Nicotine may not seem like a dangerous drug since smoking is legal for adults. While you can’t necessarily overdose on most nicotine-containing substances in the same way you can on other drugs, you can become toxic from ingesting the juice made for vaping devices and suffer long-term damage to your body. Cigarette smoke is especially toxic, containing more than 5,000 chemicals. 

While tobacco use has declined in the past few decades, it is still widely consumed, with more than 34 million Americans still smoking or using other tobacco products regularly. Nicotine is highly addictive, with many cigarette users wanting to quit but finding it difficult to do so. In fact, many people quit multiple times, with little success.

But you can quit, and if you’re ready to do so, there is help available. Pinnacle Treatment Centers can help you quit nicotine and other substances. 

What Does Nicotine Do?

Nicotine is classified as both a central nervous system stimulant and a depressant. When a person uses cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco, the nicotine is rapidly absorbed into their bloodstream. The brain experiences the effects in just a few seconds. 

At first, nicotine releases epinephrine, a hormone that induces feelings of pleasure. It also releases beta-endorphin, a hormone that inhibits pain. Then the drug acts as a depressant, causing a person to feel relaxed and euphoric. This causes the person to use more cigarettes, which leads to chronic use and addiction.

How Does Nicotine Affect the Body?

Nicotine has a widespread effect on the human body. It can cause damage to nearly every organ, and smokers generally die earlier than non-smokers. 

One of the biggest threats to smokers is lung cancer. Tobacco use also increases the risk of developing the following conditions:

• Stroke
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Blood clots
• Emphysema
• Bronchitis

Tobacco products can also cause many other cancers, such as:

• Stomach
• Pancreatic
• Kidney
• Bladder
• Laryngeal
• Esophageal
• Cervical

Smoking affects women in specific ways as well. Those who smoke while taking oral contraceptives have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, women who smoke while pregnant are more likely to have a child who is premature, stillborn, or with chronic medical conditions. 

Nicotine Treatment Options

Even if you’ve been smoking for decades, it’s never too late to quit. The most successful treatments for those who want to quit tobacco use involve both behavioral therapies and medications. Varenicline (more commonly known as Chantix) is a typically used anti-smoking aid. However, it is not used for teens who smoke since its effectiveness on younger people is not well-studied. 

Behavioral therapy is especially helpful and can be done in person or remotely. This type of therapy helps patients identify triggers that cause them to smoke and teaches them effective coping strategies, such as relaxation techniques. 

Patches and gums are also available to help you quit smoking by slowly releasing nicotine into your body. They manage cravings and help prevent withdrawal symptoms. Many people try to quit cold turkey, but this is the least effective way to do so.

About Pinnacle Treatment Centers

At Pinnacle Treatment Centers, we understand there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. Everyone responds differently, which is why we offer flexible treatment options. Our modern approaches are customized to fit your needs. 

Our staff will focus on you. We want to find what works for you, so we offer custom therapy plans. We can help you get through your addiction with individual and family therapy and counseling, yoga, mindfulness, exercise, and outdoor activities. We look forward to helping you learn more about diagnosis and treatment. 

Contact Us Today

Long-term Tobacco use can lead to a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and death. Let Pinnacle Treatment Centers help you quit smoking. A tobacco-free life is within reach. Contact us today so we can create a treatment plan that’s right for you.

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What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a Schedule II stimulant drug, which means it is classified as an extremely addictive substance that is often abused. Recreational use of cocaine is illegal, but some doctors may use the drug for local anesthesia in some cases.

How Is Cocaine Used?

The drug may be injected, smoked, rubbed into the gums, or snorted. It is typically sold as a white powder and may be mixed with flour or cornstarch on the streets (to stretch the drug and boost profit margins). Though the intensity of cocaine’s effects may vary depending on consumption method, any drug use can be dangerous or even deadly.

How Does Cocaine Work?

Cocaine affects the brain by boosting dopamine levels, which are neurotransmitters related to reward and movement control. Because the brain is flooded with feel-good dopamine, users are highly likely to continue taking the drug. However, frequent use creates a tolerance, meaning users must take stronger doses to obtain the same high.

Street Names for Cocaine

This stimulant is bought and sold under many different street names, which may vary depending on the region. Some of the most common street names include:

• Coke
• Charlie
• Rock
• Speedball (cocaine mixed with heroin)
• Flake
• Blow
• Candy
• Snow

Cocaine Short-Term Effects

The “high” that comes from cocaine use is typically very fast and short-lived, taking effect within seconds and lasting about 15-30 minutes. Here are some of the short-term effects of the drug on the mind and body:

• Rush of happiness
• Feeling of euphoria
• Boost of energy
• Mental alertness
• Extreme sensitivity to surroundings, sounds, etc.
• Sense of paranoia
• Irregular heartbeat
• Convulsions
• Stroke

Cocaine Long-Term Effects

Those who use cocaine frequently may experience more severe long-term symptoms, such as:

• Loss of smell
• Difficulty swallowing
• Respiratory complications
• Risk of pneumonia
• Bowel decay
• Risk of HIV and hepatitis C
• Skin infections
• Collapsed veins

Is Cocaine Addictive?

Yes, cocaine is considered a highly addictive drug because of the fast and intense rush of pleasure it sends to the brain. Those who use cocaine often are likely to develop a physical dependence and go through withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms may include depression, paranoid thoughts, and other mental health issues, but the “crash” is the predominant symptom with strong cravings.

Signs of Cocaine Use

Recognizing the signs of cocaine addiction or abuse allows friends and family members to help those struggling—before it’s too late. Here are some possible signs of cocaine use:

• Appetite loss
• Sleeping for short periods
• Dilated pupils
• Paranoia
• White powder around the nose
• Risky behavior such as lateness, financial trouble, etc.
• Mood swings

Can You Overdose on Cocaine?

It is possible to overdose on cocaine. Because cocaine increases the heart rate, taking a strong or large dose of the drug can cause severe heart problems or even death. Some signs of cocaine overdose include:

• Increased heart rate
• Increased body temperature
• Chest pain
• Body tremors
• Nausea/vomiting
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Panic attack

History of Cocaine

The first known use of cocaine traces back to the Inca people of the Andes mountains in Peru. These ancient people chewed coca leaves for energy and increased heart rate in a high mountain elevation and for religious ceremonies.

A German chemist named Albert Niemann first isolated the drug from the Peruvian coca leaves in 1859. In the late 1880s, the drug became popular for medical use, treating depression, sexual dysfunction, and more.

Researchers learned of the dangers of the drug over time, and by 1980, it became known as a drug linked with addiction, crime, and poverty.

Find Healing with Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Overcoming cocaine addiction can be extremely difficult, but Pinnacle Treatment Centers is here to help those in need. We offer a compassionate approach to healing, helping you every step of the way. Contact us for the support you or a loved one may need to overcome this obstacle and enjoy a new life in recovery.

The post Cocaine: Definition and Guide appeared first on Pinnacle Treatment Centers.

Stimulants have been used for centuries. The Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas used coca and cacao frequently as stimulants. The Olmec started using cacao more than 4,000 years ago and were the first to turn it into chocolate. Many of the stimulants of today started as plants used for medicinal purposes.

Many stimulants, when used in moderation, can be harmless and even helpful, but the world of stimulant drugs does have its dark side, and some stimulants should never be used.

The Definition of Stimulant Drugs

A drug is any substance that has a physiological effect when introduced into the body. When you wake up with a cup of coffee or enjoy the euphoric feeling from that chocolate bar, you’re feeling the effects of the drugs contained therein. Stimulant drugs are drugs that excite the brain and nervous system.

How are Stimulants Ingested?

Whether legal or illicit, stimulants are usually:

• Swallowed
• Snorted
• Smoked
• Injected

Examples of Legal Prescription Stimulants

As with many street drugs, stimulants started out with legitimate medicinal purposes. They are commonly used to help with the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy and include:

• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
• Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine combination (Adderall®)
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin®)
• Prescription stimulant drugs can also be used for weight loss in people who are overweight or obese. Many of them have been approved for long-term use, including Lorcaserin (Belviq®) and Phenterminetopiramate (Qsymia®).

Examples of Illegal Stimulant Drugs

The illegal stimulants most commonly used include:

• Cocaine
• Crack
• Amphetamines
• Methamphetamine
• Ecstasy

Continuing with the common thread, cocaine and amphetamines were originally used medicinally. As a matter of fact, cocaine was once called the “wonder drug.” But their addictive properties have made both unsafe for use in any situation.

It is important to remember that any prescription drug becomes illegal when:

• Taken in a way other than prescribed
• Taken in a dose other than prescribed
• Taken by anyone other than the prescribed patient

Common Legal Stimulants

Just because a stimulant is legal doesn’t mean it’s good for you. A couple of prominent examples are cigarettes and energy drinks. If you’ve pulled an all-nighter with some NoDoz and some Water Joe, you are probably aware of the after-effects of that much caffeine over a lengthy period of time.

A number of products are safe in moderation but can become harmful if consumed in excess or if a person has a sensitivity to stimulants. Coffee and matcha green tea are obvious examples, but did you know that cinnamon is a stimulant? And who knew chia seeds are a stimulant and becoming all the rage among everyone from Wall Street professionals to long-distance runners?

Is Alcohol a Stimulant?

While alcohol may lower inhibitions and make you feel like the life of the party for a time, alcohol is a depressant, making it the opposite of a stimulant. It works by depressing or slowing down the central nervous system —“turning off the brain,” so to speak.

The rush of dopamine may make it seem like a stimulant at first, but unlike stimulants, alcohol slows down cognitive functions, reaction times, thought processes, and speech.

The Short-Term Side Effects of Stimulant Drugs

When stimulants are ingested, the receptors of the brain produce dopamine, also referred to as DA. This is the feel-good, euphoric reaction that drives people to use stimulants. But there are very real negative results as well. The immediate short-term effects include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Rise in blood pressure
• Increased body temperature
• Dilation of pupils
• Heightened, yet scattered, awareness
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Wakefulness/disturbed sleep patterns
• Mood swings
• Panic, anxiety, and psychosis

The Long-Term Risks of Stimulant Drugs

Stimulants are extremely addictive. Cocaine is believed to be one of the most addictive substances on the planet. Meth will imprison most after a single-use. Long-term effects include:

• Permanent damage to blood vessels
• Kidney, liver, and lung damage
• Destruction of tissue at the site of ingestion (nose if inhaled, or the skin around the injection site)
• Respiratory illness and severe tooth decay if smoked
• Malnutrition
• Infection
• Disorientation, even between uses
• Psychosis
• Brain damage
• Death

Common Street Names for Stimulant Drugs

Stimulants as a drug classification are referred to as “uppers” or “speed.” When it comes to the street names for various uppers, the list is as extensive as it is inventive.

• Amphetamines
  • Addies
  • Beans
  • Black beauties
  • Pep pills
  • Dexies
  • Zing
  • Study buddies
  • Smart pills
• Cocaine
  • Coke
  • Blow
  • Rock
  • Crack
  • Yayo
  • Snow
  • Sniff
  • Sneeze
  • White
  • Nose candy
  • Toot
  • Line
  • Dust
  • Flake
• Ecstasy
  • X
  • E
  • XTC
  • Molly
  • Rolls
  • Hug drug
  • Love drug
  • Lover’s speed
  • Adam
  • Eve
  • Clarity
  • Moon rocks
  • Dancing shoes
  • Scooby snacks
  • Candy
  • Peace
• Methamphetamine
  • Crystal
  • Meth
  • Cristy
  • Tina
  • Crank
  • Crissy
  • Tweak
  • Glass
  • Ice
  • Shards
  • Go
  • Whizz
  • Chalk

Users will also give their drug of choice a common, everyday name, so as to be able to speak freely about it in front of others. For example, a phone call to a dealer may sound something like this: “Hey, is your Aunt Bernice in town?” The caller is asking if the drug they want, “Aunt Bernice,” is currently available.

More Than the High: What Are Stimulant Drugs Used For?

Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons that people turn to stimulants, even beyond getting high. It is not uncommon for people to use cocaine or amphetamines as a means to:

• Be more productive
• Enhance performance
• Lose weight

These drugs can be psychologically addictive because of the valuable “benefits” they provide. For many users, this drug use is driven by a poor self-image. They’re trying to make themselves “better.”

The Negative Effects of Stimulant Drugs

We have already addressed the physical and psychological effects on the stimulant user, but what about the people and community surrounding them? In 2015, amphetamine-related hospital costs reached an astounding $2.17 billion. Stimulant-related offenses account for more than 75% of all federal drug offenses.

In 2016, daily users of cocaine and methamphetamine spent approximately $51 billion to support their habit.

There is also the devastating interpersonal cost: relationships ripped asunder; marriages destroyed; lifelong friends becoming strangers; children, spouses, and other loved ones mistreated or neglected. You cannot put a price tag on these costs.

Pinnacle Treatment Centers Can Help

If you or a loved one is suffering from stimulant or any other type of drug addiction, Pinnacle Treatment Centers can help. We have treatment facilities in states throughout the country and are experienced at helping the addicted experience the freedom of recovery.

Call, text, or send us a message today. We can help.

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