Can Your Financial Status Put You at Risk for Cocaine Abuse?
Can Your Financial Status Put You at Risk for Cocaine Abuse?
In the United States, the history of drug trafficking dates back to the 19th century. Cocaine, along with a variety of other substances, has been illegally imported and distributed among people of all ages. So, what influences or contributes to a person’s risk for cocaine abuse?
The result of these illegally trafficked drugs leads to devastating consequences for Americans of assorted ages, traits, financial status, or gender. Cocaine was once considered a drug mainly used by wealthy people. However, that is not presently the case. Any economic status or social standing can leave a person falling into the path of illicit drug use.
Nearly 1.5 million people in America use cocaine at least once monthly. Regardless of research on cocaine usage, a common question arises; why do people use cocaine? The answer to this differs with each person who is a cocaine addict. Your financial status can affect your risk for cocaine abuse. However, your personality also plays a vital role.
Financial Status and Cocaine Use
Since cocaine is illegal, expensive, and causes overdoses and addiction, why do people use cocaine? For those who aren’t used to taking drugs, it is often questioned why people do them in the first place. The initial drug use will be highly variable between individuals, but the reasoning for continued drug use may be similar to a good amount of people. Personality traits and illicit substance use go hand in hand much of the time.
Financial status also links to illicit drug use with either poor or wealthy status. With a drug like cocaine, the abuse by a wealthy person may link more to a disorganized or undisciplined personality. This may not be the only reason a wealthy person uses cocaine, but those living in poverty don’t always match up to those personality traits.
The Role of Personality Traits in Drug Abuse
A study entitled Personality Traits and Illicit Substances: The moderating role of poverty, conducted by Angelina Sutina, Michele Evans and Alan Zonderman, gave a peek into drug use and financial status. People with a personality which lacked discipline and those who performed actions before thinking were more prone to drug use. This conclusion of character traits in wealthier people who used drugs was unrelated to drug use among people living in poverty. This means that those using drugs in poverty had other reasoning for their usage.
With the complexity of drug use, a single factor for the reasoning of use is simply not fathomable. For those living in poverty, personality traits may be different than those holding more wealth. People living with any financial status can experience stress, troubles, and life-altering events. Many people may assume that the rich will participate in cocaine use for recreational purposes, as the poor will be using to cope with life struggles. This is sometimes the case, and sometimes not the case at all. With wealthy people, the purchasing of cocaine may be more attainable as they can afford the drug for regular use. They may use the drug because they believe it is the best for coping with stress.
People who use cocaine may have also begun to use the drug for recreational purposes, and then developed an addiction. This same explanation can go for a person living in poverty. Although it may be more difficult to afford a drug like cocaine, once anyone begins cocaine, there is a risk for cocaine abuse. People will find a way to obtain the drugs when going through addiction, regardless of financial status.
Other Things that Contribute to the Risk for Cocaine Abuse
- Tolerance to euphoric effects of cocaine, needing more of the drug.
- When cocaine is not being used, withdrawal symptoms like confusion, hallucinations, agitation, or depression can occur.
- Cocaine is used excessively.
- Cannot reduce the use of cocaine successfully.
- Time is mainly spent on cocaine by obtaining and using it.
- Isolation. Not being around friends or family.
- Doing illegal things such as stealing, shoplifting, or burglary for money to use on cocaine.
- Life absences from work, school, assignments, etc.
- Despite knowing the consequences, still using the drug.
The effects of cocaine are detrimental to parts of the body that involve mood, appetite, and thinking. Although recreational use is intended for giving pleasurable feelings of euphoria, unpleasant sensations can follow the use of cocaine. Feelings of violence, suicide, confusion, paranoia, nervousness, and other uncomfortable feelings are often reported with people who use cocaine.
For those who do not have the personality traits of hostile, disorganized, undisciplined, and antagonistic, drug use may not be a likely event in your life. Unfortunately for many people, the choice has been made to start drug use from any reasoning initially. At any age, people who use cocaine are at risk for cocaine abuse or addiction. Drugs may even alter a person’s brain to change certain aspects of their personality. This is what makes addiction so dangerous and disabling a person’s life. Relationships, health, jobs, and family can all be ruined by a cocaine addiction.
How to Get Back to a Drug-Free Lifestyle
Functioning through daily life is an ultimate struggle for people who use cocaine. Rehabilitation programs can lead the way out of addiction, and on the path of a productive life again. Rehab programs administer proven methods of repairing emotional and spiritual damage from drug use. They can also help to build self-esteem, improve physical health, and learn coping skills.
During rehabilitation, the causes of your addiction can also be looked into and addressed. Life is an endless opportunity, and gaining a hold of what you think you lost during addiction is attainable. Addiction specialists are here to help with a safe and efficient recovery to get you back into a drug-free lifestyle.
