| Cocaine Addiction Test
Although each person may evidence a unique pattern of cocaine addiction, he or she will usually manifest three or more of the symptoms or scenarios listed below.
- Excessive or inappropriate use of cocaine: For example, getting high on cocaine or other drugs or getting drunk on alcohol and not being able to fulfill obligations at home, at work, or with others; feeling as if cocaine or other substances are needed to fit in with others or function at work or at home; or driving under the influence of substances.
- Preoccupation with getting or using cocaine: For example, living mainly to get high on cocaine; making substance use too important in life; or being obsessed with using cocaine.
- Change in one’s tolerance for cocaine: For example, needing more cocaine to get high or getting high much more easily than in the past.
- Having trouble reducing or abstaining from cocaine use: For example, not being able to control how much or how often one uses cocaine or using more cocaine than planned.
- Withdrawal symptoms: For example, getting sick physically, including having the shakes, feeling nauseous, having gooseflesh, having a runny nose, etc., once one does cut down or stops using cocaine. Or experiencing mental symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or agitation.
- Using cocaine to avoid or stop withdrawal symptoms: For example, using to prevent withdrawal sickness or drinking or using drugs to stop withdrawal symptoms once they’ve started.
- Using cocaine even though they cause problems in one’s life: For example, not taking a doctor’s, therapists, or other professional’s advice to stop using because of problems cocaine has caused in one’s life.
- Giving up important activities or losing friendships because of cocaine use: For example, discontinuing participation in activities that once were important, giving up friends who don’t get high, and losing friends because of how cocaine use affects relationships with others.
- Stopping cocaine for a period of time (days, weeks, or months), only to begin again: For example, promising to quit using cocaine only to begin getting high again or being unable to remain abstinent from cocaine or other drugs.
- Getting into trouble because of cocaine use: For example, losing jobs or being unable to find a job, getting arrested or having other legal problems; sabotaging relationships or having trouble with family or friends, or having money problems because of cocaine or other substance use.
Answering “yes” to 3 or more of these questions means there is a cocaine addiction present and that person should seek immediate treatment and counseling. |
