Is Cocaine Addictive?

Cocaine is a potent stimulant drug that alters activity within the brain’s reward system, which is located in the limbic system. Cocaine acts on this system by increasing the activity of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter, or brain signaling molecule, involved with several different brain processes, including those that prompt sensations of pleasure and reward.¹ This euphoric feeling increases a user’s motivation to continue using cocaine, thus creating a cycle of problematic drug abuse that can escalate to cocaine addiction. Although cocaine is highly addictive, not everyone who uses it will become addicted. The addictive potential of cocaine for each person depends on a number of factors, such as genes, environmental risk factors, protective factors, and more.

If you suffer from a cocaine addiction, you may find it difficult to quit on your own. This is where professional cocaine detox and addiction treatment programs come in. Entering detox followed by a comprehensive recovery program is a highly recommended way to stop using cocaine and help ensure your health and overall well-being.

Cocaine’s Immediate Effects and Dopamine

The limbic system consists of several key brain regions (such as the nucleus accumbens) that together play a role in a variety of functions, including mood and motivation. Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter that stimulates the limbic system and triggers feelings of reward and pleasure related to pro-survival behaviors, such as eating and having sex. Cells that are responsive to dopamine are highly concentrated in the limbic system, particularly so in the nucleus accumbens.²

Under normal circumstances, your body manufactures and releases the requisite amount of dopamine needed to regulate many neurobiological processes and keep brain cells operating at optimal levels. Dopamine is manufactured by brain cells known as dopaminergic neurons. This important substance helps to regulate the pace of nerve cells — it is necessary for helping people stay motivated to accomplish goals, increasing muscle activity when needed, and helping your brain work faster in certain situations.²

While many people will become addicted if they use cocaine repeatedly, certain risk factors can increase its addictive potential. Genetic makeup is one of the most important factors that can influence the likelihood of developing a cocaine addiction.

Important Changes in Gene Expression

Genes are often referred to as the blueprint for life, and this is because they are the drivers of heredity and are responsible for determining countless individual characteristics. Every cell in your body has roughly 30,000 genes that provide instructions for manufacturing cellular proteins — the building blocks of your body. Each cell expresses, or turns on, just a small amount of the full genetic material contained within. Whether a gene is expressed depends on many factors.² Gene expression can change depending on environmental factors (including food), exposure to toxins, or the presence of drugs in the body.⁴ Cocaine abuse can impact the expression of numerous genes in the limbic system.⁵

When researchers refer to the “addiction gene,” they are actually examining specific biological differences that can make someone more susceptible to addiction. There isn’t just one gene that predicts and causes addiction — scientists believe that multiple genes, combined with environmental risk factors, can influence addiction. They also believe certain genes may be linked to specific addictions. For example, the A1 allele (or variant form of a gene) of the dopamine receptor gene known as DRD2 is more common in people who are addicted to cocaine.⁶ Additionally, research has revealed that mice without HTR1B, a serotonin receptor gene, are more likely to self-administer cocaine. Genes work as a protective factor as well; mice without a certain subunit of nicotinic cholinergic receptors experience diminished pleasure when exposed to cocaine.⁶ In this way, your specific genes can influence whether you continue to use cocaine after trying it and to what degree you respond to the drug.

Another particular genetic component affected by cocaine abuse that has been of interest to researchers is a protein known as ?FosB. This protein is a pace-setting chemical like dopamine, but unlike dopamine, it doesn’t leave the cell where it was manufactured. Instead, it remains in the cell and stimulates certain genes. Long-term exposure to cocaine causes ?FosB to increase in the cell. This buildup has been closely correlated to addiction. In experimental studies with mice exposed to cocaine, researchers found that elevated levels of ?FosB produced behaviors that resembled addiction—including cravings and self-administering of the drug. The effects of cocaine on ?FosB are long-lasting.²

In other words, repeated exposure to cocaine can produce important genetic and biochemical changes that can affect your chances of developing an addiction.

Cocaine Dependence

When you use cocaine regularly, your body adapts to the excess levels of active dopamine caused by cocaine use. It starts producing less on its own, since it has more than enough. It also may reduce the number of postsynaptic receptors that receive dopamine. As long you keep using cocaine, your nervous system maintains a feeling of continuous reward. At this  point, problems may begin to arise when you stop using cocaine, because your natural dopamine production has decreased. Without cocaine, your dopamine activity can become extremely low; should this occur, you may be unable to experience pleasure and may feel depressed.³

With repeated exposure to the drug, you can build up a tolerance to cocaine. This means that you need to use higher amounts or more frequent doses of the drug in order to achieve the same, desired results. In attempts to overcome an ever-increasing tolerance with increasing drug use, you may hasten the development of cocaine dependence. This means that your body requires the drug in order to function properly and you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop using. Chronic cocaine abuse, and the accompanying development of both tolerance and significant physiological dependence can lead to or promote the development of addiction.

Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine addiction means that you continue using despite the negative consequences it has on your overall life and well-being. A person who is addicted to cocaine may exhibit certain indicators, such as:⁷

• Experiencing strong cravings for more of the drug.
• Spending a lot of time trying to obtain or use cocaine.
• Being unable to cut down use, even if you want to.
• Being unable to fulfill certain home, school, or work obligations because of drug use.
• Continuing cocaine use despite knowing that it is negatively affecting your relationships and social life.
• Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of cocaine use.

However, even though cocaine is extremely addictive, not everyone will develop an addiction. There are factors that can either increase or decrease an individual’s risk of becoming addicted to cocaine.

Factors Associated with Cocaine Addiction

Remember that environmental factors and your unique genetic makeup influence the development of cocaine addiction. Whether you live in an area where cocaine is easily available also plays a role—after all, if you cannot readily access cocaine, you’re less likely to become addicted to it. In any given area, the availability of cocaine may be determined by several factors, including:⁵

• Predominating religious influences.
• Cultural influences.
• Local social policy.
• Current economic status.
• Regional prevalence of narcotics trafficking.

Some of these risk factors include:^8,9,10

• Weak family ties.
• Family consumption of alcohol.
• Lack of parental supervision during childhood.
• Early childhood trauma, such as abuse or neglect.
• Poverty.
• Early age at first drug use.
• Peer pressure, especially during the teen years.
• Parental or sibling substance abuse.
• Childhood conduct problems, such as aggressive behavior or conduct disorder.
• Childhood impulsivity, sensation-seeking, attention problems, and lack of emotional regulation.
• Family history of psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or antisocial personality disorder.

However, certain protective factors can reduce the risk of addiction, including:^8,10

• The capacity for self-control.
• A strong parent-child bond.
• Proper parental monitoring in childhood.
• Good academic performance.
• Positive, supportive relationships.
• A strong attachment to your neighborhood.

If you or someone you know is addicted to cocaine, there is help available. Quitting can be difficult, particularly with the presence of distressing withdrawal symptoms. Detox programs can mitigate many of the unwanted effects and help stabilize you.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

If you become addicted to cocaine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop using. Some common cocaine withdrawal symptoms that can occur right after you stop using include:^11,12

• Irritability and anxiety.
• Dysphoria, meaning a profound sense of dissatisfaction.
• Depression.
• Feeling exhausted and fatigued.
• A general feeling of discomfort.
• Increased appetite.
• Vivid and unpleasant dreams.

Some withdrawal symptoms that may persist for up to 10 weeks after you stop using include:¹²

• Increased cravings for cocaine.
• Poor concentration.
• Lethargy.
• Irritability.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult for people to quit; many people continue using as a way of avoiding or relieving these symptoms, which only perpetuates the cycle of abuse.

---

Does your insurance cover treatment for cocaine withdrawal?

We can help – check your coverage instantly or text us your questions to find out more.

---

Cocaine Detox Near Me

Professional detox treatment is a highly recommended way to help you deal with cravings and managing withdrawal symptoms. Detox programs provide you with the medical monitoring and emotional and psychological support you need to help you safely and comfortably withdraw from cocaine.

Once you have successfully withdrawn from cocaine and are stabilized, your detox program will also set the stage for your ongoing recovery by providing you with a follow-up plan. An aftercare plan  includes connecting you with cocaine addiction treatment facilities that may suit your individual needs. These facilities will teach you to replace negative drug-abusing behaviors with more positive and healthy options and help you take steps toward leading a more rewarding and drug-free life.

---

---