Against expectation, non opiate users who use cocaine for less than 5 years have problems significantly more than non-opiate users with a longer period of use. This points to the fact that a great part of the non opiate users cease taking cocaine as soon as problems occur. For opiate users such a connection between the occurrence of problems and abstinence has not been recorded. Although cocaine does not have the visible harmful effects of heroin, our study clearly indicates that cocaine is not such a harmless drug as has been claimed in the past. Addiction depends not only on the duration of use but, more particularly, on the method employed.
Compulsive use occurs among opiate as well as non opiate users.
Cocaine addiction appears to differ from heroin addiction. Popular opinion often refers to the 'psychological' dependence of cocaine, whereas heroin is said to produce a more 'physical' form of dependence . What the studies indicated is that a number of compulsive users stop on their own accord when excessive cocaine use leads to an overload of problems. In these circumstances aspects such as social-economic status and social bonds are important. Thus, the reduction of harm for society and the users of cocaine must be focused on how social bonds of the users which do not depend on cocaine can be reinforced.