prescribes medication to stop the pain, before you know it you are taking more and more because the pain just won’t go away. That is the insidious nature of prescription drug abuse. It works fine in the beginning, but you begin to build up a tolerance to the medication and the next thing you know you are in constant pain unless you take the medicine. It is at this point that addiction has set in.

Prescription drug addiction is reaching epidemic proportions. Approximately nine million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 1999, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA.) And the problem has only gotten worse. Many people who are addicted to prescription drugs don’t even realize that they have a problem. Because it is medication prescribed by a doctor for a legitimate medical condition in the beginning, they feel as if there is nothing wrong with what they are doing. As long as they aren’t taking hard street drugs like cocaine or heroin, they don’t recognize themselves as drug addicts.

In cases where prescription drugs are being abused, the patient may notice that they have to take more and more of the drug just to feel normal, without ever understanding that it is the effects of the addiction that is causing this viscous cycle. On top of that, once the drugs enter their system there are other chemical reactions going on that in the beginning, are pleasant and hard to give up; feelings such as relief from anxiety, false feelings of self-confidence and increased activity and energy levels. Sadly, the elderly is one group that is at a higher risk for becoming dependant on prescription drugs.

Because the elderly are often on many legitimate drugs for ongoing health issues related to their age, they have a higher risk of becoming addicted to prescription drugs. The elderly are also often isolated and lonely, which only raises their chances of falling victim to drug abuse. Women are also in the high-risk category. With all of the work women do inside and outside of the home, they often suffer from anxiety and/or depression. In order to combat this, their doctors prescribe antidepressants or antianxiety medication, and these can become addictive. There are several risk factors to becoming addicted to prescription drugs that should be looked at.

The risk factors to a prescription drug abuser can include; medical conditions that require pain medication, family history of addiction, fatigue and overwork depression, dependency, or poor self-esteem. Any doctor prescribing prescription drugs should pay close attention to any patient who falls into these categories because they are at an increased risk of becoming addicted. In fact, a doctor should monitor any patient that is on prescription drugs very carefully to ensure that they aren’t abusing them. But, even in cases where doctors are diligent about maintaining the proper use of the drug, some patients will circumvent that by doing what is called, “doctor shopping.” In doctor shopping scenarios, patients will go from doctor to doctor complaining of pain in order to get more prescriptions. There have been cases where patients were found with hundreds of prescriptions from different doctors. The problem has become so pervasive that NIDA has launched a national initiative to educate the public about the dangers of non-medical use of prescription drugs, and the potential for abuse.

The frustration, when dealing with prescription drug addiction, lies in the fact that these drugs are beneficial to the health and well being of millions of people every year. So, how does society balance the need for these drugs with the potential for danger? This is a problem law enforcement faces almost on a daily basis. Indeed, it can be a very delicate balance of curbing criminal behavior related to prescription drug addiction and making sure people with legitimate health concerns are still able to access the care they need.

If you or somebody you love thinks they may be addicted to prescription drugs, ask yourself these questions: 1) am I taking more than was originally prescribed, 2) has my doctor refused to give me anymore of the drugs even though I’ve told him I’m still in pain, 3) have I had to go to more than one doctor in order to keep getting my prescription filled, and 4) am I running out of my prescription before I’m due to another one? If you answer yes to these, you probably have a problem with prescription drugs.

If you do find yourself in this situation, you need to get help. There are plenty of places you can go to help got off the drugs. The first thing you may need to do is to go through detoxification. Detoxification, or detox, is when you physically begin to withdrawal from the drug. It is best to go through detox under the strict supervision of a medical professional. Detoxification is an unpleasant state to be in and can cause moderate to severe physical side-effects; for this reason, it is not advisable to go through it alone. You may need medical intervention at some point in the first few days. That’s why most detox is done in a hospital, or a treatment facility that has a medical staff.

Prescription drug addiction is suburbia’s shameful little secret, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are addicted to prescription drugs, you are not alone or unique, unfortunately it is happening everyday and all over the country.

Prescription drugs can be a medical miracle, but only when taken safely and under the strict supervision of your doctor. If you find that you are taking more than you should, or taking it for a longer period of time than was first recommended, seek help. Talk to your doctor to ensure you are taking your medication properly, and advice him of any fears or concerns you may have about becoming dependant.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that is devastating the lives of the people it touches every day. Over the last few years, methamphetamine, (or meth as it is commonly called), has gained in popularity with a cross-section of society. It has become the great equalizer, destroying the lives of the rich, the poor and the middle-class. The most shocking news is that it seems suburban mothers are quickly becoming the latest victims of the ravages of meth.

The statistics on methamphetamine use are staggering. Data from a 2000 Drug Warning Network (DAWN), report stated that patients were being seen in hospitals for meth-related episodes at an alarmingly increasing rate. Their report showed that in 1999 there were approximately 10,400 emergency room visits related to meth, but went up to 13,500 in 2000. That is a 30% increase, and that was six years ago. The problem has grown by leaps and bounds since then.

One of the most disturbing aspects of meth, is the fact that it is so alarmingly addictive. Abusers of this drug have said they became hooked after their first use. Meth grabs its victims by the throat and isn’t easily shaken off. One of the reasons it has become so wide spread is the ease of getting it, and at a price anybody can afford. This isn’t like Cocaine, which was considered the “yuppie” drug back in the 80’s. The damaging effects of meth can be seen in a user within a matter of weeks of their initial use, and by that time, they are already hooked.

The effects of methamphetamine can be severe and even brutal. After taking meth, the user can expect a high that will last from 6 to 8 hours, and after that begins to wear off they may experience high agitation, which can lead to violent behavior. So, this means that methamphetamine abuse isn’t just a danger to the abuser, but it is dangerous to society as a whole. That is why it is crucial to get the addict into drug rehab. Rehabilitation may be their only hope for survival.

Continuing use of meth has some very serious short-term and long-term effects, effects that can ultimately lead to their death. Some of the short-term effects a meth user may have are; increased respiration and hypothermia, which can lead into the more severe long-term effects of; paranoia, hallucinations, mood disturbances and possibly stroke. In order to save the addicts life, intervention and recovery are vital.

When in the middle of the throes of addiction, most people are in deep denial. This is why intervention is so essential. They have to be forced to face the reality of their situation, and the deadly path they are on. Ultimately, if they don’t get off the meth, there is bound to be one of three outcomes; 1) jail, 2) institutionalization, or 3) death! But, it doesn’t have to end this way. There are places they can go to get help, and return to the person they once were.

Rehabilitation and recovery happen for meth addicts every day. With the help of highly trained medical personal and deep psychological counseling, an addict can come out of the shadow of their addiction and back into the light of sobriety. There are several different ways they can approach rehabilitation. The most recommended being a residential treatment facility.

In a residential treatment facility the patient stays for an extended period of time and receives a multitude of help and services. But, the first thing they will need to do before they start the program is detox. Detoxification is a medically supervised withdrawal from the methamphetamine in their system. It is one of the three keys to a successful recovery, which also includes family support, relationship repair and length of stay. There is a correlation between an addict’s length of stay at a rehabilitation clinic and long-term sobriety. That’s why the residential treatment centers are preferred. But, if for whatever reason they cannot commit to a long-term situation, there are also day clinics that offer much of the same help.

Some of the components of the program in a residential treatment center are:

• Assessment/Evaluation
• Medical Experts
• Individualized Treatment Planning
• One on One Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Introduction to Community Services
• Emphasis on Peer Support
• Transition and Continuing Care
• Lifetime Aftercare
• Legal System Advocacy

Much of these same services are offered to an addict who wishes to avail themselves of the day program. The biggest difference is that they don’t live there. In a day program, or out patient program, the patient comes in to the drug treatment center up to 8 hours a day 6 days a week. Although this works, statistics show that the residential treatment centers have a higher rate of success, which they attribute to the around the clock supervision and support. Aftercare is a vital part of rehabilitation for an addict.

With aftercare, the addict continues to go to group counseling where they can discuss the issues they are dealing with in a safe and understanding environment. They are surrounded by other people who have gone through what they have gone through, so they may feel more comfortable opening up and sharing what they are really feeling. This takes away that feeling of isolation so many addicts experience. Aftercare is credited with playing a major role in keeping an addict clean.

Methamphetamine rehabilitation has been proven to work. Before you or a loved one is lost to this drug forever, seek the help that is out there.

In order to achieve marijuana rehabilitation one must first understand marijuana. Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. There are over 200 slang terms for marijuana including “pot,” “herb,” “weed,” “boom,” “Mary Jane,” “gangster,” and “chronic.” It is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or in a pipe or bong. In recent years, it has appeared in blunts. These are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and re-filled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug, such as crack. Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea. A series of cellular reactions ultimately lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana. The short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Drug treatment programs based on marijuana rehabilitation are rare, partly because many who use marijuana do so in combination with other drugs. Nowadays, with more people seeking help to control marijuana abuse, research has focused on ways to overcome this disease.

One study of adult pot users found that 14 session cognitive behavioral group treatments and 2 session individual treatments that included motivational interviewing and advice on ways to reduce use were helpful in marijuana rehabilitation.

No medications are available to treat marijuana abuse. Recent discoveries about the workings of THC receptors have raised the possibility that scientists may eventually develop a successful medication for marijuana rehabilitation. Such a medication might be used to prevent marijuana abuse relapses by reducing or eliminating its appeal to the user.

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is both the most abused and the most rapidly acting of the opiates. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed or pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin.” Although purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is “cut” with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Street heroin can also be cut with strychnine or other poisons. Because heroin abusers do not know the actual strength of the drug or its true contents, they are at risk of overdose or death. Heroin also poses special problems because of the transmission of HIV and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles or other injection equipment.

Heroin is usually injected, sniffed/snorted, or smoked. Typically, a heroin abuser may inject up to four times a day. Intravenous injection provides the greatest intensity and most rapid onset of euphoria, while intra-muscular injection produces a relatively slow onset of euphoria. When heroin is sniffed or smoked, peak effects are usually felt within 10 to 15 minutes. Although smoking and sniffing heroin do not produce a “rush” as quickly or as intensely as intravenous injection, researchers have confirmed that all three forms of heroin administration are addictive.

Injection continues to be the predominant method of heroin use among addicted users seeking treatment; however, researchers have observed a shift in heroin use patterns, from injection to sniffing and smoking. In fact, sniffing/snorting heroin is now a widely reported means of taking heroin among users admitted for drug treatment. Heroin addicts often name kicking this habit as the hardest thing to do in life. Many experience extreme symptoms of withdrawal that take an extreme physical toll on them making it seemingly impossible to break the cycle of abuse.

Drug addiction is a serious problem that can affect us all. Whether you
know someone who has had a drug or alcohol problem, or have one
yourself, there is a way to get help.

Effective drug rehabilitation addresses both the physical dependence and
the psychological addiction of the substance abuser. By treating both
the dependence and the addiction harmoniously, the patient has the best
chance of making a full, lasting recovery. If only one aspect of the
affliction is addressed, the chance of a relapse increases.

Physical dependency is treated by putting the patient through a complete
and immediate detoxification process, during which time the patient is
not permitted access to either drugs or alcohol. This allows the body to
remove all traces of the abused substance. This process can take days or
months, depending on the substance abused and the length of the abuse,
both of which contribute to the patient’s tolerance to the substance.
Detox should always be closely monitored by trained medical personnel,
as withdrawal symptoms can be potentially life-threatening.

Once all traces of the drug have been removed from the body, the
psychological desire to continue using can become overwhelming. In order
to help overcome this addiction, it is recommended that the patient
enter into a custom counseling program or sober living facility. Twelve-step programs
are also recommended and they are one of the most effective ways to
battle this psychological desire.

In addition to regular counseling of some sort, the patient should be
diligent in maintaining a drug-free lifestyle. Especially at the
beginning of their treatment, they should distance themselves from
substance abusers and situations where substance abuse might be
occurring, even if this means alienating their friends. If a patient is
particularly susceptible to peer pressure, extended inpatient therapy
might be recommended to help establish a drug-free environment during
the most critical first stages of treatment. For those patients whose
addiction is not as severe, outpatient treatment is available.

Making the commitment to recover from a serious substance abuse problem
is a lifestyle change, and therefore it is not something that happens
overnight. The reasons people begin using and abusing drugs are
different for everyone, and the most effective rehabilitation plans are
custom tailored to each individual’s needs. Once the physical dependence
has been combated, the psychological addiction must be faced every day
for the rest of the patient’s life.

There is no magic wand to make an addict suddenly not be an addict
anymore, but with diligence and a strong foundation from a good drug
rehabilitation program, the recovering addict can lead a normal,
successful life.

Approximately 100 years after cocaine entered into use, a new variation of the substance emerged. This substance, crack, became enormously popular in the mid-1980s due in part to its almost immediate high and the fact that it is inexpensive to produce and buy.

Crack is a highly addictive form of cocaine that is typically smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound heard when the substance is heated, presumably from the sodium bicarbonate that is used in the production of crack. Smoking crack delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. These effects are felt almost immediately after smoking, are very intense, but do not last long. For example, the high from smoking cocaine may last from 5 to 10 minutes, while the high from snorting the drug can last for 15 to 20 minutes.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Compulsive cocaine use seems to develop more rapidly when the substance is smoked rather than snorted. A tolerance to the cocaine high may be developed and many addicts report that they fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first cocaine exposure. Sources say that crack cocaine users can become addicted to the drug as early as the first hit. Many who have become addicted say that kicking the habit may be the hardest thing they have ever had to do.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. The pure chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years, and coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been ingested for thousands of years.

Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as coke, C, snow, or blow. Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active drugs as procaine (a chemically-related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants such as amphetamines.

Cocaine can be snorted through the nose, smoked, or injected. Injecting cocaine — or injecting any drug — carries the added risk of infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, if the user shares a needle with a person already infected with the virus. The drug can also be rubbed onto mucous tissues. Some users combine cocaine powder or crack with heroin making what is called a speedball.

Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling the extent to which he or she will continue to use the drug. Use of cocaine in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses, leads to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. This may result in a full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations.

Users often report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, and cocaine can trigger paranoia. Users also report being depressed when they are not using the drug and often resume use to alleviate further depression. In addition, cocaine users frequently find that they need more and more cocaine more often to generate the same level of stimulation. Therefore, any use can lead to addiction.