Why is Fish Scale Cocaine Risky?

Looking at the Nature of Fish Scale Cocaine and Treatment Options

Did you know that not all cocaine is created equal? While some people are familiar with a white powder from their time watching television and movies, fewer people are acquainted with the purest form of the drug, often known as fish scale cocaine.

But what is fish scale cocaine, and how does it impact someone who uses it routinely?

Fish scale coke lacks the adulterants that most typical cocaine is cut with, creating a purer form of the drug and ensuring a stronger mental and physical high. The consequences of drug use are higher, with more people having heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure because overdosing is more common.

Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada can help you or your loved one come to terms with fish scale cocaine abuse or addiction. We provide a safe space to land where clients receive 24/7 help for the stronger withdrawal effects and mental health concerns they will be faced with.

Here’s what you should know about fish scale cocaine addiction and what you can do to help.

Why Does Fish Scale Cocaine Use Cause Concern?

Any kind of drug use by a loved one is cause for concern, but the effects of fish scale cocaine may pose an even greater risk. When you hear someone refer to this drug, know that it has serious health risks–even above and beyond those of ordinary cocaine.

Fish scale cocaine has the appearance of shiny fish scales, which is where the name originates. It’s this chemical makeup that creates a significantly higher potency in the drug. Both body and brain will have a much faster response to the drug, and a more powerful one at that.

Because of this, an overdose is far more common with this form of cocaine. A smaller amount will often go a long way in securing an intense high, but it may not always be consistent. Sometimes, all they need is a small piece to achieve the high they crave.

It all depends on the reliability of their source and whether the drug was laced with anything else.

But where else does the risk lie with high-purity cocaine like this?

How Does Fish Scale Cocaine Addiction Begin?

Fish scale coke is actually closer to pure cocaine than many users may think. It’s the purity of fish scale cocaine that creates that intense high that people crave. The appearance of scales on the surface and the slight shine of the drug indicate this form of cocaine.

Generally speaking, cocaine is often cut and produced with other substances, which makes it less pure. The average cocaine dose is only about 60 percent actual cocaine, whereas fish scale is often closer to 90 percent. At this potency, coke is going to be more addictive than traditional cocaine.

Of course, there are also risks when someone is buying typical cocaine. It’s hard to know what it may be cut with. These unknown adulterants are often the cause of dangerous side effects because they were never meant to be smoked, snorted, or ingested.

The dangers of fish scale cocaine are similar. Drug dealers want to sell pure cocaine because it fetches a higher market price and is in greater demand. They may lace fish scale coke with something to give it a shiny, iridescent appearance, making it even more dangerous. Oftentimes, it’s laced with a deworming drug given to cattle known as levamisole.

What are the Immediate Effects of Fish Scale Cocaine?

If you believe that a loved one might have taken fish scale cocaine, it’s important to seek medical help for them as soon as possible. This fish scale drug has some serious health problems associated with it, starting with physical, life-threatening side effects.

Cocaine hydrochloride causes blood pressure to rise and the heart to beat faster. The overwhelm of this type of cardiovascular strain can result in heart attacks and strokes if left unchecked. Anytime a loved one complains of chest pain or exhibits the symptoms of a stroke, they should seek help quickly.

Another serious issue is that it depresses the respiratory system more than regular cocaine. When the drug hits their system, their body may have a hard time remembering to breathe, leading to respiratory failure.

Last but not least, there are also neurological effects of fish scale cocaine as a result of their work on the neurotransmitters in the brain. A surge in anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis is all quite common to cocaine addiction. Seizures are also possible with cocaine abuse.

What are the Dangers of Fish Scale Withdrawal Symptoms?

Because fish scale cocaine amplifies the effects of cocaine hydrochloride, your loved one may exhibit more intense and severe withdrawal symptoms. This form of cocaine leads to more substance abuse issues, but here’s what you should watch out for if you suspect a loved one is trying to get sober.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms include:

• Mood issues like depression, agitation, or restlessness
• Fatigue and sleeping more than usual
• General feelings of malaise and discomfort
• Increased appetite after not eating much during drug use
• Vivid dreams
• Slow movement (slow enough to be noticed by others)

These are some of the physical and mental withdrawal effects you should be on the lookout for if you suspect cocaine addiction. However, you should be aware that they’re likely to have intense cravings where they will do anything to get more drugs.

If they have faced severe legal and social consequences, this is often a starting point for conversations around what a sober life would look like. This is the best time to start thinking about effective harm reduction strategies and where you can turn for helping individuals break free of addiction.

How to Break Free of Fish Scale Cocaine Abuse and Start Addiction Recovery

Once your loved one is ready to admit that they may need more help for their cocaine use, you want to be prepared with places for them to go. Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada offers programs in both Las Vegas and Henderson, providing double the opportunity to offer help when it is needed most.

We are proud to offer JCAHO-accredited facilities, ensuring you can rest assured knowing your loved one is in a safe and comfortable environment.

In addition to our work with those using fish scale cocaine, we also offer help for mental health issues. All of our programs also offer mental health-only treatments if that is what our clients require. Following a medical detox at a partner facility, we provide comprehensive care from inpatient to outpatient treatment.

Don’t Fall for a False Sense of Hope

Severe addictions require clinical help from trained professionals who know what to expect and how to grapple with a newly sober lifestyle. Fish scale cocaine is highly addictive and will require some help to put drug use behind your loved one for good.

Don’t fall into a false sense of security that they can do it on their own by simply white-knuckling it.

Seeking professional help gives them the best opportunity to rest easily in a safe environment. They are at no risk of obtaining more drugs, toxic chemicals, or other substances. Prevention efforts are put into place so that they have to face their addiction head-on.

Plus, Icarus Nevada offers around-the-clock mental health help from clinicians who understand the nature of addiction and the feelings that come with trying to give it up.

Get Help for Cocaine Use Today at Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada

When you want to help a loved one get sober and stop using fish scale cocaine, it’s time to consider the next steps to take in the recovery process.

Don’t wait for a heart attack or a stroke (or worse) to befall a loved one whom you suspect has been using fish scale cocaine.

Icarus Behavioral Health Nevada serves the Las Vegas and Henderson areas, accepting many private insurance providers as in-network. Our enrollment team is always ready and waiting to answer your most pressing questions about the care a loved one will receive.

We can even verify their health insurance benefits so that you know what to tell them when they ask about the cost.

Don’t wait another day to arm yourself with the knowledge of addiction recovery programs and what it looks like to seek professional help for a loved one. Reach out to Icarus today to reserve a spot in one of our comprehensive treatment programs!

References

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2. Solomon, N., & Hayes, J. (2017). Levamisole: A High Performance Cutting Agent. Academic forensic pathology, 7(3), 469–476.
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