Medical Complications of Cocaine Addiction: Clinical Implications for Nursing Practice

Cocaine abuse is an important public health problem, with almost two million users in the United States alone. Cocaine abuse kills thousands annually. According to medical examiners, cocaine is the most frequent cause of drug-related deaths. As the use of cocaine remains pervasive so have cocaine-related medical problems. The most serious medical consequences of cocaine abuse are associated with the drug’s potent vasoconstrictor properties that can cause life-threatening cocaine-related medical problems such as myocardial ischemia, cardiomyopathies, strokes, renal failure, respiratory arrest, neuronal destruction, and sudden death. Addiction nurses are challenged to not only understand the complexity of cocaine addiction and its potential and actual deleterious effects on major body systems but also implement interventions that reduce health risks and facilitate recovery. This article focuses on cocaine-related medical complications, medical stabilization, and drug rehabilitation. The role of the nurse is discussed along with strategies and evidence-based approaches to treating patients presenting with cocaine related medical and psychiatric consequences.