← Back to guidelines
Cardiology151 papers

Cocaine dependence

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Cocaine dependence is characterized by compulsive use despite harmful consequences, involving patterns of cocaine use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress 1.

Diagnosis

  • Prenatal exposure can be identified through urinalysis in newborns 2.
  • No specific dysmorphic or anthropometric syndrome consistently characterizes cocaine-exposed infants 2.
  • Neurobehavioral assessments may reveal multiple interrelated outcomes influenced by prenatal cocaine exposure 1.
  • Management

  • No specific first-line pharmacological treatments are detailed in the provided abstracts.
  • Behavioral therapies and counseling are foundational approaches, though specific drug classes/doses are not mentioned 12.
  • Supportive care addressing withdrawal symptoms and comorbid conditions is essential 1.
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Prenatal cocaine exposure is associated with fetal growth retardation but lacks a distinct dysmorphic syndrome 2.
  • Pediatrics: Newborns exposed to cocaine in utero may exhibit multiple interrelated neurobehavioral deficits 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Conduct comprehensive neurobehavioral assessments in newborns exposed to cocaine prenatally to identify multiple interrelated outcomes (Evidence: Moderate 1).
  • Recognize that prenatal cocaine exposure is linked to fetal growth retardation without a characteristic dysmorphic syndrome in infants (Evidence: Moderate 2).
  • Implement behavioral interventions and supportive care for individuals with cocaine dependence, given limited pharmacological specifics in the literature (Evidence: Expert opinion 12).
  • References

    1 Das A, Poole WK, Bada HS. A repeated measures approach for simultaneous modeling of multiple neurobehavioral outcomes in newborns exposed to cocaine in utero. American journal of epidemiology 2004. link 2 Little BB, Wilson GN, Jackson G. Is there a cocaine syndrome? Dysmorphic and anthropometric assessment of infants exposed to cocaine. Teratology 1996. link1096-9926(199609)54:3<145::AID-TERA4>3.0.CO;2-2)

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]

    HemoChat

    by SPINAI

    Evidence-based clinical decision support powered by SNOMED-CT, Neo4j GraphRAG, and NASS/AO/NICE guidelines.

    ⚕ For clinical reference only. Not a substitute for professional judgment.

    © 2026 HemoChat. All rights reserved.
    Research·Pricing·Privacy & Terms·Refund·SNOMED-CT · NASS · AO Spine · NICE · GraphRAG