There are many different drugs used to fight cocaine addiction. Many of these drugs work very well and can make the process of beating a cocaine addiction much easier.
About Cocaine
Cocaine is a very powerful and extremely addictive drug. Like most stimulants, cocaine targets the body's central nervous system and interferes with the body's dopamine absorption process.
When a person uses cocaine, dopamine builds up and they are overcome with a feeling of euphoria. This effect is only temporary, but the effect repeated cocaine abuse can have on the body is not.
Cocaine use causes the heart to beat faster, the blood pressure to rise, and the blood vessels to restrict. At any time, cocaine use can result in immediate death. If abuse continues over a significant period of time, permanent and fatal damage can be done to the heart. Other complications that can arise as a result of cocaine use include:
- Strokes
- Seizures
- Respiratory failure
- Gastrointestinal problems
About Cocaine Addiction
There is no safe way to use cocaine. A cocaine addiction can develop quickly. Through continued use, an addict can develop a tolerance to the drug, making it necessary to take more and more. Unfortunately, this only feeds the addiction and makes it worse. While it is difficult to beat a cocaine addiction, it is certainly possible. There are many different treatment options for cocaine users, ranging from addiction counseling to a stint in an addiction treatment center. There is also the option of rapid detox or drug therapy treatments.
Why are Drugs Used to Fight Cocaine Addiction?
A cocaine addiction can be a difficult addiction to overcome. The physical withdrawals are uncomfortable and distracting, as are the mental cravings. Many treatment facilities and physicians find that certain drugs used to fight cocaine addiction can make the process of recovery easier.
A recent study by Ohio State University confirmed that the dopamine transporter is the prime target for developing any drugs used to fight cocaine addiction. Researchers used genetically altered mice to prove that if cocaine could not block the dopamine transporter, the cocaine user could not get high.
While genetically altering human beings isn't an option, the study did prove that the drugs being developed to fight cocaine addiction can and do work.
Common Drugs Used to Fight Cocaine Addiction
There are several different drugs used to fight cocaine addiction. Some of the most common include:
- Buprenorphine - Studies have shown that daily use of buprenorphine helps to suppress the desire to use cocaine. There are many different studies still in the works, but most consider buprenorphine to be useful pharmacotherapy for cocaine abusers.
- Disulfiram - Used to treat alcohol addiction, disulfiram has also been proven effective in combating cocaine abuse. Disulfiram has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but the FDA notes that uses cocaine with disulfiram can cause adverse reactions.
There is also a vaccine in the works that is supposed to suppress an addict's desire to use cocaine. The vaccine is still being developed, but early tests have concluded that well over half of the patients who were injected with the vaccine were able to successfully stop using the drug. These patients remained drug free for at least one year.
Additional Information
If you are interested in learning more about cocaine addiction or the drugs used to fight cocaine addiction, you can start by speaking with your regular physician. Your physician may be able to recommend treatment options or a drug treatment facility that can help you.
You can also try contacting one of the many organizations set up to provide education to cocaine abusers. Such organizations include:
