Cocaine Brain: What is it and how does it affect you?

The term cocaine brain may be something that you’re familiar with, particularly today when the prominence of the substance is so high within society. It’s not difficult to miss someone who’s taken the substance, with the euphoric bursts of energy, the restlessness, confidence and, as you often see at football stadiums, the actions that will be very much regretted further along the line.

The term ‘cocaine brain’ itself is often said about people under the influence, with it referring to the neurological and psychological effects in both the immediate and the long term usage of the substance.

For those struggling with addiction and finding themselves in cocaine rehab, it can be especially noticeable, seeing the deterioration due to abuse over time and how it affects day to day life. But what exactly is cocaine brain and how does it affect those abusing cocaine?

How Cocaine Affects the Brain

Primarily, cocaine affects the reward system in the brain, which is what brings us pleasure and reinforcement. When cocaine is taken, it leads to a big hit of dopamine, which triggers pleasure, motivation and rewards.

Usually, when dopamine is released naturally, it will be recycled back into the neurons, which keeps the rewards system in the brain balanced. However, cocaine usage disrupts this, blocking the reuptake of dopamine, causing an excess to develop in the synapses between neurons. This creates a surge and that euphoric effect associated with cocaine. The high itself lasts up to around 30 minutes, followed by a crash, often marked by anxiety, fatigue and depression. The addiction element comes from the desire to chase that initial euphoric feeling.

Short Term Effects of Cocaine on the Brain

In the short term, people taking the substance will feel that intense, pleasurable feeling. However, the harmful outcomes on the brain far outweigh that, with heightened risk-taking behaviour, agitation, paranoia all common, while there’s also an increased risk of seizures, strokes and heart attacks.

What’s more, cocaine also prevents the brain from being able to process information and regulate emotions effectively. This can lead to struggling with impulse control, making reckless decisions, and memory becoming impaired.

Long-Term Effects of Cocaine on the Brain

Repeated cocaine use can have more permanent effects on brain structure and function. Over time, the brain’s reward system becomes desensitised to dopamine, meaning users need to take increasingly larger doses of the drug to experience the same high. This process, known as tolerance, can accelerate addiction and lead to further damage to the brain.

Chronic cocaine use has been linked to a range of cognitive deficits, including problems with memory, attention, and decision-making. These changes can persist even after someone stops using cocaine, sometimes for months or years. In some cases, the brain’s ability to regulate emotions can become severely disrupted, leading to mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

Cocaine use also affects other neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin and norepinephrine, which play important roles in regulating mood, arousal, and stress. Long-term cocaine abuse can leave individuals more vulnerable to psychiatric conditions such as psychosis, where they may experience delusions and hallucinations.

Structural Changes in the Brain

In addition to altering the brain’s chemical balance, cocaine can also cause structural changes to the brain. Brain imaging studies have shown that chronic cocaine users often experience a reduction in grey matter, the region of the brain responsible for processing information and controlling movement. The prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation, is particularly susceptible to damage. As a result, users may find it increasingly difficult to resist the urge to take cocaine, even when they are aware of the negative consequences.

Cocaine’s impact on the brain’s blood vessels can also be significant. Prolonged use can cause blood vessels to constrict, reducing the flow of oxygen to the brain and increasing the risk of stroke. Damage to the blood vessels may also lead to inflammation, further impairing cognitive function.