If you walk into any drug rehab center anywhere then you will find that many of the people being treated for drug addictions will be in there because of their cocaine abuse. Cocaine use has been rising for years and shows no signs of slowing down. It seems that the authorities on health in the UK have seen a good amount of success in cocaine treatment. So what are the effects of cocaine that make it so bad?

Well, essentially its high is what attracts users. It has a similar high to the stimulant group known as amphetamines with a stronger effect that does not last as long. It has a tendency to make users feel almost hyper, more confident and generally feel good – temporarily. As a stimulant, it also raises the heart rate and body temperature. It also reduces your appetite.

If it was only the good effects then there wouldn’t be an issue, but the main problem with cocaine is its addictive qualities. It changes the way the brain works and can lead to a massive psychological addiction which people find very hard to kick. Once addicted, anybody who tries to stop will suffer from terrible physical withdrawal symptoms also, which can lead to feeling ill and very down and this drives them to take more to combat these feelings.

There’s a nasty comedown associated with a cocaine session as well. Many users report feeling a little as though they have the flu after a heavy night and again, this can lead many to seek out more coke to stave off that feeling. Anyone with pre-existing heart conditions they may not even yet know about, risks heart attack by taking cocaine and the feeling of overconfidence it produces can lead users to take reckless risks.

So while the high might seem like fun, it comes at a cost. And this is why cocaine remains a Class A drug within the UK. Its addictive nature leads many users into a long term battle with the substance or into rehabilitation. Is a ten minute high really worth all that?

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