Cocaine Overdose

Cocaine Overdose: How to Help

This page explains how much cocaine can cause an overdose, the signs and symptoms of cocaine overdose and what to do in the case of a cocaine overdose.

How much cocaine causes an overdose?

Cocaine overdose is difficult to define, because there are so many factors that are involved. In addition, a claimed overdose isn’t always an overdose. If you take too much cocaine, you’re likely to exhibit unpleasant symptoms before the amount consumed becomes an overdose that requires medical care e.g. Many cocaine users mistake a panic attack for an overdose.  

A major overdose can result in a number of serious medical outcomes including heart attacks, strokes, hypertensive emergency, malignant hyperthermia and seizures.

Different cases of cocaine overdose can depend on factors such as: 

• The user’s tolerance, 
• The amount of cocaine ingested, 
• The method of ingestion: snorting, smoking or injection 
• Whether other drugs or alcohol are involved.

Alternatively, the following test can help identify if you need help.

Tolerance

Tolerance occurs when a person needs to use more of the drug to achieve the same effects they initially experienced. This happens because the body becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug, and the brain’s reward system adapts, reducing the drug’s impact over time.

Here are some key points about cocaine tolerance:

1. Increased cocaine usage: As tolerance develops, users often increase their dosage to attain the desired euphoria and stimulant effects. This can escalate quickly, leading to higher and more frequent use.
2. Neurochemical changes: Cocaine affects the brain’s dopamine system, which is involved in reward and pleasure. With repeated use, the brain’s response to dopamine becomes less sensitive, requiring more cocaine to produce the same effects.
3. Risk of cocaine addiction: Tolerance is a key factor in the development of cocaine dependence and addiction. As users consume more cocaine to overcome tolerance, they can become more psychologically and physically dependent on the drug.
4. Withdrawal symptoms: When a person who has developed tolerance to cocaine stops using it, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, which can include fatigue, depression, increased appetite, and intense cravings for cocaine.
5. Health risks from cocaine: Increased consumption due to tolerance heightens the risk of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular issues, neurological damage, and increased likelihood of overdose.

It’s important for people struggling with increased tolerance to cocaine use to recognise the symptoms and seek professional help to manage their addiction and reduce the risk of long-term harm.

Adulterants

Closely related to purity, adulterants play a large role in risk for overdose as well. Adulterants are often added to street cocaine to enhance the high, not only to dilute it. Common adulterants include: caffeine, amphetamines, crystal meth, lidocaine, aspirin, levamisole and occasionally fentanyl or other opioids. 

Some of these medications such as aspirin or caffeine will cause very little noticeable effect or problems. Others such as amphetamines are designed to mimic the effect of cocaine and are cheaper for the sellers who are cutting it. Others such as fentanyl can cause euphoria but carry a significant risk for respiratory depression and death.

Drug Interactions

Drugs that enhance or add to the effect of cocaine can also increase the risk of toxicity. These include amphetamines, crystal meth, methylphenidate and other stimulant type drugs. This is because many of these drugs act in similar ways to increase the amount of noradrenaline and dopamine in the central nervous system which can also result in some of the of the toxic effects.

• Read: Why Mixing Coke and Alcohol is Dangerous

Symptoms of an Overdose

An overdose occurs when your body or brain is overstimulated by the drug. It can produce a number of unpleasant psychological and physiological symptoms. To avoid an overdose, it is important to pay attention to the signs of excessive use of the drug that exist. Recent trends and data show an increase in overdose symptoms related to the use of the drug.

An overdose can present itself in the following symptoms:

• Hypertension
• Irregular or fast heartbeats
• High body temperature
• Nausea/vomiting
• Muscle twitching or tremors
• Dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pains
• Seizures
• Slurred speech
• Weakness in arms and legs
• Panic attack/aggressive behaviour
• Anxiety/paranoia
• Hallucinations/psychosis.

Consequences of Cocaine Overdose

An overdose can seem extremely frightening. Anyone who has experienced it will say that it is not something they would want to experience again. Unfortunately, the after effects are also unpleasant.

An overdose can lead to long-term physical and psychological damage. The rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature can lead to a heart attack, stroke or organ failure. If the person does not have a healthy lifestyle, the after effects can be fatal.

In addition to the heart, the kidneys, brain, eyes, muscles, bones and gastrointestinal system can suffer significant damage due to overdose. A person may also develop chronic psychosis or a decline in mental function.

What do I do in the Event of a Cocaine Overdose?

If you are with someone who is going through a cocaine overdose there are some steps you can take. This advice is not intended to be a replacement of medical first aid.

1. Call an ambulance

Cocaine is a drug that takes rapid effect, so the first thing you should do is call emergency services and tell them you suspect drug poisoning. In the UK, if you’re a recreational user, you don’t have to fear police involvement. You will get the help that you need.

2. If the person is responsive, help them into a comfortable position.

3. Try to reassure them.

4. If you are in a noisy environment and they appear confused, try to move the patient to a quiet space.

5. If they are still feeling unwell and / or anxious after taking the drugs:

Keep them calm, however where someone may have taken a stimulant this may be harder to do.  

If safe, allow them to pace, but if the patient is putting themself at risk, seek help.

6. Encourage them to breathe slowly if they are feeling anxious.

7. Stay with the patient.

8. Keep checking their breathing, pulse, and level of response. 

9. Do not try to make them vomit.

If they do vomit, then put some of this into a bag or container and give it to the healthcare professionals. This may help them identify the drug or substance. 

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10. Be Prepared to Administer First Aid if Necessary.

If they become unresponsive, open their airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat someone who’s become unresponsive. [Source] 

Physical restraint should be avoided if possible due to risks of injury and hyperthermia. 

Patients with cocaine toxicity may be combative, aggressive, and disoriented, and have delusions of persecution or hallucinations. Caution is appropriate because the patient may attempt to harm care providers.[Source]

Be honest and clear with the healthcare staff

When the healthcare staff arrive they may ask you how much of the drug you have taken and whether you have taken any other drugs at the same time (such as alcohol). It is important that you give them all the information they need to give you the right care. They may also ask you to give them the drug that you or your friend used. They may need to test the drug in order to give you the right treatment

Cocaine Overdose May Indicate an Addiction

One of the clearest symptoms of an addiction is continuing to use the drug despite negative consequences or despite a frightening situation such as an overdose. It is important to get help as soon as possible to treat the drug dependency.

If you want to discuss private treatment for a cocaine addiction, you are welcome to contact us at Castle Craig.

If you are worried that you might overdose but don’t know how to stop, then you should consider treatment to break the cycle of addiction and rebuild your life, free from drugs. Treatment at Castle Craig will help you start on the road to your recovery from cocaine addiction. Fill in our online admissions form and we will call you back.

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