Approximately 10 percent of adults in America have a substance use disorder. Thus, the prevalence of addiction and substance use disorder in the U.S. is on par with diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease. As a refresher, I define substance use disorders in my post What is Substance Use Disorder. Unlike alcohol or nicotine, cocaine use disorder is categorized as illicit substance use. Cocaine is a salt-based substance in powdered form. On the other hand, crack is a dilution of cocaine with substances such as water and baking soda.
Cocaine use disorder has many negative effects on one’s health and social relationships. An ongoing crack or cocaine use can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and even heart attack. The National Institute of Drug Abuse further explains the negative health effects of regular cocaine use. Thankfully, there are treatment options for people who deal with cocaine addiction.
Topiramate, or Topamax, is the most commonly used treatment of cocaine use disorder. Topamax is traditionally used as an anti-seizure medication. However, studies show that Topamax may help to reduce cocaine cravings in certain populations. In addition to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), group supports such as Narcotics Anonymous and structured payment-reward programs have been shown to help treat patients with cocaine dependence.
Check out the Psychiatry in 60 Seconds video below for more information!
Treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder
Addiction and substance use disorders are common. More importantly, they are treatable illnesses. I hope that this post helped you to realize that there are treatment options available if you have cocaine use disorder or any other substance use disorder/addiction.
The CAGE questionnaire is a 4-question survey that you can take to help assess whether you might have a problem with cocaine or other substances. If you or a loved one answered yes to two or more of the questions in the CAGE questionnaire, it might be a good idea for you to reach out to a primary care doctor or psychiatrist for further assessment, additional information, and next steps. The Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is also a valuable resource for additional information.
Of note, the contents of this post are not intended to diagnose or treat. Additionally, this post does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Dr. Atasha Jordan is an Ivy League-trained psychiatry resident and businesswoman. Learn more about Dr. Jordan here. Feel free to send a message and subscribe to the newsletter!
