How Does Cocaine Affect Dopamine? Here’s the Role it Plays in Addiction

In 2021, an estimated 326,000 Floridians used cocaine at least once. That’s more than one in every 70 people in the state. If you or someone you know has used cocaine, you’re familiar with the intense elation and rush of energy it gives you. But do you know what’s going on in your brain to cause these effects? Do you know how cocaine impacts chemicals like dopamine?

At Real Recovery, we want to provide you with the most effective recovery possible. That’s why we use a 12-step model that holds you accountable during your recovery. This model also connects you with others in recovery, making recovery a group effort. Together, you and your cohorts will celebrate wins and support each other through difficult times.

So, how does cocaine affect dopamine? Read on to find out.

The Importance of Dopamine and How It Works in the Brain

Dopamine is a type of chemical messenger known specifically as a neurotransmitter. It helps nerves in the brain communicate with one another. The chemical is produced in the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. It’s a “feel-good chemical,” which is important to your ability to sleep, learn, concentrate, remember things, and more.

You get dopamine when you do something you enjoy, like hanging out with friends, eating your favorite food, or even having sex. Dopamine makes you feel happy, which activates the brain’s reward center. Over time, your brain and body build positive associations with the activities that give you dopamine. This makes you want to repeat those activities over and over again.

Dopamine is important to many of the bodily functions listed above, but in excess, it contributes to mania, hallucinations, and delusions. These symptoms are very dangerous and can leave you out of touch with reality.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is an illicit stimulant that affects the central nervous system. The stimulant is made from the coca plant, which is native to South America.

Using kerosene cocaine alkaloids are extracted from the coca plant, then they are combined with several acids in a lab setting. Cocaine is most commonly found in a powder form that is then snorted or dissolved in water and injected into the bloodstream. Crack cocaine, which is a rock-like form of the substance, is typically smoked.

Smoking cocaine results in a shorter, more intense high. Snorting it or injecting it is slightly less intense but lasts a bit longer. Regardless of the method used to consume cocaine, the effect it has on dopamine production in the brain is largely the same.

How Cocaine Affects Dopamine in the Brain

Normally, dopamine travels quickly between the nerves in the brain before being recycled by dopamine receptors. Cocaine interferes with this natural function by producing excess dopamine and keeping it trapped in the synapse between cells. When dopamine builds up in the synapses, it can’t be recycled by the dopamine receptors. This causes there to be much, much more dopamine in the brain at one time than is normal.

The excess of dopamine is what causes elation and intense energy levels associated with cocaine. Once cocaine leaves your system, your dopamine levels will return to normal. The drop in dopamine levels creates an emotional low causing you to feel depressed or anxious.

The intense dopamine rush you feel when there’s cocaine in your system activates the brain’s reward system, just like any other dopamine-creating activity would. However, because of the intense amount of dopamine, your body’s normal amount of dopamine feels low. The dopamine imbalance makes it difficult to receive dopamine from from other activities that you once enjoyed. This is part of what makes cocaine’s effect on dopamine so dangerous.

Thankfully, once you stop taking cocaine and other stimulants, your body will readjust to your normal dopamine levels. In recovery, the joy you used to find in every day activities will return.

The Dangers of Cocaine’s Effects on Dopamine

Due to the intense amount of dopamine created when cocaine is used, you may make impulsive or risky decisions while it’s in your system. Examples include spending a lot of money, having unprotected sex, or initiating a fight.

The massive amounts of dopamine produced by cocaine also cause the brain to build a tolerance to dopamine itself. This means that other dopamine-producing activities, like hobbies and other things you used to enjoy, are no longer as interesting.

One of the biggest concerns about cocaine’s effects on dopamine is the role it plays in cocaine use disorder. Cocaine use disorder occurs when you have a physical and psychological dependence on a substance to function. Because of the way that cocaine floods the brain with dopamine, the brain’s reward system becomes highly activated. This builds an extremely positive association with cocaine in your brain.

For people with pre-existing mental health conditions, this can be especially true. Cocaine use disorder doesn’t come out of nowhere. If you begin taking cocaine as an easy way to feel pleasure, it is easy to keep relying on cocaine and develop a cocaine use disorder.

Over time, as you take more cocaine, you also build a tolerance, so you need more of the substance to get the desired effect. Over time, continuous cocaine consumption can cause serious health issues.

Potential Long-Term Consequences

Cocaine use disorder has many long-term consequences, ranging from socio-economic changes to major health concerns.

Social and Financial Changes

When you have a cocaine use disorder, you’re willing to put cocaine above a lot of other things in your life. This leads to an inability to maintain responsibilities at work or home. You may face job loss and difficulty maintaining intimate relationships. Many people with cocaine use disorder also spend more money than they can afford on cocaine, which leads to financial hardship.

Physical Health Problems

Cocaine use disorder also leads to many different physical health problems. These include heart problems, like heart disease or heart attacks. When cocaine is snorted, it has a serious impact on the respiratory system, leading to nasal damage, nose bleeds, and respiratory infections. Cocaine is also hard on the liver and kidneys, which can reduce their ability to remove waste from the body effectively.

How Cocaine Affects Mental Health

Dopamine plays a major role in mental health. The increased amounts of dopamine associated with cocaine are known to cause anxiety, intense agitation, and paranoia.

Even when cocaine is not in your system, a cocaine use disorder still impacts your mental health. Cocaine withdrawal has a serious impact on your mental health. When someone who is used to having cocaine in their system goes without it, they become depressed, agitated, and anxious. Sometimes, someone going through cocaine withdrawals experiences suicidal ideation. If you have any thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, please get medical help immediately.

Other Ways That Cocaine Affects the Brain

Cocaine doesn’t just increase dopamine production. It also has other serious effects on the brain, and its ability to function.

Neurotoxicity in the Brain

Many of the chemicals used in the production of cocaine, like acetone and hydrochloric acid, are neurotoxins. Neurotoxins damage the neurons throughout the central nervous system, including the brain, and interfere with their ability to communicate with one another.

Neurotoxicity causes a whole range of symptoms, including:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Behavioral changes
• Slurred speech
• Vision issues
• Gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Acute neurotoxicity can be life-threatening and includes symptoms like:

• Confusion and delirium
• Psychosis
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of consciousness
• Vision loss

If you or someone you know experiences acute neurotoxicity, get medical attention immediately.

Increased Risk of Stroke

Cocaine consumption increases your risk of stroke. It constricts the blood vessels in the brain and increases blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is constricted and a blood vessel bursts. This kills brain cells and causes damage to the tissue.

Cocaine and Cognitive Function

Neurotoxicity, stroke, and other damage done to the brain by cocaine cause problems with cognitive function. Examples of decreases in cognitive function include lessened impulse control, difficulty having complete thoughts, memory issues, and trouble retaining new information. This can cause problems communicating, and difficulty completing tasks.

Getting Help for Cocaine Addiction in Tampa, Florida

The way cocaine impacts dopamine production and movement within the brain plays a major role in the development of cocaine use disorder. If you’ve tried to stop taking cocaine, and can’t stop on your own, it’s time to consider cocaine rehab.

Recovery is never out of reach. The right program will empower you to succeed in recovery and discover a brighter future free from substance use.

Real Recovery Solutions is Florida’s largest sober living network. We provide treatment and long-term housing for people in recovery from cocaine use disorders. Not only that, but we also offer case management services to set you up for success in life after you leave our facilities. Ready to get started? Give us a call at 813-373-6762 today.

Real people. Real solutions. Real results.