The Link Between Cocaine and ADHD, Dangers of Self-Medicating and Dual Diagnosis Treatment

What to Expect With Cocaine and ADHD

Pharmaceutical stimulants are frequently used for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while illegal stimulants like cocaine can be more harmful than addictive. One of the most prevalent mental illnesses affecting both children and adults is ADHD. The illness is thought to have been diagnosed in 6.1 million children in the US, or 9.4% of those between the ages of two and 17.

According to some studies, adult ADHD is believed to affect 2.8% of all adults or those diagnosed with it. For instance, it is considerably more challenging to identify ADHD in women because the symptoms differ from those in men. The numbers may perhaps be far higher. This could imply that both genders utilize the medication to self-medicate and address the signs and symptoms of their ADHD. This should never be done since it is very harmful.

Are Stimulant Drugs for ADHD Addictive?

Are stimulant drugs for ADHD addictive? People sometimes worry whether the stimulant drugs their children are taking to treat ADHD (such as Ritalin and Adderall) are themselves addictive. Stimulant medications raise levels of a chemical messenger called dopamine in the brain, which helps improve focus and attention – skills that people with ADHD often find difficult to master. Dopamine also affects emotion and the feeling of pleasure, creating a “high” that makes people want more. Because cocaine and other street drugs also raise dopamine levels, there has been concern that ADHD stimulants might be similarly addictive. Ritalin’s ability to increase energy and focus has even led some people to refer to it as the “poor man’s cocaine.”

How Does Cocaine Affect ADHD?

Cocaine is more intense than prescription medications such as Adderall and Ritalin. Plus, illicit cocaine and crack cocaine are inherently unpredictable. It is not recommended to take cocaine as it can result in harmful side effects when abused.

The medication has an impact on specific brain regions, including the following:

• Both the hippocampus and the amygdala are involved in working memory.
• Subcallosal and orbitofrontal cortices, which are involved in volition
• The crucial executive control regions of the prefrontal cortex and cingulate gyrus

Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin reuptake are inhibited, causing more of these “pleasure chemicals” to circulate in the blood. A “cocaine high” is characterized by a rush of exhilaration and euphoria that lasts for only a few minutes. The high is followed by a comedown that can be uncomfortable, including anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia.

Cocaine abuse may increase the risk of worsening ADHD. ADHD is common in individuals who seek treatment for substance use issues. People who complete an addiction treatment often need to be treated for ADHD at the same time. A 2018 study found that ADHD symptoms improved in people with cocaine abstinence and that there may be a relationship between ADHD and cocaine dependence. That could mean that cocaine abuse could make ADHD worse rather than treat it. 

Skip To:

• Is There a Connection Between Cocaine and ADHD?
• What to Expect With Cocaine and ADHD
• Are Stimulant Drugs for ADHD Addictive?
• How Does Cocaine Affect ADHD?
• Cocaine Drug Fact Sheet
• Cocaine Abuse Statistics
• What Is Cocaine?
• Cocaine Effects on ADHD
• Can Cocaine For ADHD Work?
• Risks of Abusing Cocaine
• Cocaine Addiction Treatment
• Cocaine Detox
• Inpatient Cocaine Addiction Rehab
• Psychotherapy 
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment
• Cocaine Rehab Near Me
• How Does Cocaine Affect ADHD?
• What Is Cocaine?
• Cocaine Effects on ADHD
• Can Cocaine For ADHD Work?
• Does Cocaine Help ADHD?
• Cocaine and ADHD Treatment

Learn More:

• Cocaine Overdose
• Cocaine Side Effects
• ADHD Treatment
• Cocaine Addiction Treatment
• Cocaine Street Value
• Can You Eat Cocaine?
• Can You Drink Cocaine?
• What is Cocaine Made Out of?
• Cocaine Addiction Treatment
• Cocaine Detox

5.2 million

Among people aged 12 or older, 1.9% (or about 5.2 million people) reported using cocaine in 2020.

Source: NIH

19,447

In 2020, approximately 19,447 people died from an overdose involving cocaine.

Source: NIH

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant substance made from the leaves of the coca plant. Dopamine’s effects are enhanced, giving the user heightened energy and stamina. The increased impact of dopamine also brings on the euphoric and pleasant experience of a cocaine “high.”

Cocaine is currently classified as a Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high risk of abuse. However, a doctor can provide it for medical procedures, including local anesthetic and some ear, eye, and throat operations.

One of the main problems with cocaine is that to boost profits, dealers frequently contaminate their products with things like talcum powder, cornstarch, flour, powder, or baking soda, especially if you’re using it to treat something like ADHD. Even worse, cocaine may be contaminated with harmful chemicals, such as amphetamine or fentanyl. If you are not accustomed to the effects of opioids, this could result in an instant overdose.

Cocaine puts too much strain on your system, overstimulating your body. Your body works at an increased rate, which can cause side effects, including:

• Alertness
• Excitation
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• abnormal heartbeat
• chest pain
• Unexpected cardiac arrest
• Seizures
• Stroke
• Death

Can Cocaine For ADHD Work?

Cocaine use disorder and other substance use disorders may be more common in people with ADHD. According to a study, 23% of young adults with substance use disorders also had ADHD. Some people say, “cocaine makes me tired ADHD.” Those people get tired because once the “high” of cocaine wears off, the user will experience a “crash” and feel tired after a while.

In a different study involving 6,872 adults between the ages of 20 and 39, those with ADHD and coke were considerably more likely than those without the disease to have a substance use disorder.

Regarding cocaine, remarkably, some studies suggest that adults with ADHD use the drug at a rate of roughly 26%, with 1 in 10 developing cocaine use disorder. In contrast, 1.9% of adults aged 12 and older in the general population will have used the substance during their previous year.

Cocaine abuse increases your likelihood of developing a substance use disorder. Cocaine is severely addictive. The short-lived high followed by the uncomfortable comedown encourages users to take several doses in a row, which is called a binge. A cocaine binge increases your risk of developing a chemical dependence and addiction to cocaine, especially after long-term use. 

Dependence on cocaine happens when the brain gets used to cocaine’s effects over time. The brain chemistry will adapt to cocaine and its effects on your dopamine levels. The brain may produce fewer dopamine receptors or alter the brain chemistry in other ways to balance the brain chemistry. When a person stops using cocaine or cuts back, they will experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can cause depression, agitation, restlessness, fatigue, sleep problems, and lethargy. If a person has ADHD, cocaine withdrawal can make the symptoms worse, and the person might find concentration and focus more difficult. 

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. Traumatic experiences can often result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend mainly on the treatment for both diseases done by the same team or provider.

Please, do not try to detox on your own. The detox process can be painful and difficult without medical assistance. However, getting through the detox process is crucial for continued treatment. We Level Up provide proper care with round-the-clock medical staff to assist your recovery through our opioid addiction treatment program medically. So, reclaim your life, and call us to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our counselors know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Cocaine Rehab Near Me

Cocaine addiction is a condition that can cause major health problems, such as an overdose. We Level Up NJ rehab treatment & detox center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from this with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition and clarify issues like withdrawal symptoms. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please know that each call is private and confidential.