Among the drugs found in those who overdosed, ketamine (sometimes called ‘Special K’), xylazine (‘tranq’) and cathinones, also known as bath salts, were present in more people in 2023 than in 2022. Fundamentally, an individual’s best or only option to receive addiction treatment should not have to be during incarceration. In an ideal world, treatment and prevention systems in the U.S. would proactively address social drivers of health and mental health needs to stop the cycle between addiction and incarceration. Moving away from criminalization of substance use disorders toward a public-health approach would remove a key structural practice that perpetuates inequalities. And given nitazenes have been found in Australia in drugs sold as cocaine, MDMA and ketamine, more people may be at risk of overdose. Sedatives are designed to be short-term solutions due to the serious risk of dependence that can form when consumed for too long.

Treatment / Management

Asking for help is a huge and important step toward recovering from cocaine use disorder. They may refer you to a substance abuse counselor or recommend community-based programs. It’s impossible to properly treat a cocaine overdose at home . Calling 911 is the only way to make sure you can save a person’s life. A variety of medications can be administered to treat anxiety, agitation, nausea, seizure or blood pressure problems. Other prescription drugs may reduce the effects of heart, brain or kidney complications.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment Levels of Care

Some people use nitazenes intentionally seeking a stronger effect, but they’ve also been found in a range of common recreational drugs in Australia such as cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy) and ketamine. Drug overdose deaths are still on the decline in Florida, but toxicologists, drug experts and those who advocate for people who use drugs say they don’t have a concrete answer for why. When someone takes nitazenes, there’s a very fine line between intoxication and overdose.

1. Ketamine has also increased in popularity as a recreational drug.
2. The effects are “very intoxicating” and “very impairing,” Goldberger said, and cathinones are prevalent in the southeast, especially in Florida.
3. These can include changes in mood, such as paranoia and aggression, as well as physical symptoms, such as spikes in your body temperature, changes to heart rate, and vomiting.
4. Only trained and licensed medical professionals can provide such services.

Risk Factors for a Cocaine Overdose

This buildup of dopamine is central to cocaine’s potential for misuse. Because the body may seek to fulfill the newfound craving for this dopamine reward, the brain’s neurochemistry can be changed, leading to a substance use disorder. Let’s look at how cocaine can affect you after one or many uses, what to do in case you or someone you know overdoses, and how to reach out for treatment for a cocaine addiction. An overdose on cocaine usually requires medical attention and can cause fatal health issues. Cocaine overdose is the result of taking a toxic amount of cocaine either via injection, by smoking it, eating it or inhaling it into the nose.

Cocaine overdose can be a serious concern for anyone who uses cocaine. This article will help you understand what a cocaine overdose is, cocaine overdose effects, and potential risk factors for cocaine overdose. We will also discuss what you can do in case of a cocaine overdose, how you can prevent overdose, and how to find treatment for cocaine use disorder. Cocaine is a highly addictive drug, known for its stimulant effects. Overdosing on cocaine can cause unpleasant and fatal side effects. These can include changes in mood, such as paranoia and aggression, as well as physical symptoms, such as spikes in your body temperature, changes to heart rate, and vomiting.

With rapid response, cocaine overdoses can sometimes be reversed and the victim saved. Preemptive steps should be taken even before medical personnel arrives to give the person overdosing a fighting chance. Things like ice, wet towels and cool blankets can be used to lower the individual’s core body temperature and prevent excessive overheating. With that all being said, what are some of the risk factors of a cocaine overdose? In most cases, those using cocaine are likely using other drugs in conjunction with it. For example, cocaine can produce severe anxiety, which is overcome with alcohol.

Depending on the treatment facility, people in this level of care will often attend group and individual counseling sessions and may participate in other alternative forms of treatment. Emergency responders can help save the life of a person who is alcohol use disorder. Although casual and even first-time users are still at risk, the risk of coke overdose increases significantly for chronic users. Regular usage can increase one’s tolerance, which can lead to increased dosage, which increases the chances of an overdose. Regular users can also develop sensitization, where less of the drug is needed to produce anxiety, convulsions, or other toxic effects. Well, the answer varies based on individual or unique circumstances.

Cocaine addiction puts a person at a high risk of future cocaine overdoses. Finding rehab for cocaine addiction is a vital part of preventing future overdoses. Treatment for a cocaine overdose adhd and alcohol usually involves breathing support, IV fluids and medications. If the overdose causes a heart attack, stroke or other types of internal injury, long-term medical care may be required.

Because of false negatives with the plain x-rays, a contrast-enhanced study or CT scan is recommended. The risk of bag rupture increases with time, so it is important to make the diagnosis promptly. Creatine kinase may be useful for the detection of rhabdomyolysis.

Overdoses are considered a medical emergency and, in many cases, can be a potentially life-threatening situation. Generally, this means that the consumption of substances was beyond the medication’s guidelines or beyond the body’s tolerance level to manage safely. This can result in critical body systems being unable to function appropriately without medical intervention. Similar reports of suspected overdose deaths from fentanyl-laced cocaine had popped up in Atlanta just a few weeks prior. The problem with determining how much cocaine it will take to produce an overdose effect is that some cocaine is simply more potent than other cocaine.

You can call 911 or take the person to the nearest emergency department. The heart goes into overdrive during an overdose, so any mitigating efforts to lower heart rate are essential. Also, respiratory failure may occur due to the overactivity of the cardiovascular system. Having the overdosing person focus on steady breathing may help.

When you’re ready, there are resources you can turn to that will you help you on your journey. Prosecutors said people overdosing on Xylazine will react differently to Narcan. In addition, the effects of Xylazine can’t be reversed by Narcan, a nasal spray that can revive someone experiencing an overdose, since the tranquilizer is not an opiate. The investigation began in February after a man was found dead in his apartment in Boynton Beach.

BBPD says an autopsy showed that the man died of fentanyl and cocaine intoxication. If you can’t get your drugs tested, make sure you buy from a known dealer, take just a small amount to start when you buy a new batch (we suggest one-quarter of your normal dose), and never use alone. If you’re with a group of friends, stagger use or make sure you are with someone who is not using, a bit like a designated driver. Since fentanyl test strips were decriminalized in 2023, Santamour said his harm reduction organization has passed out up to 25,000 test strips. The effects are “very intoxicating” and “very impairing,” Goldberger said, and cathinones are prevalent in the southeast, especially in Florida. “It does have this tendency to cause aberrant behavior that can cause certain death,” he added.

People with cocaine use disorder may benefit from community-based programs. Researchers are evaluating drug treatments that help people stop using cocaine. But the most significant effect is how cocaine use changes people’s brains, setting the stage for cocaine addiction (cocaine use disorder).

The first step before an individual can begin inpatient or residential treatment is often medical detox. The detoxification process aims to rid the body of substances so the individual can be physically and mentally prepared for treatment. Detox programs offer round-the-clock medical observation by physicians and nurses and typically require medication assistance to manage severe withdrawal symptoms. If you believe someone is overdosing on cocaine, try to remain calm and get the individual emergency care as soon as possible.

Cannabis developed today is strikingly different than what older generations experienced, with significant increases in potency now found in most of today’s cannabis supply. With that increased potency are more examples of cannabis toxicity, or cannabis overdose symptoms, being seen in hospital settings. Though not as common as the other substances on this list, it is still something to be aware of to ensure proper care is provided as needed. Due to the potential euphoric effects of stimulants, alcohol and seizures can alcohol or withdrawal trigger a seizure the urge for continued use becomes difficult to ignore and can create situations in which high-risk overdose events may occur. While not all stimulant overdoses are fatal in nature, it’s important to be aware that when using non-prescription stimulants, there is a risk that other substances, such as opiates, may also be used in their creation. Medical attention is necessary to address both the physical and behavioral health conditions that are experienced during a stimulant overdose.