Things You Need To Know

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain.  It is one of the oldest known drugs.  The pure chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been abused for more than 100 years.  And the coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been ingested for thousands of years.  Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, meaning that it has high potential for abuse, but can be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses, such as local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries 

There are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: the hydrochloride salt – powder cocaine and the ‘freebase’ – smokable cocaine.  Powder Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white crystalline powder, known as ‘coke’, ‘c’, ‘snow’, ‘candy’, or ‘blow’.  Typically the cocaine sold on the street is diluted with substances such as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar. 

How is Cocaine Used? 

users combine cocaine powder or crack with heroin in a ‘ speedball’.

What are the effects of Cocaine use?

There is no safe way to use cocaine.  As cocaine use continues, a tolerance often develops.  This means that a higher dose and more frequent use of cocaine are required for the brain to register the same level of pleasure that was experienced during the initial use.  Some recent studies have shown that even during periods of abstinence from cocaine use, there still remains the memory of the initial euphoria associated with cocaine use.  Triggers can set off a tremendous craving, causing users to relapse even after long periods of abstinence.   

Effects appear almost immediately after a single dose, and disappear within a few minutes or hours.  The duration of the high depends on how the cocaine was administered.  The high from snorting cocaine can last for 15 to 30 minutes.  The high from smoking cocaine, usually only lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Large amounts may lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior.  Users often experience tremors, muscle twitches, and paranoia.  Some users report restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and grinding of teeth. 

Some short-term effects of cocaine use can include: Increased energy, decreased appetite, increased heart rate and blood pressure, constricted blood vessels, increased temperature, dilated pupils, nosebleeds, loss of smell, problems swallowing, hoarseness, runny nose or inflamed nose.

Some of the most frequent medical complications associated with cocaine use include: Heart problems including irregular heart rhythms and heart attacks, chest pains and respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, abdominal pain, nausea, or bowel gangrene due to reduced blood flow.

Revised 10/00 

Source:  US Dept of Health and Human Services