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Why Do People Use Cocaine?

Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the cocoa bush where it is mostly grown in Peru, Columbia and South America. It is a schedule II drug which means that it has serious potential to be addictive and abused, according to cocainedrugaddiction.com. People use cocaine for the high they get from it -- and addiction can occur very quickly.

  1. The High

    • When cocaine reaches the brain, dopamine is released. Dopamine causes a person to feel euphoric and a rush of energy. It may give the user a sense of control. Cocaine is a major party drug due to its euphoric effect and cocainedrugaddiction.com states that after a few uses, you could begin to lose the ability to refuse taking the drug.

    Addiction

    • In 2005, a study published in the Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology stated that 5 percent of people who use cocaine for the first time will become addicted. The pleasureable effects of cocaine can wear off after only one hour, leaving the user wanting more of the same exhilarating feeling.

    Relapse

    • Myaddiction.com states that relapse rates among cocaine users is 94 percent which makes this drug one of the hardest to successfully treat.

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