I have to be honest. Despite what the movies portray, you might not always be able to tell if you have an Ia-person in your life unless the individual himself tells you. While there are unmistakable indicators of cocaine use, these are typically somewhat subtle at first.
These minute shifts in appearance and behaviour can easily take you by surprise, like sand in a closed hand.
Perhaps you find something off with your partner these days. Or maybe you’re not so sure exactly what’s different about your partner’s look. If it doesn’t feel good, your intuition is likely correct.
Why Knowing the Signs Actually Matters
He is not alone, but the alarming truth is that cocaine does not have a “huge neon sign” that he can point out to anyone. Before people realise what they are dealing with, this stimulant has a clever way of infiltrating their lives and upending everything.
To make matters worse, the person you care about may be stuck in a bad relationship that is hard to escape, even when the signs appear.
The physical symptoms of cocaine use should be detected early. This is the critical moment to intervene and begin changing things for the better. Parents often have a sixth sense for when something isn’t right because they care deeply, rather than being nosy or having good character judgement.
The Tell-Tale Physical Changes You Shouldn’t Ignore
The body is destroyed by cocaine, and it’s easy to see the signs once you know what to expect.
The Nose Knows (Unfortunately)
If a person has been snorting cocaine often, their nose will tell the story. Draining cob on a stick is also reported to be associated with chronic sniffing and the other most common symptoms are runny nose in patients without a cold, bleeding from the nose and loss of smell.
They also might have left behind a bit of white powder that you can spot, or their nose may appear red and raw. These users can end up with a hole in their cartilage or an even more deviated septum. Not very attractive.
Eyes That Can’t Lie
The eyes provide a definite clue. However, even in bright light, Coke dilates your pupils, making them look like doughnuts and wide open. Additionally, you probably notice “the eyes glossing over”, turning red, appearing bright, darting rapidly, and typically blinking less frequently.
Weight Loss That Raises Questions
A significant, unexplained weight loss is a reason to be seen by a doctor. A line of white is the best diet there is.
The person who annually gains a couple of kilos has succeeded in becoming very thin soon. Their clothes sit looser, their faces look gaunter, and they brush off concerns with a vague insistence of stress or busyness.
The Jittery, Can’t-Sit-Still Energy
Physical restlessness is one of the most overt indicators of cocaine use. Because of their inability to sit still, cocaine users are always pacing, tapping their feet, drumming their fingers, and fidgeting.
The central nervous system is collapsing due to a powerful stimulant. Watch out for jaw clenching and teeth grinding, as these can lead to major dental issues.
Skin That Tells Stories
Over time, it’s awful for your skin. There are frequently pale, pallid appearances with a grey tint, particularly on the face. Some users develop skin sores or obsessively pick at their skin because they think they have bugs under their skin (formication, which is as disgusting as it sounds).
Track marks are left behind by injection, but burn marks on the lips or fingers appear to contradict that they are smoking it.
Behavioural Signs That Sound the Alarm
What about the changes in behaviour? The physical alterations are acceptable. Cocaine really starts to work at this stage.
Levels of Energy That Are Not Even Possible
The energy rollercoaster is one of the most obvious signs of cocaine addiction. Your loved one will experience times when they seem superhumanly bright, confident, and able to manage a tonne of tasks. Then they collapse, appearing utterly worn out and sleeping for what seems like forever.
And that pattern keeps coming up. They might be bouncing off the walls at three in the morning, but they’re currently sleeping off a comedown, so they won’t be reachable the next afternoon.
Mood Swings From Out of the Blue
It’s crucial to pay attention if someone’s personality seems to change. Cocaine can cause abrupt changes in behaviour, ranging from euphoria and talkativeness to paranoia, frustration, and even violence. Asking a simple question could turn someone from your best friend to your worst enemy in an instant.
The comedown is marked by severe depression. The person may seem utterly despairing, say that everything is pointless, or retreat completely. Then they suddenly become a little too optimistic and self-assured when we use them again. Everyone involved is exhausted.
Financial Red Flags You Can’t Miss
Cocaine is not inexpensive. Anybody who uses that pipeline is having financial problems. If someone has been financially stable in the past, look for unusual financial difficulties.
They might:
- Tax.gov! Put cash often on dubious excuses.
- Sacrifice things they once cherished.
- Struggling to pay bills they never had a hard time handling.
- Keep your secret about where the money goes.
- Beg for “loans” they actually never repay.
Social Life That’s Falling Apart
Friendships that have lasted a long time may abruptly end. Family get-togethers are avoided. Thanks for work performance. Someone you trusted abruptly stops showing up or cancels, or just doesn’t show up.
They might completely break away from their previous social circle to spend time with strangers. Or they begin to duck enquiries about their whereabouts and the people they are seeing.
The Secrecy and Lies
It’s difficult to watch. Despite my prior conviction that the cocaine user has always been honest, they are a liar. They will tell falsehoods about their whereabouts, activities, and financial needs. Asking where they are or who they’re with may upset them and make them think you’re controlling or intrusive.
Private phone calls are received. Text messages are concealed. They could show up and go away at strange times, providing evasive and nonsensical justifications.
How Cocaine Actually Affects Someone Using It
It’s helpful to know that what’s happening in their brain and body explains these signs.
- Cocaine floods the brain with dopamine, causing euphoria, confidence, and energy, but these effects are fleeting.
- Users are left feeling exhausted, depressed, and desperate for another hit so they can feel normal again after the devastating crash.
- Addiction is fuelled by this cycle of ups and downs, which results in those noticeable behavioural changes.
- It significantly strains the heart, constricts blood vessels, spikes blood pressure, and increases the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
With every use, the damage increases. Addiction quickly develops after occasional use for enjoyment. Early intervention is essential because studies have indicated that cocaine can increase the risk of a heart attack by almost 24 times in the first hour of use.
Understanding how long cocaine remains in the body may also help to explain why cravings last longer and how usage patterns affect the detection window.
What You Can Actually Do About It
When you notice these symptoms, your gut is telling you that a loved one is at risk. Now what?
First, have faith in yourself. You’re not going overboard. If you have more than one, something may be seriously amiss that requires fixing.
Don’t say anything quite yet. Do not approach someone who is high or coming down. To not sound accusatory, try to broach the issue when things are more relaxed. Frame your conversation using “I” statements, such as “I’ve noticed,” and express that you care about them regardless of their situation, instead of attacking or accusing them of being a mentally ill person with significant issues.
Denial comes with addiction, so expect it. They might get upset or blame you for the problem.
Some of the most common lies that addicts tell themselves and to you are listed below; by being aware of them, you can compassionately assist in ending these patterns. Keep your emotions in check.
Professional Help That Actually Works
You cannot use your willpower to overcome your cocaine addiction. It’s a brain disorder that needs professional healing because it can be just as horribly fatal as any other serious illness, not a moral failing.
Sivana Rehab provides exclusive cocaine addiction treatment that aims to mitigate both the physical and emotional aspects of cocaine abuse. Set in Bali, just a short flight from Australia, the centre offers medically supervised detox, one-on-one counselling, group therapy, and aftercare planning.
Why does appropriate treatment work? There’s no learning of new stress management strategies, therapy to heal the root of substance use, or medical care to oversee physical withdrawal. While it can be evoked by survivors of cocaine withdrawal for psychological and physical craving, cocacoma is not as life-threatening as alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal. Experts make a significant difference.
Sivana’s residential rehab programme offers a drug-free setting in which to achieve one goal, recovery. Sometimes the cycle needs to be broken by that space.
Taking Action
It’s more than just being able to spot cocaine use as a detective skill; it’s about loving someone enough to see when something is amiss and having the guts to confront the problem.
Physical changes, changed behaviours, deteriorating relationships, and financial difficulties are all indicators. When combined, they create an image that is difficult to overlook.
It is important to intervene early. Cocaine causes less harm to people’s bodies, brains, and lives the earlier they seek help; the better their chances of recovering.
If you have concerns about someone, be sure to take them seriously. The Sivana Rehab team is available if you would like to speak with someone who is knowledgeable about these cases and can guide you through the next steps. Give yourself or a loved one a call right now.
There is no doubt that recovery is possible. Cocaine addicts consistently overcome their addiction. However, acknowledging the issue and having the guts to take action are the first steps.
Avoid waiting for things to worsen. You have the opportunity to alter the course of your life by paying attention to the signs you are currently seeing.