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Since being a symbol of upper-class excess in the 1980s, cocaine has become more widely used in society. Now it is much cheaper and used more casually.
Besides addiction, cocaine has many side effects and has been claimed to make people more aggressive. After disruption in the 2020 Euros, a study at Oxford University linked aggression and cocaine use to try and explain why football fans were becoming more violent.
When considering your substance use and whether you need cocaine rehab, you should look carefully at your aggression.
Does cocaine make you more aggressive because it is doing something to your brain, or is the drug bringing buried emotions to the surface? Understanding this, the side effects of cocaine and the dangers of the drug will help you deal with your addiction.
Can Cocaine Cause Aggression?
Cocaine, also known as coke, is a stimulant that usually comes in the form of a white powder. Most people snort it and as a stimulant, it will make you feel more awake and energetic.
People who take it may feel like everything is turned up, things are more pleasurable, and the world seems to move faster. Because of this, it can make your behaviour more unpredictable and you may feel overconfident and invincible.
This sense of dialling everything up inside you can also make you more aggressive – which can lead to violence.
Cocaine is highly addictive and withdrawal from the drug can also lead you to become more agitated and aggressive. Withdrawal problems with cocaine usually point towards you needing rehabilitation. This may help with your aggression but cocaine may not be the sole cause of it.
Is Cocaine Use Dangerous?
Taking cocaine holds many risks and using it regularly will make your life more dangerous.
Coke abuse will damage the cartilage in your nose and if you smoke or inject cocaine you may suffer from breathing problems and damaged veins.
Under the influence of cocaine, you may be more impulsive. You might put yourself in situations you normally wouldn’t such as having unsafe sex, getting into fights, doing something dangerous and driving under the influence.
People can sometimes think white heroin is cocaine and snort that, overdosing and it is impossible to know the purity of a drug by looking at it. Not knowing this can overdose when you think you are using the amount you normally would.
Common Cocaine Side Effects
Cocaine use can cause physical symptoms such as sweating, heart palpitations, tremors and lead to high blood pressure. This leaves you more at risk of suffering from a stroke or heart failure.
Cocaine abuse can also impact your mental health, lowering your mood and leaving you paranoid and anxious. If you are feeling this way you may lash out more and become more unpredictable. If you feel euphoric then you are likely to engage in more drug-taking behaviour that leaves you feeling more invincible which can lead to unsafe acts that could harm yourself and others.
Does Cocaine Change the Brain?
Cocaine works by preventing your brain from reabsorbing dopamine which is a brain chemical that is linked to euphoria and pleasure. As dopamine stays in your brain, you get an intense hit of euphoria.
Soon your body becomes used to these increased dopamine levels, and if they drop you may become more depressed and suffer anxiety. This withdrawal can lead to mood swings and aggression that come up due to being in a bad mood.
Cocaine also affects the limbic system which is responsible for regulating emotions and behaviours. Cocaine will make you have less control over responses to situations that make you aggressive – increasing the chance of you being violent.
Signs of Cocaine Addiction
If you are worried about your cocaine aggression then you may have a more serious problem. Knowing the signs of cocaine abuse is important to decide if you are suffering from an addiction.
Being aware of your issues is the first step to solving them, and symptoms of cocaine addiction vary. If your addiction is severe, then diving into a full cocaine detox will bring about withdrawal symptoms that can be dangerous. You should always seek professional help when dealing with quitting substances.
Physical symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Sweating more
- Weight loss
- Dilated pupils
- Bursts of energy
Psychological symptoms:
- Paranoia
- Mood swings
- Aggression
- Confusion and disorientation
- Restlessness
Behavioural symptoms:
- Unable to stop cocaine use
- Denial
- Social isolation
- Becoming more secretive
- Engaging in more risky behaviour
Cocaine Abuse Treatment
If your coke abuse and aggression are getting out of hand then professional treatment may be needed. We at Rehab Clinics Group have many rehabs under our umbrella that offer industry-leading care and encourage a culture of openness that removes the stigma of addiction.
At such rehab centres, you can take part in a personalised treatment plan that will be effective at treating your cocaine addiction.
Detoxification
Firstly, you have to end your physical dependence on coke. To do this you must go through detoxification, which is the process of purging your body of harmful toxins by stopping your cocaine use.
Doing this will bring on withdrawal symptoms which can be uncomfortable and hard to predict how you will be affected. At a rehab centre, you may have access to detox medications that can help lessen withdrawal symptoms. You will be in a quiet, safe place and kept under constant review to ensure your comfort during the process.
Therapies
Dealing with your cocaine addiction at a deeper level requires understanding it psychologically. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Group Therapy and Music Therapy can help you understand your addiction better. You may learn if cocaine is bringing up this aggression from somewhere and find healthier ways to deal with it.
Aftercare
What happens after rehab is just as important as the treatment you receive there. By engaging in aftercare, attending group support meetings, honing coping skills and being vigilant you can rein in any remaining aggression. Being active in your recovery will make relapse less likely and hopefully lead you to a sober, less aggressive life.
Get Help from Rehab Clinics Group Today
Can cocaine cause aggression is a simple question with a simple answer – yes. Coke abuse will disrupt the brain processes that help you deal with aggression and lead you to become a more unpleasant person to be around.
For help with your cocaine abuse, contact us at Rehab Clinics Group. We operate many private drug and alcohol rehabs that can provide the treatment you need.
Get in touch now by calling 0800 470 0382 or filling out our contact form.
