If they try to discontinue use, they will experience intense cravings for the drug. When use has continued for a long time, tolerance for the drug increases and more of the drug is required to create an effect similar to earlier use. They will have strong cravings for the drug. The person may feel seriously distressed about life without good reason. Symptoms of long-term cocaine abuse can include depression, agitation, nervousness, tiredness but unable to sleep. When a person has been using cocaine over a long time period, they are likely to suffer physical and mental deterioration. A person who has become addicted will be driven to use more of the drug and this will become his or her priority in life over family, career, work or health. When high doses are used or the drug is used in binges, symptoms of cocaine use often include disorientation, delusions, paranoia, antisocial behavior and aggressiveness. A crack user may have burns on lips and fingers as a sign of cocaine use, because of burns from the crack pipes. A crack user may go off to use more of the drug after just 10 or 15 minutes. A crack high is similar to a powder cocaine high but it does not last as long. You may find small glass pipes and tiny plastic bags left behind after a person smokes crack. Signs of Cocaine Use Appearance:Ĭrack Cocaine Causes Many of Same Signs and SymptomsĬrack cocaine is smoked. A cocaine user may also dissolve and inject the drug, in which case you might find needle marks on arms, legs, hands, feet or neck and discarded syringes left around the place cocaine is consumed.Īs powder cocaine’s effects only last an hour or less, the user may leave periodically so he or she can use more of the drug. Other symptoms of cocaine use include runny noses and after long use, nosebleeds and damage to the inside of the nose. A few will ingest it, which can lead to severe intestinal damage.ĭilated pupils and eyes that are overly sensitive to light are symptoms of cocaine use that you can watch for. While many people snort the drug (thus leaving the powder), some will dissolve and inject it. Traces of white powder around a person’s nose are also a sign of cocaine use. Their energy will be pumped up and they probably will not have very much appetite for food and will not have a normal sleep pattern. They may be more excited sexually and talkative. They may seem excited and act more confident and exhibit a greater sense of well-being. If a person is abusing powdered cocaine and they don’t want you to know, they may disappear to use the drug and then return in a very different mood. Do you think you see signs of drug use but you are not sure what drug is being used or how bad it is? If you suspect cocaine abuse by someone you care about, here are the signs of cocaine use you should watch for.

Stages of crack addiction