Serenity Lane offices have been impacted by the ice storm throughout the state. Click here for the most up-to-date information on the status of our services. (last updated 1/18/2024, 5:42 PM)
No one grows up dreaming of becoming addicted to drugs. That wasn’t the plan. It certainly wasn’t my plan. My name is Tori, and I’m a 25-year-old professional.
My colleagues don’t know I use cocaine. Using alcohol or drugs, especially illegal drugs like cocaine, isn’t exactly appropriate water cooler talk.
I grew up in a small town. It was mostly my sister and me growing up. My parents worked a lot to be able to provide for us. My sister and I would spend our childhood days riding bikes and talking about anything and nothing at all.
How did I get to the point of using cocaine? Well, I think of it as a snowball of stress going downhill, picking up more and more stress on the way down.
My relationship with my sister became strained when I started partying heavily in my early 20s. Drinking and cigarettes were the things I did then.
I have a lot of social anxiety. Drinking helped to take the edge off for me. As I got more and more into the partying scene, cocaine was offered to me. I remember the moment before using it for the first time, I thought, “This is going to really change things.”
My feelings about myself were so very low at the time. I really didn’t care about anything or anyone, especially me. I wanted to feel happy, and I thought maybe cocaine would work. It did work for the high, but the crash after was massive.
Cocaine gave me high highs and extremely low lows. I desperately want to get off of it now. I can’t afford it — financially, emotionally, physically. It’s ruining me. My parents have passed on, and it’s ruining my only family relationship left, which is my relationship with my sister.
If this story sounds like you or someone you love, there are ways to get off the cocaine treadmill, and Serenity Lane can help you do just that.
According to the website KidsHealth, with medical review provided by Dr. Steven Dowshen, M.D., cocaine is a white powder that comes from the dried leaves of the coca plant. The coca plant is found in South America.
One form of cocaine is crack cocaine. Crack cocaine is made by cooking cocaine powder with baking soda, then breaking it into small pieces called rocks. It is called crack cocaine or simply “crack” because it crackles when it is heated and smoked. The use of crack cocaine causes a very quick, intense high.
Nicknames for cocaine include, but are not limited to: coke, rock, snow, blow, white, toot, nose candy, base, flake, powder, and basa. Cocaine powder is inhaled (breathed in) or snorted through the nose or dissolved in water and injected into the veins. Crack cocaine is smoked in a pipe.
Cocaine is a stimulant drug. Stimulants produce a fast, intense feeling of power and energy. When the effects of cocaine wear off (crack wears off very quickly), the person that used cocaine feels depressed, nervous, and craves more and more cocaine to feel intoxicated or high again.
Cocaine is a highly addictive substance. A person can get hooked after trying cocaine just once.
There are many health issues that can occur as a result of cocaine use. Snorting cocaine can damage the septum between the nostrils, which can cause a hole to develop in the middle of the nose.
Cocaine makes the heart beat faster, which causes blood pressure and body temperature to rise. Cocaine can also make the heart beat abnormally.
It is important to be aware that cocaine is a dangerous drug. Using cocaine just once can cause a heart attack, stroke, or even death.
When a mental health or medical professional is evaluating you or your loved one to determine if a cocaine addiction is present, they will see if the symptoms you/they have align with the symptoms listed for “Stimulant Use Disorder, Cocaine” in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition” (DSM-5).
As noted, cocaine is a type of stimulant; thus, cocaine misuse falls under the umbrella of stimulant use disorder.
Continuing Tori’s story, we will see how her story aligns or does not align with various symptoms listed under stimulant use disorder. The following are Tori’s responses as an addiction counselor determines whether her symptoms meet the criteria for stimulant use disorder, cocaine:
Cocaine is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended. Yeah, I mean, if cocaine is there, I’ll take all of it and want more. I’ll bum off others if they will let me.
There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control cocaine use. To be honest, I haven’t tried very hard to quit. This is my first time wanting to actually stop. My relationship with my sister and her kids is messed up. I also know I’ve just barely lucked out of having legal problems. If I have legal problems, I will most definitely lose my job, so here I am.
A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to get cocaine, use cocaine, or recover from its effects. I couldn’t tell you how many family events I’ve missed because I’m out there hunting for the next hit. My sister has a running list of events I’ve missed. Her kids’ birthdays, Christmas, trick-or-treating, just to name a few.
You name it, I’ve missed it. I blow off events to get the next blow of cocaine. I’m a real winner. I have to change this. I don’t want to live like this anymore. Even if I could go to family events, my sister doesn’t want me around high or between highs. She doesn’t want to have to explain to her kids why I have a runny or bloody nose and why I am so irritable all the time. I don’t want her to have to make excuses for me anymore, either.
There is often a craving, or a strong desire or urge to use cocaine. I’m always craving cocaine. Sometimes it’s more intense than others, but I always think about it and want to use it, especially when I have to do something hard. Big work presentations with a pressing deadline — I definitely want a hit then.
Recurrent cocaine use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home. I always thought I was good at hiding what was going on. Those close to me can see through it. I mentioned my sister. Colleagues think I just have a cold all the time. It’s easy to brush it off since I’m still new to this job. I know others will start noticing my highs and lows. I like this job so far — I don’t want to jeopardize the one good thing I’ve got going.
Continued cocaine use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or worsened by the effects of cocaine. I think for me, my greatest social struggles have been with my family. I’m divorced. My parents have passed on. All I really have is my sister and her kids. If I lose that connection, I lose my family. They notice that I’m not all there like I used to be. They worry when I should be worried about them. I want to be a good aunt, a better aunt.
Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of cocaine use. I simply don’t even have time or energy for things I used to. Gym, reading, listening to music. All that has gone down the drain. When all you care about is using, all that self-care stuff goes out the window. I’d like to get back to it.
Recurrent cocaine use in situations in which it is physically hazardous. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve driven under the influence. There could have been a kid in the vehicle in front or behind me, and I was high as a freaking kite. I could not live with myself if I hurt someone else. I can’t do that again.
Cocaine use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or worsened by cocaine. Yeah, I look terrible when I’m high. My eyes give it all away. My pupils (center black part of the eye) look freaking huge. I don’t want to look in the mirror when I’m high because it freaks me out. That isn’t me, I don’t want that to be me. I know I’m moody and hard to be around basically at all times. I feel depressed, and I want to get high. I get high, then I feel depressed. It’s a vicious cycle.
Tolerance, as defined by either of the following: a need for noticeably increased amounts of cocaine to achieve intoxication or desired effect, or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of cocaine. Nothing really gets me the same high I once had. I keep chasing that first high, but I don’t think I’ll ever feel that way again. I take more. I mix it with alcohol and other drugs. I just feel numb instead of high anymore. I often think, what’s even the point anymore?
Withdrawal, as shown by either of the following: having withdrawal symptoms from cocaine, or cocaine is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. If I can’t get cocaine, I start feeling very, very tired. Everything feels like it is moving in slow motion. My body, my brain. I just don’t feel good or like myself.
If someone has 2-3 of the symptoms described above, they likely have a mild stimulant use disorder; 4-5 would suggest a moderate disorder; and 6+ would suggest a severe disorder.
Based on Tori’s addiction story and given her 6+ symptoms, it would appear she currently has stimulant use disorder, cocaine, severe. These signs of cocaine addiction show that Tori would benefit from seeking treatment. One of Tori’s treatment plan goals could be progressing from having 6+ symptoms (severe) to 3 or fewer symptoms (mild). Moving from severe to mild cocaine addiction would greatly improve Tori’s quality of life.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2020, among Americans 12 or older, which includes those living in Oregon, 1.9% of those surveyed (representing about 5.2 million people) reported using cocaine in the past 12 months.
Serenity Lane offers cocaine addiction treatment in Oregon. Often, a person may be using more than one substance at a time. Serenity Lane offers treatment for many substances, including, but not limited to: alcohol, heroin, cocaine, and meth. For those with opioid addiction, Serenity Lane offers medication-assisted treatment.
There are many levels of care at Serenity Lane, such as detox, residential, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and outpatient care. Serenity Lane also offers a telehealth option for outpatient therapy.
If reading Tori’s addiction journey reminded you of yourself or a loved one, know that you are not alone. Keep in mind the statistic mentioned: In 2020, there were about 5.2 million people in the U.S. that used cocaine.
Cocaine and other alcohol and drug use does not have to lead to the end of your story. At Serenity Lane, you can begin a fresh start, gain support and helpful resources, and learn healthy coping strategies to better manage the many stressors of life.
We are here to support you on the road to recovery. Call us today to begin your addiction treatment journey at (800) 543-9905.
Copyright © 2026 SERENITY LANE
SERENITY LANE is a registered trademark of Serenity Lane, an Oregon non-profit corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
