What are the long-term neurological and psychological effects of cocaine use?
While imaging studies suggest improvement in function over time with abstinence from drug use, complete return to normal appears to take years and may never be achieved. The cocaine addict’s brain remains susceptible to environmental cues to use of cocaine. The brain also rapidly returns to its previous state with reinstitution of drug use. Craving in abstinence is the norm and can be very troubling to the person seeking recovery. This is not to say that recovery is not possible. With appropriate treatment and support solid recovery is possible. Long-term abstinence from cocaine is, however, the only possible treatment with there being no safe amount of cocaine for the affected addict.
