Cocaine is typically snorted or injected into a vein. It can also be rubbed onto the gums. Crack is made from cocaine. It can be smoked for a stronger effect. Cocaine causes a very powerful mental and physical dependence.
Once you have a dependence, you'll do just about anything to get the drug and have the feeling it gives you. This can increase your risk for:
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Overdose that may lead to death
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Loss of your job, your home, or your family
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Accidental injuries to yourself or others while you are under the influence of the drug (in a car or at home)
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Arrest, conviction, and jail sentence for possession of an illegal substance or for driving under the influence
Medically, cocaine can affect every organ in your body. It can cause:
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Chest pain, heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia), heart attack, and heart failure
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Very high blood pressure
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Severe headache, seizures, loss of consciousness, and stroke
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Anxiety, psychosis, confusion, paranoia, and hallucinations
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Nasal damage from snorting
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Nausea, belly (abdominal) pain, and loss of appetite
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Chronic bronchitis and shortness of breath from smoking
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Higher risk for HIV infection, hepatitis B or C, and heart infection. This is from IV use, risky sexual behavior while high, or both.
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Kidney failure
Home care
These tips will help you care for yourself at home:
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Admit you have a drug problem. Ask for help from your family and close friends.
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See a mental health provider or counselor if you have depression or anxiety.
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Join a self-help group for drug abuse.
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Stay away from people who abuse drugs themselves or who tempt you to continue abusing the drug.
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Eat a balanced diet and start a regular exercise program.
If you continue to use IV cocaine, lower your risk of getting or spreading infection by:
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Using only sterile equipment
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Not reusing or sharing equipment
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Cleaning your skin before injecting
Follow-up care
Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.
Contact 1 of the resources below for help:
Call 911
Call
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Seizure
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Hard time breathing or slow, irregular breathing
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Chest pain
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Sudden weakness on 1 side of your body or sudden trouble speaking
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Very drowsy or trouble waking up
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Fast heart rate
When to get medical advice
Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:
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Agitation, anxiety, or unable to sleep
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Unintended weight loss. This means more than 10 to 15 pounds over 6 months without dieting.
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Hallucination, severe depression, or thoughts of harming yourself or another
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Fever of 100.4°F (38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your provider
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Redness, pain, or swelling at an injection site
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Loss of vision or decreased vision
