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Cocaine addiction, a health problem that has a solution
Spain is, together with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the State of the European Union in which more cocaine is consumed. In fact, it is estimated that more than two million young adults between 15 and 34 have used cocaine during the last year, according to 2015 data.
This figure has hardly changed in recent years: until 2008 there was an increase in the prevalence of consumption in our country and since then it has stagnated, with slight occasional declines.

These data show that cocaine use is not an isolated or marginal phenomenon in today's society, but that it is an important health problem that plagues Europe. So much so that more and more people seek professional medical help to abandon this addictive behavior. The latest official data in this regard, which come from the European Report on Drugs, show that every year about 60,000 European patients initiate specialized treatment to overcome this addiction.

What are the effects of cocaine on the body?
Cocaine makes the person who consumes it feel euphoric, with a lot of energy and in a permanent alert situation, since it diminishes the need to sleep. As the doses consumed increase, other symptoms may appear, such as erratic or aggressive behaviors, and irritability, which are exacerbated during withdrawal, that is, during periods when this substance is not taken.

Also, cocaine causes major health problems:

- Heart rhythm disturbances and increased risk of heart attack.

- Stroke or stroke.

- Hemorrhages and nasal perforation, and loss of smell.

- Permanent lung damage.

- Digestive ulcers, stomach perforation and intestinal necrosis.

- Renal insufficiency.

- Serious infections, such as hepatitis or HIV, when consumed intravenously.

How can cocaine addiction be treated?
Overcoming cocaine addiction is not easy, but it is possible if the detoxification process is carried out under the control and supervision of a multidisciplinary team of specialists in this field. It is very important to go to specialized centers where they can make an accurate assessment of our situation and design an individualized treatment capable of avoiding relapses, since the withdrawal phase is especially hard.

Information about the addiction specialty of the CIMA Barcelona Hospital

After an exhaustive physical and psychological assessment, the specialists will determine the psychological treatment, individual, group or combined, which can help us overcome the problem. These treatments include cognitive behavioral therapies, relaxation and emotional control techniques, and other therapies that may include the participation of family members or other support people.

Likewise, psychological treatment can be combined with pharmacological treatment for symptom control. While there is no medication capable of 'curing' cocaine addiction, some drugs can help control stress and anxiety during the withdrawal period and the detoxification process. It will be the medical specialists who determine the type of help we need.