How does cocaine work?
Drugs work at the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), which is found at the center of the brain, and cocaine is no different. The VTA is the region of the brain responsible for ensuring that an individual can perform basic tasks like eating. More importantly, drugs like cocaine interrupt the operations of this part of the brain since it is also the reward center. In other words, it is the place that deals with the provision of pleasure. When pleasure is stimulated, dopamine is produced and recycled back to the cell from which it originated.
When an individual uses cocaine, it goes to the VTA and stimulates the production of dopamine in large amounts. This leads to excessive pleasure to the use of the drug, the kind they have never felt before. With time, the brain adjusts to allow for the dopamine being produced and will not be affected by the usual pleasure activities. It will only take the intake of cocaine to produce the dopamine for pleasure.
The main causes of cocaine addiction
While the central area where dependence originates is the brain, some factors can cause one to be dependent on cocaine. A couple of studies in the past decade indicate that cocaine addictions are as a result of the mixture of three elements: genetic, environmental and psychological. These factors can happen individually or together, making an individual an addict.
Genetics
The studies found that addiction to cocaine had something to do with certain genetic traits that could be passed from parent to child. In fact, individuals with these characteristics are 50% more likely to end up cocaine addicts than those without. The genes for the actual cause of this addiction areyet to be found, but scientists believe that genetic variations could be the cause. Also, the working of the traits to make one an addict from someone in their lineage is a complex and technical concept.
Environment
When considering the environment as a cause of addiction, it involves both how one was brought up and peer pressure. People from families where parents or relatives use cocaine openly or afamily which is generally unstable are at a high risk of addiction. Also, friends and colleagues who use drugs freely may encourage an individual to indulge in the same before adding cocaine to the mix. It only takes a few times of using this drug to become an addict.
Psychological
Many cocaine users believe that the use of the drug makes them invincible with nothing to fear. So, when they feel under, especially socially excluded, these people tend to use cocaine to give them courage and make them feel important. The risk of such a belief is that one might become dependent on cocaine when they want to feel relaxed. Worse yet, they may think that the drug is the quick remedy when in such situations. At first, the individual thinks that they would not need the drug after a while, but the need only grows over time. Before they know it, they are addicts.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from addiction, then do seek professional help!