Top 10 Benefits of Quitting Cocaine
Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that induces intense euphoria, and increases alertness, energy, and motor activity. It also damages the user’s brain and central nervous system which controls all other parts of the body. The only way to prevent or improve negative consequences of cocaine is to quit using it.
Physical Effects of Cocaine
Cocaine can cause serious health risks to the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and vital systems. It is responsible for more drug related emergency room visits than any other illicit drug. In fact, in the most recent report from theĀ Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) regarding drug related emergency room visits for 2011, cocaine was involved in 505,224 of the 1,252,500 patients treated for the abuse of illicit drugs.
Psychological Effects
Psychological dependency to cocaine causes users to engage in unwanted behaviors such as spending more money than they can afford to spend, lying, stealing, neglecting responsibilities and relationships, or engaging in criminal activities and risky behaviors. Cocaine abuse often results in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and mood swings and increases the risk of serious psychological problems, including addiction. The inability to control thoughts or emotions perpetuates the abuse and leads to abuse of other substances.
Top 10 Benefits of Quitting Cocaine
Quitting cocaine is the only solution to enjoying life and experiencing the following benefits:
- Prevention of serious physical health consequences such as heart attack, seizures, overdose, diseases such as HIV and AID’s, or death.
- Improved physical health can let the person once again, enjoy eating, working, and playing, while feeling stronger and more motivated.
- Renewed interests and engagements in activities outside of cocaine abuse.
- Mental health improvements. With the elimination of undue stress and anxiety from the ups and downs of cocaine use, many disorders can be improved and quitting cocaine can prevent severe mental health disturbances such as schizophrenia, psychosis, depression, or suicidal tendencies.
- Certain behavioral consequences such as engaging in risky behaviors, violence, aggression, and harmful or suicidal tendencies can become life threatening to both the addict and others. Everyone is much safer after quitting cocaine restores greater self control.
- The reversal of other behavioral problems can add value to the person’s life and to lives of those they love. Rebuilding family relationships is often the primary goal of quitting cocaine.
- Concentration and cognitive abilities increase, confidence and self respect restored, and positive changes are promoted.
- Saving money is a huge benefit to quitting cocaine. The high is short term, but, the financial consequences of addiction can be felt for a long time after.
- Cocaine abuse no longer hinders employment opportunities.
- Criminal behaviors involving cocaine are no longer an issue and the fear of being arrested goes away.