Cocaine is a stimulant that comes from the coca plant. Repeated use can change your brain structure and lead to addiction. This dangerous drug results in hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits each year, and the cocaine overdose amount varies depending on the person who is using it and the other chemicals that may be present.
Is Cocaine Pure?
Although cocaine comes from a natural plant, the product that many people snort, inject, or smoke has been processed extensively. During the manufacturing process, people use other chemicals such as gasoline and acetone to make the final product. Adulterants may also be mixed with the drug to cut costs and enhance its effects.
It’s difficult to identify other chemicals that users could find in cocaine. Even experienced users may not notice when the drug contains other substances until it’s too late.
Can You Die From Using Cocaine?
Pure cocaine can lead to a fatal overdose. When dealers blend cocaine with other compounds, it can be even more dangerous.
One of the reasons that cocaine can be lethal is that it causes users to develop a physical dependency. When you consume the drug, it slows down the absorption of dopamine in your brain. This makes you feel good, but it also prevents your body from producing more dopamine.
Plus, your body adjusts to the abundance of feel-good neurotransmitters. Over time, the dopamine doesn’t produce the same pleasurable effects, and you need to take more cocaine to feel an obvious high.
Although your brain gets used to the excess dopamine, other organs don’t adapt to cocaine use. The stimulant restricts blood flow to the brain, increases heart rate, and raises blood pressure. This puts you at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Mixing alcohol and cocaine can also be hazardous. The combination produces a compound called cocaethylene, which strengthens the effects of the cocaine but enhances the risk of death. In these cases, addiction therapy services are necessary.
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What Is The Cocaine Overdose Amount?
In mice, the lethal dosage of cocaine is about 95 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. When applied to humans, that translates to about 6.5 grams for a 150-pound person.
The cocaine overdose amount depends on the individual’s history with cocaine and the method of administration. For example, injecting the drug is more likely to produce an overdose than snorting or smoking it.
People who have experienced recovery and relapsed might be in even more danger than other users. They typically develop dependency and get used to consuming a certain amount. When they stop using the drug, their tolerance decreases along with their individual cocaine overdose amount. If they relapse, they might return to the same doses that they were taking before, shocking the body and causing tragic results.
If you’re worried that you or a loved one is struggling with a substance abuse disorder, the first step is to enroll in a cocaine detox program. Additional therapy and a supportive community are necessary to sustain recovery and prevent relapse.
At Grace Recovery, we offer a variety of approaches to holistic healing, such as:
Contact us at 866-296-5407 to learn how our well-rounded approach to rehab can help you on the journey to wellness.
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