The abuse of stimulants has everything to do with dopamine production in the brain. In a comparison of cocaine vs meth, the latter came out as being more addictive and dangerous. It’s also the drug that’s easiest to get for adolescents and young adults. Of course, treatment is your best option when someone you love grapples with any kind of substance abuse.
How the Drugs Manipulate Dopamine
Dopamine is the body’s feel-good neurotransmitter. Your brain releases it from its reward center. For example, eating a great meal can lead to dopamine release. The same’s true for exercise. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drugs artificially stimulate dopamine production. In the cocaine vs meth discussion, cocaine tends to produce a dopamine glut. That’s why users binge on it. In contrast, meth creates excess and prevents the absorption of the dopamine, which boosts its effects.
Cocaine Vs Meth: the Dark Sides
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that the high from both drugs are short-lived. Both drugs are powerfully addictive, and both can lead to overdose. With meth, your adolescent may experience chest pains, respiratory difficulties, and continuous fever. Psychological changes include psychosis, anxiety, and severe depression. In contrast, cocaine might cause paranoia, irritability, and tremors. Neither drug offers a safe high.
Therapy Helps Teens Overcome Substance Abuse Problems
Addiction to either one – or both – of these drugs doesn’t go away by itself. It isn’t a phase that eventually runs its course. Rather, it’s a dangerous habit with a potentially deadly outcome. A cocaine or meth addiction treatment program is the answer. Choose a facility that specializes in the treatment of teenagers. Adolescents require an approach that differs from the one you might expect to work for older adults. Several modalities work well:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy that encourages your teen to explore negative ways of thinking and acting
- Dialectical behavior therapy, which focuses on regaining control over strong emotions
- Dual diagnosis treatment for anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders
- Group therapy, which provides peer support and encouragement
- Family treatment as a way to create a safe space, support network, and a healthy environment for healing
What Happens If You Don’t Seek Help?
Prolonged abuse of cocaine can result in cardiovascular problems. If your teen snorts the drug, he or she may run the risk of damaging the septum to the point of collapse. Meth abuse may result in the infamous meth mouth. Also, there’s the possibility of delusions, hallucinations, and violence. Both drugs have strong connections to crime. It costs a lot of money to maintain a steady habit. Your teen may decide to steal to finance the addiction. Eventually, it may lead to a run-in with the police. However, this doesn’t have to be your loved one’s trajectory. Recognize the danger of the substances involved in the cocaine vs meth comparison. Next, get help at Destinations for Teens by calling 877-466-0620 today.