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Cocaine Facts
- According to information collected in 1902, 92% of all cocaine sold in major cities in the United States was in the form of an ingredient in tonics and potions available from local pharmacies.
- Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as "coke," "C," "snow," "flake," or "blow."
- Research has revealed a potentially dangerous interaction between cocaine and alcohol. Taken in combination, the two drugs are converted by the body to cocaethylene. Cocaethylene has a longer duration of action in the brain and is more toxic than either d
- 1 out of 4 Americans between the age of 26 and 34 have used cocaine in their lifetime.
A person can introduce cocaine into the body through these routes: · absorption through the skin after it is rubbed on mucous tissues · inhaled from smoking, which includes crack · injected into the vein, which is called mainlining · intranasally, which means snorting the cocaine through the nose · orally, which is called chewing
After it is introduced into the body, cocaine passes readily into the brain. In the brain, it causes a buildup of dopamine by blocking the normal recycling process. These high levels of dopamine continuously stimulate nerve cells, causing the euphoria, or high.
The effects of cocaine can be felt within seconds. Cocaine provides a dramatic high that lasts 3 to 5 minutes with crack cocaine. The high lasts for up to 30 to 60 minutes when cocaine is snorted or injected. Afterward, the user feels an intense craving for the drug.
Dependency can develop in
less than 2 weeks. Some research indicates that a psychological dependency may
develop after a single dose of high-potency cocaine. As the person develops
a tolerance to cocaine, higher and higher doses are needed to produce the same
level of euphoria.
- anxiety
- panic
- tin foil
- bloody nose
- increased energy
- talking rapidly
- rapid pulse and respirations
- paranoia
- confusion
- dilated pupils
- hallucinations
- altered motor activities (tremors, hyperactivity)
- stuffiness and runny nose