Narconon Reviews The Effects Of Cocaine On The Brain

A drug used by nearly 5 million Americans every year, cocaine is one of the oldest substances of abuse known to mankind. The drug was used in ancient times as a numbing agent and derives from the leaves of the coca plant. During the 1900’s cocaine was popular in dental procedures until it became illegal years later because of the risks associated with the drug and the levels of continued abuse.

Use of the drug continued, although declining until the 1980s when cocaine saw resurgence. This was primarily due to the use of a cocaine derivative called crack. A rock form of the drug made from cooking down powder cocaine using a specific process, crack is now used by 1 million U.S. citizens yearly.

Cocaine’s Effect On The Brain

While all illegal drugs cause damage to both the body and the brain cocaine has been studied and reports of the effects of cocaine on the brain are severe.  Part of the reason for this is because once a user is addicted to cocaine it is nearly impossible to stop without professional treatment. And even with some programs, if they are not long enough or do not resolve the physical cravings that cocaine causes after use an individual can relapse for years, unable to quit.

And according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse when a user continues to snort, smoke or inject cocaine it greatly modifies the natural reward system in the brain. This changes the “natural reward” system chemicals produced from the brain called serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. Even after someone stops using these chemicals are not made at normal rates throwing off the brain balance and causing mental withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Anger
• Paranoia
• Panic Attacks
• Periods of excessive grief.
• Full blown psychosis
• Suicidal thoughts and actions.

The fact that the more the individual uses the more cocaine they need just complicates things. This ‘cocaine tolerance’ can increase and increase until one could be using thousands of dollars of cocaine every week without blinking an eye.

According to Narconon reviews, the effects of cocaine on the brain can be lasting and sometimes even permanent. However, there are ways to erase these effects and it is through long term treatment that is completely drug free.

Although withdrawal from cocaine can be uncomfortable and mentally anguishing it is usually not medically dangerous. Individuals will go through a few days of symptoms and then can begin a rehabilitation program that lasts 3 months or more. This gives both the body and brain time to ‘heal’ and the natural reward system of the body to begin to produce normal levels of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins again.

To resolve the physical craving side, programs like the Narconon sauna or New Life Detoxification program are effective for removing cocaine drug residues from the body and drastically reducing cravings.

The more time one is drug free and living a healthy lifestyle with exercise, a nutritious diet, vitamin and mineral supplements and a basic good sleeping schedule the more they will be able to recover from the effects of cocaine on the brain.

Sources:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/cocaine

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine-abuse-addiction/what-are-long-term-effects-cocaine-use