Cocaine abuse and its treatment

Increasing numbers of individuals with a diagnosis of cocaine abuse (DSM-III, 305.6) are seeking medical and psychiatric care. The majority of users inhale the drug in powdered form, as cocaine is rapidly absorbed by mucous membranes. The patterns of use resemble those for the use of alcohol and marijuana: recreational, intensified, circumstantial, and compulsive. When cocaine is taken intravenously or by freebasing, individuals are much more vulnerable to developing a compulsive pattern of use that could lead to an organic delusional syndrome. Cocaine causes systemic effects that are similar to those of amphetamine, but they have a much shorter duration of action. Blood pressure, heart rate, feelings of "pleasantness" and "stimulation" are increased, and hunger is decreased. Acute tolerance may develop over hours of continuous use, but it disappears after a short period of abstinence (overnight). In psychomotor testing, performance that is impaired by fatigue is restored to baseline levels. Users like cocaine because they feel more alert, energetic, sociable, and sensual. However, these positive feelings are commonly followed by anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue, and craving more cocaine. Chronic intoxication is always associated with adverse psychosocial sequelae. Treatment initially must be directed toward the patient's stopping all use of cocaine, employing strategies such as contingency contracts, urinalysis, family intervention, the assignment of financial control to others, or hospitalization. Several psychopharmacologic agents are helpful as an adjunct to a comprehensive treatment plan. Overdoses of cocaine are treated by diazepam and propranolol. Antidepressant medications, both TCAs and MAOIs, often help relieve the symptoms of depression that emerge when chronic use of cocaine is discontinued. Classical and operant conditioning contribute to craving for the drug and opportunities to extinguish these factors are valuable in preventing relapse. Compulsive users often have an Axis II diagnosis of borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, which require long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.