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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?
It can be taken orally –
‘chewing’, snorted through the nose, smoked, or injected –
‘mainlining’. Injecting cocaine released the drug directly into
the bloodstream and heightens the intensity of its effects. Injecting any
drug also carries the added risk of contracting HIV/AIDS if the personal
shares a needle with a person already infected with HIV/AIDS.
Cocaine is absorbed into the bloodstream through nasal tissues when it is
snorted. Nasal problems, including congestion and a runny nose occur
with cocaine use. Prolonged use can cause the mucous membrane of the
nose to disintegrate. Heavy cocaine use can sufficiently damage the
nasal septum and cause it to collapse. Smoking cocaine allows smoke
that is inhaled through the lungs to be absorbed into the bloodstream more
quickly than if it were injected. Some
users
combine cocaine powder or crack with heroin in a ‘ speedball’. |
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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.
To find out more about cocaine and other drugs
of abuse contact
TAADAS Clearinghouse
615.780.5901 or
1.800.889.9789.
1800 Church Street
Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37203.
mail@taadas.org
The Clearinghouse is funded by the TN Dept. of Health.
Revised 10/00
Source: US Dept of Health and Human Services
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