When was the last time you overindulged in something? How do you know when you’ve reached your limit?
Sometimes, overindulgence feels good. Eating an extra slice of cake or sleeping in just 5 more minutes is a great treat just once in a while. In other cases, taking too much of something can have serious consequences.
It’s especially important to know your limits when it comes to substance use. When you take too much of a stimulant, like cocaine, the consequences can be deadly. In 2023, 2,337 Floridians died of a cocaine overdose. The only substance that killed more people was fentanyl.
At Real Recovery Solutions, we’re working to bring that number down one person at a time. The best way to avoid an overdose is to stop taking substances, but taking them doesn’t have to be a death sentence. It’s also important to be able to recognize the warning signs of an overdose. Today, we’re taking a look at the symptoms of a cocaine overdose.
What Is Cocaine, and How Do You Overdose on It?
Cocaine is an illegal stimulant that is produced from alkaloids in the coca plant and extracted using kerosene. It typically comes in the form of a white or off-white powder, which is snorted or swallowed. Crack cocaine is another popular form of the substance. It looks like an off-white crystal, which is then heated up and smoked.
When you take a substance of any kind, even a legal medication, your body has to break it down. This doesn’t inherently mean that everything you put in your body is dangerous, but it strains important organs. Substances have to make their way through your digestive system, followed by your liver and kidneys.
The liver, in particular, is responsible for detoxification. It can only handle a certain amount of toxins at one time. If you take more than your liver can handle, other organs will begin to be affected. When you take more of a substance while your body’s already at capacity, you’ll experience the severe side effects of a cocaine overdose.
Can You Die From a Cocaine Overdose?
Yes, you can die from a cocaine overdose. The specific side effects you experience during an overdose depend on the substances you consume. In the case of a stimulant like cocaine, your heart rate, breathing, and other body processes will speed up. This can lead to severe health events, like a heart attack, stroke, and seizure, all of which can be deadly.
Polysubstance use, or taking multiple substances at once, can also impact the severity of your overdose. For example, a speedball is a combination of cocaine and heroin. During an overdose, the sedative effects of heroin could mask the effects of cocaine, which makes it more difficult to identify the early signs of an overdose. A depressant like heroin would cause lowered oxygen levels, a slowed heart rate, and a loss of consciousness, which could also be deadly.
While naloxone can effectively reverse the effects of overdosing on an opioid like heroin, there is no such medication for reversing overdoses on stimulants like cocaine.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Cocaine Overdose?
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Cocaine Overdose?If you’re trying to identify a cocaine overdose, it’s important that you can tell the difference between the symptoms of regular cocaine consumption and the signs of a cocaine overdose. While both can have serious consequences, a cocaine overdose is a much more serious and immediate medical emergency.
Recognizing Symptoms of Cocaine Consumption
Whenever you or someone you care about takes cocaine, there are two sets of symptoms you should be aware of. The first set is the stimulating effects that create the “high” associated with cocaine. The second is the “crash,” or cocaine comedown, that follows after those effects wear off. Once you reach the crash stage, you aren’t going to experience an overdose, as the cocaine is working its way out of your system. However, if you take more cocaine during the crash, especially a high dose, you could experience an overdose.
| Cocaine “High” | Types of Symptoms | Cocaine “Crash” |
|---|---|---|
|
Physical Symptoms |
|
| Psychosis | Mental Health Symptoms | Suicidal ideation, Depression, Anxiety |
| Irritability, not sleeping, Hyperactivity, Restlessness | Behavioral Symptoms | Paranoia, Agitation |
Identifying Signs of a Cocaine Overdose
Common signs of a cocaine overdose include:
- Extremely high body temperature
- Heart palpitations
- Seizures
- Uncontrollable muscle movements and spasms
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Extreme agitation
- Confusion
Recognizing these symptoms can be the difference between life and death. If you or someone you love regularly takes cocaine, you need to know these signs.
How Can You Prevent a Cocaine Overdose, and What Are the Risk Factors?
The best way to avoid a cocaine overdose is to avoid taking cocaine entirely. For one thing, no amount of cocaine is safe. Even if you don’t overdose, you risk facing other health problems.
Stimulants as a class can cause a variety of health problems in large doses. However, legal stimulants, like the caffeine found in popular beverages, are safe because they are regulated. The dangers associated with high doses of caffeine are made explicit via the labeling required by the Food and Drug Administration. These risks can be measured and mitigated through consistent dosages and standardized ingredients.
Since cocaine is not a legal or regulated substance, the risks associated with the substance cannot be easily measured. Cocaine often has many impurities, and since there isn’t a standard manufacturing process, you never know exactly what you’re putting in your body. The exact makeup and strength of cocaine vary depending on the producer.
When cocaine is laced with other substances, this becomes particularly concerning. Fentanyl is one of the most common lacing agents because it is cheap to make and extremely potent. Because the substance is so potent, it’s dangerous, especially for people who aren’t familiar with it. If you take cocaine laced with fentanyl under the assumption that it’s pure cocaine, you could easily overdose. Since fentanyl is an opioid, it could also make an overdose more difficult to recognize.
If you’re still actively taking cocaine, the best way to protect yourself from fentanyl lacing is to buy test strips. This way, you can test your supply after each purchase. Even if you buy from the same person every time, there’s no guarantee that the contents of the cocaine haven’t changed.
How Can You Save a Life If a Loved One Overdoses on Cocaine?
You might not be reading this page for yourself. Maybe you’re worried about someone you love. If you’re with someone who’s experiencing a cocaine overdose, call 911 immediately. An overdose is a medical emergency that you cannot handle on your own. Florida’s Good Samaritan Act protects you from being prosecuted for a drug-related offense when calling to get medical care for yourself or someone else.
If the person you’re with is having a seizure, there are small steps you can take to help. Cushion their head using soft material, like clothing, if available. You should also try to time the seizure so you can pass that information along to first responders.
Don’t try to restrain someone having a seizure. Do not put anything in their mouth, as that could present a choking hazard. When the seizure ends, put them in the recovery position on their side, and stay with them until medical personnel arrive.
By following these simple steps, you can save the life of someone overdosing on cocaine.
What Are the Treatment Options for Cocaine Use Disorder in Tampa, Florida?
What Are the Treatment Options for Cocaine Use Disorder in Tampa, Florida?The risk of a cocaine overdose is very real. But you don’t have to live in fear. If you’re ready to leave your cocaine use disorder in the past, we’re here to help you heal. With the right cocaine rehab, you’ll gain the skills you need to live a life free of substances.
A strong recovery program will focus on individual therapy that empowers you to get to the root cause of your cocaine use disorder. It will also include 12-step programming that holds you accountable and allows you to connect with others in recovery.
No matter what your experiences were before treatment, you deserve support during this journey.
If you or someone you love is living with a cocaine use disorder, we’re here for you. Real Recovery Solutions can bridge you from inpatient treatment through a year of sober living, so we’ll be with you for every step. Call us today at 813-373-6762 to learn more about our program offerings.
Real People. Real Solutions. Real Results.
