Can You Overdose on Cocaine?
Have stimulants been contributing to the nation’s ongoing overdose epidemic? Can you overdose on cocaine?
Contact Bright Future Recovery today to begin cocaine addiction treatment in Northern California.
Table of Contents
How Does Cocaine Affect the Body?
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that increases activity within the brain and central nervous system. It accomplishes this by artificially elevating the levels of several neurotransmitters and hormones, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
These chemicals influence a wide range of physical and psychological functions, including mood, motivation, alertness, energy, appetite, and sex drive.
Typically, when these chemicals are released into synapses – or small gaps between nerve cells – they deliver their message and then are transported back to the sending neuron, which reabsorbs them for future use.
Cocaine triggers increased release of the chemicals, then temporarily prevents them from being reabsorbed. This has the effect of amplifying the messages they are delivering.
When cocaine’s effects wear off, the person who used the drug will usually experience a physical and psychological “crash.” To prevent this from occurring, people often use cocaine multiple times in a brief period, which is known as bingeing.
Cocaine binges can increase a person’s risk for several negative outcomes, including addiction and overdose.
Can You Overdose on Cocaine?
Yes, you can overdose on cocaine. Every year, thousands of people in the U.S. die from overdoses involving cocaine – and the problem has worsened considerably in recent years:
- According to data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), cocaine was a factor in 29,449 overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2023.
- This 2023 rate represented an 84% increase from 2019, when the U.S. recorded 15,883 cocaine-related overdose deaths).
- It also marked a stunning 334% increase from 2015, when cocaine contributed to 6,784 overdose deaths.
Many of these deaths also involved fentanyl or other opioids, which underscores the danger of polysubstance abuse, while some occurred solely due to cocaine use.
Signs of Cocaine Overdose
Common signs of cocaine overdose include:
- Extreme confusion or disorientation
- Panic and paranoia
- Excessive sweating
- Spike in body temperature
- Racing or otherwise abnormal heart rate
- Tightness or pain in the chest
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Tics and tremors
- Seizure
Anyone who exhibits these types of symptoms after using cocaine needs immediate medical attention. As indicated by the statistics listed earlier, without a timely and effective response, a cocaine overdose can end in death.
How to Respond to Cocaine Overdose
If you are with someone who overdoses on cocaine, you should:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Stay with the person until help arrives.
- If they are unconscious, roll them onto their side to prevent choking if they vomit.
- Be prepared to tell the first responders as much as you can about how much cocaine the person used and if they were also using other drugs.
Remember: Narcan does NOT reverse the effects of cocaine overdose. It is only effective when a person has overdosed on heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, or another opioid.
If the person who overdosed on cocaine was also using opioids, Narcan may be beneficial. But you still need to call 911 first. Even if the individual is revived with Narcan, they may still be in danger, and they have to be evaluated by a qualified medical professional.
Warning Signs of Cocaine Addiction
The best ways to avoid cocaine overdose are to stop using the drug, or to never use it in the first place. If the thought of no longer using cocaine is problematic for you, that can be a sign that you’ve developed an addiction.
Cocaine addiction is a treatable condition. But before you can get help, you need to be evaluated by a qualified professional who can recommend appropriate treatment options.
Is it time to get this process started? If you’re not sure, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you often use cocaine in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than you intended?
- Do you experience cravings or urges to use cocaine?
- Have you ever tried to stop using cocaine, but found that you were unable to do so?
- Do you use cocaine in circumstances that you know are especially hazardous, such as by combining it with other drugs?
- Have you failed to fulfill your responsibilities at home, in school, or at work because of your cocaine use?
- Have you continued to use cocaine after developing a medical or mental health problem that was either caused or made worse by your prior use of the drug?
- Have you continued to use cocaine after experiencing personal or social difficulties, such as losing a relationship or being arrested, as a result of your prior use of the drug?
- Have you ended or reduced your participation in activities that you used to enjoy as a result of your cocaine use?
- Do you need to use larger or more potent doses of cocaine to experience the full effects of the drug?
- When you don’t use cocaine for a day or two, do you start to develop withdrawal symptoms?
If you can answer yes to any of the questions listed above, it may be time to talk to your doctor or schedule an assessment at a reputable addiction treatment center near you.
Get Help for Cocaine Addiction in Northern California
Bright Future Recovery is a premier cocaine addiction treatment center in Northern California.
We offer a full continuum of personalized care for adults who have become addicted to cocaine and other drugs. Treatment options at our center include detox, residential rehab, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a virtual outpatient program.
When you choose our center, we’ll work closely with you to identify the full scope of your needs and help you set appropriate short- and long-term goals. Then we’ll develop a customized plan to help you find your path toward a healthier future in recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
