Is Cocaine chemically addictive?

Factual Questions
1

To start, no I’m not planning to use cocaine.

Is cocaine chemically addictive? I’ve always assumed it is, being such a dangerous drug, but I’ve recently seen somewhere that it isn’t chemically addictive. I don’t know the credibility of where I saw it, and can’t seem to turn up any good sources about it without much time spent digging through Google hits.

So, what’s the deal? Is it chemically addictive, or just strongly psychologically addictive? Please link to where I can read about it if you can!

2

Its not physically addictive like narcotics or alcohol, but psychologically addictive like cigarettes and amphetamines. However, even psychologically addictive drugs effect the brain (in this case, the dopamine system), and can lead to physiologically manifested “withdrawal” symptoms due to intense mental cravings.

3

Cigarettes are physically addicting as well as psychologically addicting. It’s the nicotine that makes them physically addicting.

That leaves me with questions about the rest of Headcoat’s response. I will see what I can find.

4

Apparently, the jury is still out on whether or not cocaine is physically addicting. That makes me think that it is probably not. That doesn’t mean that abuse and withdrawal are very pleasant.

5

My vote is a big YES. See, I have this…friend. I–I mean, my FRIEND tried coke oh, about a half dozen times back in the day (couple of years ago). He said that the high doesn’t last all that long when snorting a modest-size line, maybe about 30 minutes max. When you start to come down from it, you can think of nothing else but doing more. You realize it’s addictive, and silly and ridiculous and expensive as hell, you’re not out of your mind…in fact, you’re probably smarter than normal, but all that takes a backseat to doing just one more line.

My friend doesn’t do it anymore. Never say never, but…he’s got a budget (which is probably a good thing).

6

Bolding mine. You can think of nothing else but more. That’s psychological addiction. Physical addiction means there are physical withdrawal symptoms. An obvious example would be the involuntary kicking of the legs displayed by some addicts during heroin withdrawal.

Now just because cocaine may not be physically addictive (or, if it is, at least not significantly), that doesn’t mean that it can’t be intensely psychologically addictive. In fact, it’s one of the most dangerous drugs around in that regard. That’s why I’ve never touched the stuff. A drug doesn’t have to be physically addictive to make people lie, steal, or prostitute themselves to get another fix.

Your “friend” would be well-advised to put his foot down and ensure that never means never when it comes to powder.

7

I’ve never heard of this distinction between psychological addiction and physical addiction before. Most smokers I know who have quit or tried to quit seem to be struggling with the psychological addiction – I should really say ALL. What are the PHYSICAL withdrawal symptoms of nicotine?

8

The physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are psychologically manifested. If you could take a guy and make him quit cold turkey, and then give him amnesia, he would not suffer nicotine withdrawal.

Do the same with a person with an opiate narcotic addiction, and he would still be vomiting, spasming, and having flu-like symptoms.

I prefer to differentiate physical addiction vs psychological addiction by whether or not it effects the metabolic systems of the body. For instance, narcotics and alcohol create a very real dependency where your body involuntarily goes through PAIN when it has an absence of the chemical (in the case of alcohol, withdrawal can lead to DEATH).

Stimulants like nicotine, cocaine, and speed can’t do this. Although addiction to these chemicals is very real, and quite thorough, it is still what I consider a psychological addiction. I would also consider cocaine far more addictive and potentially dangerous than heroin.

9

Addiction science is still in it’s infancy, IMO. There is a doctor in Memphis who has written several books on “suicide addiction.”

Keep in mind that alcoholism was not classfied as a disease 40 years ago.

Point being that what you read is not necessarily true, regardless of the credentials of the author.

10

Oh yeah, the two “drugs” known to have caused people to die from withdrawal are alcohol and barbituates.

The rest just cause “discomfort” (psychological/physical).

11

Cocaine withdrawal, and withdrawal from other stimulants, does not have the kind of whole-body symptoms that you get from withdrawal from opioids or from depressants like alcohol, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines. Instead, it manifests nearly the same as an episode of major clinical depression, with the added benefits of a hearty craving for more cocaine.

Personally, I tend to consider anything that produces measurable medium- or long-term changes in body or brain chemistry to be “physically addictive,” although I don’t really like the term. But that’s just me.