Can You Overdose on Cocaine? Risks, Signs, and Treatment

Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Overdose

Signs of cocaine use include dilated pupils, hyperactivity, appetite loss, and more. Recreational use can quickly escalate into an overdose. A cocaine overdose isn’t just uncomfortable for the person experiencing it—it’s also very dangerous. Someone overdosing on cocaine may show a combination of physical and psychological signs:

• Elevated heart rate or irregular heartbeat
• Increased body temperature
• Sweating
• Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
• Chest and stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety and paranoia 

If someone is showing signs of a cocaine overdose, get help right away. Call 9-1-1 immediately or take them to the nearest emergency room.  

Deaths from cocaine overdose in the U.S.⁶ are rising. The number of deaths from cocaine increased from 15,883 to 24,486 (almost 54%) between 2019 and 2021.

What to Do in Case Someone Overdoses on Cocaine

A cocaine overdose is a critical situation that calls for quick, immediate action. If you suspect someone has overdosed on cocaine, follow these steps:

• Call emergency services. This is the first and most urgent step. Dial 9-1-1 for emergency services if you’re in the U.S. Give the operator clear information about the person’s condition. 
• Never leave the person alone. Cocaine overdose symptoms can escalate quickly. Monitor the person’s condition while you wait for help to arrive. Stay with them until medical professionals get there. 
• Try to remain calm. Once you’ve called emergency services, know that help is on the way. Your calm presence and support can make a big difference.
• Check their breathing and pulse. If their breathing is shallow, or they’ve lost consciousness, check their pulse. If you don’t know how to perform CPR, call emergency services to guide you over the phone. 
• Give emergency responders as much information as possible. When help arrives, give detailed information about the person’s condition and any substances they may have taken. They may need to go to the emergency room. 

Quick action and professional medical care can save someone’s life.

Risk Factors for Cocaine Overdose

Certain factors increase the risk of cocaine overdose: 

Polysubstance Use

Combining cocaine with other substances, like alcohol, stimulants, or opioids, puts a dangerous strain on the heart. 

Purity Levels

The purity of cocaine varies. With the strength unknown, you could accidentally take an unsafe amount. Street cocaine is cut with other agents, like laundry detergent, caffeine, laxatives, and more. Some cutting agents can cause poisoning or other dangerous adverse reactions. 

Cocaine Laced With Fentanyl

The rise in cocaine-related overdose deaths is linked to cocaine laced with synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Fentanyl is potent and deadly, even in very small doses. The number of cocaine overdose deaths⁷ jumped from 6,784 to 24,486 between 2015 and 2021, due in large part to the introduction of fentanyl. 

Cocaine Tolerance

Drug tolerance increases the risk of taking a toxic amount of cocaine. People with a history of cocaine use build tolerance. They may take higher doses to feel the desired effects.

Relapse

People often overdose during a relapse, because they take the same amount of cocaine they used to, but their tolerance is lower from being sober for some time. When you help someone who has relapsed on cocaine, you’re also saving them from potential overdose.

Heart Conditions

Underlying health conditions magnify the dangers of cocaine use. Its stimulant effects could trigger a life-threatening reaction in people with heart conditions. 

How to Prevent Cocaine Overdose

The best way to prevent a cocaine overdose is to not use it at all. With cocaine, there’s always a possibility of overdose. 

While abstinence is the safest approach, harm reduction strategies can help minimize some of the risks associated with cocaine use:

• Education is a powerful harm-reduction tool that helps you stay dose-aware. Sticking to clear use limits and avoiding binge use may reduce the risk of an unintentional overdose.
• Never use drugs alone. A friend or support person can be a lifeline. If you accidentally overdose, they can assist you right away and improve your chances of survival. 
• Test the purity of your substances. The U.S. is facing an alarming rise in cases of cocaine cut with fentanyl.⁸ The combination is lethal. Testing kits, or fentanyl test strips, help check substances for traces of fentanyl. 

If you can’t stop using cocaine despite the risks, this may signal a deeper concern. Treatment can help you address the root cause of cocaine use. It takes honesty and strength to ask for help. As intimidating as it may seem, the payoff is life-changing. 

Treatment for a Cocaine Overdose 

To treat an overdose, get immediate medical help. Medical professionals will manage symptoms and work to stabilize the person’s condition. Depending on the situation, treatment for cocaine overdose⁹ includes oxygen support, blood pressure medication, CPR, and more. Currently, there’s no medication to reverse a cocaine overdose.

Find Recovery From Cocaine Addiction

If you’re caught in a cycle of cocaine use, recovery is possible. Because it’s a common problem, experts have been developing various treatment options for years. 

Detox is usually the first step. Cocaine withdrawal and detox isn’t life-threatening, but it can be uncomfortable. Detoxing under medical supervision can ensure your experience is as safe and comfortable as possible. 

Different types of talk therapy are used in addiction treatment. Contingency management, which targets the brain’s reward system,¹⁰ shows promising results for cocaine addiction. One study found that it’s especially effective in early recovery.  

Residential rehab is effective for treating cocaine addiction.¹¹ Programs usually last 30 to 90 days. During this time, you live on-site in a therapeutic environment away from triggers. Daily schedules are usually an intensive mix of therapies, recovery activities, and downtime. 

Group therapy offers a safe space for sharing experiences with others who’ve faced similar struggles. You can find ongoing support through your rehab’s aftercare program, ongoing therapy, and in-person or online support groups. 
Treatment paves the way for a healthier, more fulfilling, and sustainable lifestyle. Search cocaine addiction treatment options and compare by price, location, insurance accepted, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cocaine Overdose