Therapy can help whether your goal is to cut down, to stop, or to understand why you use. We will discuss how to manage your safety while you decide what you want.
What this covers
Cocaine, in powder form or as crack, is a Class A drug. Use can start at weekends and creep into the week, or become something heavier. Cocaine is described as very addictive; regular use changes how the brain releases dopamine, and dependence is mostly psychological.
Signs use may be becoming a problem
- Using more often, or in larger amounts, than you meant to
- Using to ease the low, anxious comedown from the last time
- Binges that run on longer than planned
- Craving it, or thinking about it a lot of the time
- Spending money you do not have on it
Risks and safety: read this
- Cocaine is risky if you have high blood pressure or a heart condition, and even healthy young people can have a heart attack, stroke or fit after using it.
- Mixing cocaine with alcohol or other drugs raises the risk of overdose.
- Regular use can cause depression, anxiety and paranoia, and can bring out existing mental health problems. If you are low or having thoughts of ending your life, call Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours).
- Smoking crack regularly can cause breathing problems and chest pain.
- Call 999 if someone has chest pain, a fit, or is seriously unwell after using, and tell the crew what you think they have taken.
Support you can get alongside therapy
Therapy sits alongside medical care, not instead of it. How to get treatment without going through your GP, and where to find helplines.
What therapy can offer
- Working out what cocaine does for you (energy, confidence, escape) and what else could do some of that work
- Practical strategies for urges, comedowns and relapse
- Support for the low mood and anxiety that can follow
Confidentiality
Worried about your job or your driving licence? What I report, and what stays between us.
If it is someone you love
Living with someone’s cocaine use can mean broken sleep, money worries and not knowing what mood they will be in. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
Should I see a doctor before I change how much I use?
If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, speak to your GP or a drug treatment service about the risks.
Why do I feel so low after using?
A low, anxious or paranoid comedown is common and can last a day or longer. Some people keep using to ease it, which can lead to bingeing and a higher risk of dependence. It is one of the things we can look at together.
What is the difference between cocaine and crack?
The main differences are the form and how it is taken. FRANK describes powder cocaine as usually snorted, taking 5 to 30 minutes to work, with a high of roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Crack is small lumps or rocks, usually smoked, with almost instant effects that last about 10 minutes. Regularly smoking crack can cause breathing problems and chest pain.
Is cocaine bad for your heart?
It can be. FRANK says cocaine is risky for anyone with high blood pressure or a heart condition, and that even healthy young people can have a fit, heart attack or stroke after using it. A faster heartbeat can also continue after the high has gone. If you have heart problems, speak to your GP.
Does cocaine cause anxiety and paranoia?
It can. FRANK says regular use can leave people feeling depressed, run-down, anxious or paranoid, and can bring earlier mental health problems to the surface. A family history of mental health problems may raise the risk. If your mood has changed since you started using, therapy can help you make sense of what is cause and what is effect.
Can I drive after using cocaine?
No. FRANK says driving when high is dangerous and illegal, with possible penalties of a heavy fine, a driving ban or prison. GOV.UK says it is an offence to drive if you are unfit because of drugs or have certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood, and that police can use a roadside kit to screen for cocaine.
What are the penalties for having cocaine?
Cocaine is a Class A drug, so it is illegal to possess, give away or sell. FRANK lists up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both for possession. Supplying others, even friends, can carry life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
How can I support someone who uses cocaine?
Start with a calm, private conversation rather than a confrontation. FRANK advises listening more than you speak, avoiding judgement, and expecting that it may take several conversations. You cannot force anyone to change, and FRANK says you may need support yourself. FRANK’s helpline is 0300 123 6600, and there is support for families and loved ones here too. FRANK: concerned about a friend