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Cocaine Overdose: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Get Help

Cocaine use can pose a significant risk of overdose, which can be fatal or have lasting effects.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 24,538 cocaine-involved overdose deaths in 2021, up from 19,927 in 2020.2 Most cocaine-involved overdoses in recent years have also involved synthetic opioids like illicitly manufactured fentanyl.3

If you or a loved one uses cocaine, knowing the signs and symptoms of a cocaine overdose and the steps to take if someone is overdosing can save a life.

This article will help you learn more about:

  • Cocaine overdose risk factors.
  • Signs and symptoms of a cocaine overdose.
  • What to do in the event of a cocaine overdose.
  • Professional treatment for cocaine addiction.

What Is a Cocaine Overdose?

Drug overdoses occur when a person takes enough of a drug to cause life-threatening symptoms or death.1 Life-threatening symptoms of a cocaine overdose may be the result of cocaine alone or the result of cocaine combined with other substances, such as an opioid like heroin or fentanyl.

An overdose can be intentional or unintentional. An intentional overdose can occur when a person purposely takes too much cocaine with the intent to cause self-harm or suicide. An unintentional overdose can occur when a person:4, 5

  • Takes cocaine that is unknowingly laced with another substance (e.g., fentanyl).
  • Takes too much cocaine accidentally.
  • Engages in polysubstance use, which is the use of multiple substances simultaneously or within a short time (e.g., cocaine and heroin, or cocaine and alcohol).

What Increases the Risk of Cocaine Overdose?

Several factors can increase a person’s risk of overdosing on cocaine.

People who regularly use cocaine can develop a tolerance, which means they need to use more frequent or higher doses of cocaine to experience the substance’s effects.5 People can also develop sensitization, in which less cocaine is needed to experience toxic effects.5 Both tolerance and sensitization increase the risk of overdose.6

As mentioned, polysubstance use can increase the risk of overdose too.5 Common types of cocaine-involved polysubstance use include:

  • Cocaine and alcohol. Combining a stimulant like cocaine and a depressant like alcohol can mask the effects of one or both substances. If a person thinks the substances aren’t affecting them, they may take more, increasing the risk of overdose.5 Combining cocaine and alcohol can also result in the production of cocaethylene, which increases cocaine toxicity.6
  • Cocaine and heroin. People may use these substances together for a few different reasons. When taking cocaine and heroin together, users report qualitatively better subjective effects (“high”) than either drug alone, or the stimulant effects of cocaine are lessened by the sedative effects of heroin, or the stimulant effects of cocaine compensate for adverse opioid effects.6, 7 This combination, however, can cause people to take too much heroin without realizing it. Because cocaine’s effects wear off more quickly than the effects of heroin, people can experience an accidental cocaine-involved heroin overdose.6

Another potential danger is fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times more potent than morphine.8 Often, illicitly manufactured fentanyl is mixed into other drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. This can increase the risk of overdose as people may not be aware this dangerous additive is present.9

Unfortunately, synthetic opioid overdose deaths are on the rise.8 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 56,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids in 2020.8 Another study found that outbreaks involving fentanyl-contaminated crack cocaine have become more frequent in the past several years.10

Signs and Symptoms of a Cocaine Overdose

Some frequent and severe signs and symptoms of a cocaine overdose include:1

  • Extreme agitation or anxiety.
  • High body temperature.
  • Chest pain.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Heart attack.
  • Seizure.
  • Stroke.

Signs and symptoms of a cocaine-involved overdose may include:1

  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Loss of consciousness.

As mentioned, a cocaine or cocaine-involved overdose can be fatal. It is possible for a person to die from a cocaine overdose after their first use or shortly afterward.1

What to Do in the Event of a Cocaine Overdose

An overdose is a medical emergency. If you observe cocaine overdose symptoms or suspect an overdose, it’s important to:11

  • Call 911 immediately.
  • Administer naloxone (e.g., Narcan, Kloxxado, RiVive), if available and you suspect opioid-involvement. Naloxone can quickly restore a person’s breathing and reverse other opioid overdose symptoms. It will not reverse the effects of cocaine, but it can save a person’s life in the event of opioid involvement.
  • Keep them awake and breathing.
  • Lay them on their side to prevent them from choking.
  • Remain with them until emergency assistance arrives.

In emergency medical settings, cocaine overdose is generally treated with supportive management, as there are no specific medications to reverse a cocaine overdose.1 Depending on a person’s symptoms, they may receive medical treatment to help restore blood flow to the heart, restore oxygen-rich blood to the brain in case of stroke, or attempt to stop seizures.1

Getting Help After a Cocaine Overdose

If you or someone you care about may be struggling with cocaine use, know that addiction treatment is available. Addiction treatment can help patients stop using substances, stay substance-free, and live healthier lives at home, at work, and within the community.12

Treatment can vary greatly from patient to patient and can take place in different settings, such as outpatient rehabs or residential rehab.12 For those struggling with cocaine use disorder, treatment often involves different behavioral therapies to help patients change their behaviors and thoughts associated with cocaine addiction.1 This can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or contingency management (CM), participation in a therapeutic community, and attending mutual support groups.1

If you’re ready to learn more about treatment options, Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. AAC is a leading provider of evidence-based addiction treatment throughout the U.S. You can contact AAC at for information, resources, and support. It’s free and confidential, and there is no obligation to enter treatment.

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