Cocaine Overdose Dangers
A cocaine overdose can come on suddenly, with little warning, and can be fatal. The most common ways to overdose on cocaine are to smoke it, inject it or to ingest it by any means while drinking alcohol. In fact, this combination of alcohol and cocaine are the single most lethal combination of drugs in the United States.
At Orchid Recovery Center, we want to help you avoid the dangers of a cocaine overdose by providing you with cocaine addiction treatment on our gorgeous estate in South Florida.
Cocaine Overdose Symptoms
Cocaine most strongly affects the cardiovascular and respiratory systems so symptoms of a cocaine overdose are really quite serious. They can include any or all of the following:
- Rapid heartbeat or arrhythmia
- Respiratory failure
- Heart attack, heart failure or stroke
- Convulsions or seizures
- High blood pressure
- Bleeding in the brain
- Extreme rise in body temperature
If any combination of these happens, call 911 immediately, have the person lie down so that they don't fall and hurt themselves and prepare to offer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if they lose consciousness.
Cocaine Overdose Myths
There are a ton of crazy rumors floating around about what to do when someone overdoses on cocaine. The following are all myths that are absolutely WRONG. Ranging from the ridiculous to the deadly, they are all ABSOLUTELY FALSE. DO NOT DO ANY OF THEM and STOP ANYONE who suggests one of the following in an overdose situation:
- Inject them with milk, water or salt water
- Giving them a sedative or inject them with heroin
- Let them sleep it off
- Walk them around hoping they'll shake it off
- Throw them in the shower or in the snow
- Induce vomiting
- Force them to drink milk, coffee, tea, water
- Leave them in the street and hope someone finds them
Mixing drugs is deadly and someone "sleeping it off," may never wake up. Sudden changes in temperature like a cold shower or outside in the snow will send them into shock. Injecting them with anything or wasting time by walking them around or taking them outside will only waste the very short amount of time you have to summon help. Vomiting or forcing anything down their throats—including a spoon if they have a seizure—is not only a waste of time but may cause them to suffocate. Again, don't do any of these things. Simply lay them down away from sharp or heavy objects, turn them on their side and call 911 and let the professionals handle it. Even if you don't wait around for the ambulance to arrive, at least you've done what you can to help the person instead of putting them in worse danger.
Cocaine Overdose Long-Term Effects
The effects of cocaine in the short-term are relatively brief compared to most other drugs. However, in the long-term, cocaine can affect the brain and the body in fundamental ways, altering the way a person thinks, acts, moves, feels and thinks even when she is not under the influence. These can include psychosis, delusions, paranoia, shaking and tremors, insomnia, problems with breathing and arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.
Treating Chronic Cocaine Overdose at Orchid Recovery Center
At Orchid Recovery Center, we hope that you don't wait until you or someone you love has overdosed to get help. If you or someone you know has survived an overdose, you have been given the gift of a second chance. Take advantage of it and call Orchid Recovery Center today.