5 Astonishing Facts About Cocaine Abuse
Illegal drugs are no laughing matter. Whether you’ve tried them yourself in the past or you’ve steered clear of them, there’s no denying the negative health impacts any kind of illegal drugs can have on both your physical and mental health.
It’s also safe to say that cocaine is one of the worst offenders when it comes to bodily harm, yet, even if the statistics and impact studies widely publicized and accessible online, still an incredible 61% of young people in America are said to have tried it once or more.
Figures back this that over 5,000 Americans will try it for the first time every single day and is one of the most addictive of all drugs, the number of addicts is reflecting this increase. But still, the facts are clear, but usage is still on the rise.
If you’re interested in learning more about the subject, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re going to explore five of the most astonishing facts you probably didn’t know, helping you stay as educated as possible on the subject.
1 – Highs and Comedowns aren’t the Only Problems
When you snort cocaine, you get high, and the next day (or usually within about 20 minutes) you’ll start to feel the comedown, which is where addiction comes from. However, these are the least of your health problems.
If you’re out partying with friends and strangers, using the same straws as someone else, whether that’s a straw, a rolled-up note or piece of paper, or whatever you’re using to sniff the cocaine, dramatically increases your risk of catching diseases like Hepatitis C and HIV.
2 – It’s Harmful
We’ve already discussed that cocaine is exceptionally harmful to the body and nervous system, and there’s a ton of information you can find out online. However, not many realize that in terms of addiction and physical harm, cocaine is second only to heroin.
This should indicate just how harmful the drug can be, and consuming it, even if it’s one time or several ‘bumps,’ can have long-lasting effects of your mind and body.
3 – It Can Kill You Instantly
Even if you’ve never snorted cocaine before, if you’ve been smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, or using any other kind of drugs, sniffing cocaine and mixing it within your system, given the ‘right’ circumstances, can kill you instantly.
4 – It’s the Hardest Drug to Quit
Hand in hand with point #2, cocaine is one of the hardest drugs to quit, especially the harder and more controlling the addiction gets. What’s more, in addition to the physical urges, the withdrawal symptoms include anger, stress, anxiety, depression and similar mental conditions.
Thankfully, there are plenty of rehab and help services out there designed to support you or a loved one. You can more read more here if cocaine addiction is affecting your own life. Nevertheless, even with professional help, tackling and overcoming the habit can be extremely difficult.
5 – It’s Illegal. Very Illegal.
While we all know that drugs are illegal, even a small possession of crack cocaine lead to a minimum of a five-year prison sentence; even if you haven’t taken any. Even holding it for a friend can result in this sentence if caught. Is it worth the risk?
Summary
As you can see, there are so many negative connotations to using or even associating yourself with cocaine, and there are many side effects that can affect you for the rest of your life. While your decisions are your own, it’s important to be mindful of the ones you’re making.
