Cocaine use is dangerous for anyone, but it can be even more so for teenagers. If your teen has been using stimulants, you can enroll them in the cocaine rehab program at our centre. Learn more about the dangers of cocaine and how they can impact your teen by calling Venture Academy today at 866.762.2211 or connecting with us online.
Understanding Teenage Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is a stimulant drug made from the coca plant. It’s most commonly snorted but can be injected and even rubbed on the gums. Teens often come across cocaine at social events and may experience peer pressure that leads them to use it.
The physical effects of cocaine are:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Increased talkativeness
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Headache
- Muscle twitches and tremors
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Dilated pupils
- Loss of appetite
As dangerous as the physical effects of cocaine are, if your teen uses it just once, the dangers of cocaine grow with each use.
Side effects of cocaine’s long-term use include tolerance building, which means the body becomes so used to having cocaine in its system that it no longer offers the same “high” your teen is seeking. That leads them to use it more often and in larger quantities.
Another of the side effects of cocaine’s long-term use is damage to your teen’s organs. It’s a drug that reduces the flow to the gastrointestinal tract, potentially leading to ulcerations and tears. The loss of appetite that cocaine causes can also impact your teen’s nutrition. Repeated cocaine use has additionally been linked to an increased risk of stroke and heart damage.
How Cocaine Addiction Occurs
Cocaine, like other drugs, affects the pleasure centre of the brain. It causes a flood of dopamine, leading the brain to recognize the experience as a pleasurable one that it wants to repeat. This leads to cravings.
The more that your teen uses cocaine, the more the substance changes the structure of the brain. The stress centre of your teen’s brain is also impacted by cocaine use, which means that they will be more likely to seek out cocaine in response to moments of stress.
Because the body becomes so used to functioning with the drug, not using it leads to potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. A teen will want to continue using to avoid these powerful side effects.
Treating Teenage Cocaine Addiction
The first step in treating teenage cocaine addiction is to remove all traces of cocaine from your teen’s body. To avoid or diminish dangerous withdrawal symptoms, we offer medical detox services that use medications to curb cravings and keep your teen comfortable. They will have 24/7 medical supervision so that any necessary changes to medications can be made.
After completing the detox program, the next step is entering residential treatment. At Venture Academy, we offer an intensive cocaine program that features individual therapy, group therapy, and more.
Most of the work takes place in individual therapy, with sessions that help your teen understand what led them to use cocaine. With different therapeutic strategies, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, we encourage your teen to see how their negative thought processes impact their life.
Group therapy allows your teen to meet peers who are also struggling with some form of addiction. It is very helpful to see people at different stages of the recovery process.
Contact Venture Academy to Get Your Teen the Help They Need
If you think or know your teen has a cocaine addiction, the best thing you can do is reach out to a treatment centre that offers the right services. At Venture Academy, we provide the level of care your teen needs to get past their addiction. Contact Venture Academy today by calling 866.762.2211 or reaching out to us online.
