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Cocaine is a drug that produces feelings of euphoria and offers users the perception of feeling energetic and alert. It is known as a party drug and is commonly taken by people on a night out. However, it is an extremely addictive drug, and addiction is becoming a growing problem.
One of the biggest issues with cocaine is that the effects do not last very long. This often prompts the user to take more to get the effects once more. By taking more of the drug, the individual will quickly build up a tolerance to it and will continue to take more and more each time until he or she becomes dependent on the substance. Those who use cocaine are at risk of overdose and addiction.
Treating Cocaine Addiction
For many years, cocaine addiction has been considered one of the most difficult addictions to treat. This is because of the way the drug changes the way the brain functions. Cocaine addicts will often experience intense cravings for the drug, even after they have been through detox. Recovering cocaine addicts can continue to have these cravings for years and many end up relapsing.
Nevertheless, scientists at the University of Kentucky have now discovered a chemical treatment that could be effective in the fight against cocaine addiction. This chemical compound is said to block the high produced by cocaine and also prevents the physiological effects of the drug.
Cocaine Hydrolases
This chemical enzyme is called cocaine hydrolases, and it is hoped that it can be used as a treatment for cocaine addiction because of its long-term effects. It has already been approved for use in the treatment of heroin addiction by the US Food and Drug Administration, but researchers are hoping this can be extended to the treatment of cocaine addiction.
According to findings from the study, An ideal anti-cocaine medication would accelerate cocaine metabolism, producing biologically inactive metabolites by administration of an efficient cocaine-specific exogenous enzyme.
The aim of the scientists involved was to find an effective treatment for cocaine addiction that could block the physiological effects without affecting brain function and other organs within the body, particularly the heart.
Preventing Relapse
Scientists were also hoping that they could discover a treatment to prevent the common problem of relapse within recovering cocaine addicts; it would appear as though cocaine hydrolases may have the potential to achieve this.
The medication has been proven to be safe for use in humans, but scientists faced a problem in that the compound does not stay in the body long enough to achieve the required effects. Nonetheless, scientists countered this problem by adding human immunoglobulin G antibodies to the compound, which resulted in it becoming more effective. In so doing, the drug can be administered to recovering cocaine addicts every two to four weeks and could block cocaine-induced hyperactivity and toxicity.
Consequences of a Cocaine Addiction
As mentioned above, cocaine is highly addictive because the drug wears off quickly, meaning users generally take more of it to continue feeling euphoric. However, it is a harmful drug that causes a number of side effects, some of which can be very serious. Cocaine users often experience rapid heart rate, shaking, heart pain, hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Long-term cocaine users will usually suffer from anxiety, depression and extreme fatigue. They may often experience chest pain, headaches, seizures and will have an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and psychosis.
Help for Addiction
Here at Rehab Helper, we understand the seriousness of a cocaine addiction and are doing all we can to ensure that as many people as possible get the help they need. If you or a loved one is suffering from a cocaine addiction, contact us today for information on where to get the treatment that could help you to overcome your illness.
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