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Facts About Cocaine

Cocaine or ‘coke’, as it is known, is most commonly bought as a white powder. It is normally separated into lines and then snorted through a rolled up bank note. The drug is not inhaled into the lungs but rather is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the nose. The drug then takes about 15 minutes to take effect. Cocaine is sometimes injected in order to feel the effects more rapidly, although it is generally accepted that this method of use is more addictive than snorting. Cocaine is often seen as a drug of the more affluent yet in reality, users come from all sections of society.

Cocaine is a stimulant, the effects of which can last anything from 20 minutes to several hours. This depends on the amount of cocaine taken, mode of administration, and purity. Users feel euphoric and energetic and can often have a sense of invincibility. Cocaine also causes the heart to beat faster and a rise in body temperature. Paranoia, twitching, and impotence are not uncommon in chronic users.

Cocaine is more psychologically than physically addictive. Prolonged use leads to increased tolerance, causing the user to take higher doses in order to achieve the same effects. The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal include depression, anxiety, fatigue, and increased appetite. This results in the user craving more of the drug.

The health risks associated with cocaine use are well documented. Snorting cocaine over a long period can damage the inside of the nose. Because cocaine constricts the blood vessels, decreasing blood and oxygen flow to the nose, the cartilage decays, and in extreme cases, disappears completely. Those who use cocaine are at increased risk of stroke, cerebral haemorrhage, respiratory or heart failure. In fact, a user is 24 times more likely to suffer a heart attack within the first hour of taking cocaine. Long-term use can also result in kidney disease and renal failure. The risk of overdose increases when combined with other drugs such as heroin or alcohol. If cocaine is taken with alcohol, for example, the two react in the liver to form a particularly toxic chemical.