Because cocaine addiction treatment is confidential, it is difficult to obtain exact data and statistics concerning the recovery for specific drugs. The same individual may seek treatment several times in a single year at different facilities; these admittances may be counted as if they were all separate people rather than one person seeking treatment multiple times. Despite potential inaccuracies in statistics, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration tracks the number of admittances for cocaine addiction each year.
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that changes the way the human brain processes certain chemicals. When an individual uses cocaine, the brain will release more dopamine than under normal circumstances, which creates the euphoric effects the drug user is seeking. When the drug leaves the system, the user is immediately hit with a craving to replace it. This frequency of use is part of why cocaine is so terribly addictive. The continued use increases tolerance, which leads directly to addiction in many cases.
For some individuals, it can be difficult to admit that they are addicted to cocaine because of the lack of physical withdrawal symptoms. Some drugs, such as heroin, will cause the addict to be physically ill, suffering shakes and alternating between fevers and chills. With cocaine withdrawal, this is not the case. The withdrawal symptoms are mostly psychological, with the exception of the intense physical craving for more of the drug.
