Cocaine Overdose: Signs, Symptoms, & What to Do

Cocaine, an illicit and highly addictive stimulant substance, can have widely variable effects on an individual that can sometimes be unpredictable. As a consequence, it can be hard to know how much is too much for any given person.¹ Overdosing on any drug, including cocaine, is always considered a medical emergency. If you or someone you love is overdosing on cocaine, call 911 immediately.²

What to Do if Someone Is Overdosing on Cocaine

Cocaine-involved overdoses are on the rise and can appear as (and quickly become) a medical emergency. If you think someone is overdosing on cocaine, do not hesitate – call 911 right away.³ If there is any possibility opioids were involved–if the person has lost consciousness and is not breathing, for example–administer naloxone immediately and remain with the person until help arrives.

Signs of a Cocaine Overdose

There are some common signs that someone who is overdosing on stimulants like cocaine may exhibit. Some of these include, but are not limited to, the following:⁶

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Confusion
• High blood pressure
• Psychosis or hallucinations
• Sweating or overheating
• Irregular heart rate or breathing
• Chest pain and/or tightness
• Panic or extreme anxiety

Risk Factors for Cocaine Overdose

Cocaine can have serious effects on the body, many of which can contribute to overdose and prove fatal. Some of the most common factors that increase one’s risk of overdosing include, but are not limited to, the following:^1,6,10

• Route of administration (e.g., smoked, snorted, injected, etc.)
• Amount consumed
• The presence of underlying health conditions
• Using cocaine in tandem with other substances, especially alcohol and opioids.

While these factors increase the likelihood of a cocaine overdose, it is important to be aware that any amount of cocaine consumption can be fatal.⁵

Dangers of Cocaine Mixed with Fentanyl

In 2023, nearly 75,000 of the 107,543 fatal drug overdoses in the United States involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.⁷ More specifically, approximately 65% of overdose deaths involving stimulants like cocaine also involved an opioid.¹¹

There are several reasons for the high rate of overdose deaths involving stimulants and opioids like fentanyl. The use of more than one substance, or polysubstance use, is common among people who use drugs.¹² In many cases, combined opioid and cocaine use is intentional, with the individual either co-administering the drugs simultaneously or using opioids and stimulants at different times.¹² In some cases, drug dealers mix fentanyl or other synthetic opioids into other drugs they are trying to sell, either accidentally while preparing drugs for sale or purposefully.⁵

The combined use of a stimulant like cocaine and an opioid like fentanyl, which can suppress breathing, creates highly unpredictable possibilities, as their simultaneous use can modify or mask effects of one another, increasing the likelihood of overdose.¹³

Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

If you or someone you love has a cocaine addiction, know that you are not alone. You do not need to remain trapped in an endless cycle of misuse, as there are treatment options available that can help you reclaim control of your life.

There are several levels of care that can meet you where you are at in the recovery process. Depending on your needs and overall treatment goals, you may be a good fit for one or more of the following programming options:

• Medical Detox
• Inpatient care
• Outpatient care
• Partial hospitalization programs
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Outpatient care

Once you have completed your course of care, you can continue to grow in your recovery with additional support, such as that offered through aftercare and sober living.

Start Your Recovery

If you or someone you know has a cocaine addiction, help is available. You can get started with your recovery by reaching out to a treatment center to get the care you or your loved one needs. Use our addiction treatment directory today.