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Armada Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Over 14% of Americans over the age of 12 have used cocaine at least once in their lifetime. Unfortunately, even using it once can cause serious effects. Our cocaine addiction treatment team can provide empathetic care that will keep you safe—and out of the emergency room.
Cocaine
The Ohio Department of Health reports that stimulant-related deaths, mostly from cocaine and methamphetamine, have more than doubled in the past decade. In 2023 alone, cocaine was involved in nearly one in four overdose deaths statewide. Cocaine addiction is a terrible illness that robs people of their health, futures, and tragically, their lives. If you have fallen victim to addiction or you’re worried about cocaine someone you love, understanding the signs, dangers, and recovery paths is the first step to peace and healing.
Key Takeaways
- Cocaine addiction develops progressively through abuse, dependence, and compulsive use.
- Ohio continues to experience a major rise in stimulant-related overdose deaths.
- Addiction is influenced by both biology and environment, including trauma and social networks.
- Withdrawal can be difficult, making professional detox and structured rehab essential.
- Armada Recovery offers detox, rehab, and long-term support in Akron and Dayton.
What is cocaine addiction?
Cocaine addiction means that using the drug has stopped being a choice. It is when, no matter how much you want or have tried to stop, you keep using, even though you see the damage it is doing to you. Cocaine addiction is also known as “cocaine use disorder”, and it is a huge issue in both Ohio and across the United States.
What are the symptoms of cocaine addiction?
The signs of cocaine addiction can vary a lot from person to person, and many people only realize they are in trouble when friends or family become concerned. If you’re starting to worry about yourself or someone you love, here are some significant cocaine addiction signs:
Unexplained excitability or agitation
Frequently dilated pupils
Out-of-character mood swings
Burns on hands and lips
Unexplained weight loss
Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Financial and legal problems due to the cost of cocaine
Social isolation and loss of interest in important things
Risky or inappropriate behavior when high or to get more cocaine
Frequent sinus issues and nosebleeds
White residue around the nose and mouth
Lying to friends and family about cocaine use
Trying to quit many times unsuccessfully
What are the stages of cocaine addiction?
While any amount of cocaine abuse is dangerous, drug addiction usually takes time to develop. This typically over three stages, which get progressively more serious:
Stage 1
Cocaine abuse
Over 14% of Americans over the age of 12 have used cocaine at least once in their lifetime, and many people only use it once or very occasionally. Cocaine abuse has a few different definitions, but it generally means a pattern of cocaine use, taking it all the time, or mixing it with different drugs or alcohol.
People initially take cocaine for different reasons, including socializing, letting off steam, or getting through long hours at work. While you may only take a little at first, all of these are slippery slopes to cocaine addiction.
Stage 2
Cocaine dependence
Cocaine dependence is a chemical and physical change inside your body, which means you can no longer function properly if you stop taking it. Cocaine floods your brain and nervous system with massive amounts of dopamine, the most powerful pleasure chemical. If you keep using, your brain adjusts by producing less dopamine naturally.
We need dopamine for mood and energy, so if you stop, and dopamine levels crash, you go into cocaine withdrawal. This brings unpleasant symptoms like exhaustion, anxiety, and depression, which make you start using again.
Stage 3
Cocaine addiction
Dependence is when your body expects the drug, but cocaine addiction is when it becomes something you can’t imagine living without. Even when cocaine is quite clearly hurting you, the need to use overrides logic, health worries, and the concern of loved ones. This pattern of knowing the dangers yet feeling powerless to stop is the definition of cocaine addiction.
Cocaine addiction and abuse in Ohio
- An estimated 185,000 Ohio residents aged 12 or older used cocaine in 2022.
- In 2023, cocaine was involved in 39% of all unintentional deaths in Ohio (up from 33% in 2022).
- Of those 2023 overdose deaths, about 79% involved the mixing of cocaine and Fentanyl.
What causes cocaine addiction?
Cocaine addiction isn't only chemistry, though the drug’s effects on dopamine play a big part. Most people who become addicted also have personal, social, or emotional factors that make them more vulnerable:
Personal and family history
Addiction often runs in families because of both genetics and environment. Some people inherit a biologically higher risk, while others grow up around drug use and learn to see it as normal.Cocaine addiction and mental health
You may have started taking cocaine because of stress, depression, or some past trauma. The brief relief cocaine gives usually leads to bigger lows later, which can make the urge to use again enormous.Accessibility and social environment
Cocaine is widely available in Ohio and often mixed with fentanyl, increasing the danger. Between 2014 and 2023, overdose rates involving both fentanyl and cocaine were more than twice as high among non-Hispanic Black residents as among White or Hispanic populations. This shows how deeply social and economic factors shape the risk of addiction.Social life and relationships
Being surrounded by friends, family, or co-workers who use cocaine can make stopping feel almost impossible. Recovery often begins by changing that environment to reduce relapse triggers.What are the side effects of cocaine addiction?
Cocaine addiction is a life-threatening condition that also carries significant non-fatal health and personal risk. Some of the biggest include:
Coma
Stroke
Anxiety
Psychosis
Depression
Heart attack
Bloodborne disease
Nasal damage
Permanent heart damage
What does treatment for cocaine addiction involve?
The first step in recovering from cocaine addiction is an inpatient medical detox. Cocaine withdrawal isn’t usually dangerous, but it can still be unpleasant and frightening. At Armada Recovery, cocaine detox is led by our expert team, who will keep you comfortable and look after your medical needs.
The next stage is cocaine rehab, where therapy and structure replace the chaos of addiction. We provide outpatient rehab at our centres in Akron and Dayton, incorporating a range of different therapies and proven treatment techniques.
After that, Armada offers ongoing guidance and support so you have everything you need for lifelong recovery. In some cases, this may mean partial hospitalization or further outpatient care.
Get Help for your Cocaine Addiction Today
If cocaine addiction is putting you or your loved ones in danger, Armada Recovery is here to help. Contact us today for expert advice and more information on our cocaine recovery plans and treatment centers.
FAQs
- How do I know if someone is addicted to cocaine? Look for behavioral changes, physical symptoms like dilated pupils or sinus issues, and patterns of secrecy or financial trouble.
- Is cocaine withdrawal dangerous? It is typically not medically dangerous, but the emotional and psychological symptoms can be intense and require support.
- What treatments work best for cocaine addiction? Medical detox followed by structured rehab and ongoing support offers the best outcomes for long-term recovery.
Sources
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2024/10/30/file_attachments/3052169/2023%2BUnintentional%2BDrug%2BOverdose%2BAnnual%2BReport_FINAL.pdfhttps://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39467/2021NSDUHsaeSpecificStatesTabs122022_0/NSDUHsaeOhio2021.pdf
https://ccbh.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IncreasingRacialDisparitiesInOhioOverdoseRates_3.2025.pdf
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