About
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug that goes under the crystalline alkaloid C17H21NO4. It is categorized as a Schedule II substance due to its medical uses despite its potency. The drug is made from coca leaves (Erythoxylon coca) and is considered as one of the oldest narcotics in the world, with the coca plant being native to South America for thousands of years. During this time, people have chewed and ingested coca leaves for its intoxicating effects. Raw purified cocaine hydrochloride was developed more than 100 years ago through its isolation from coca leaves.
At the beginning of the 1900s, this purified version of cocaine became an active ingredient in tonics, drinks, and potions for curing ailments as well as early formulations of Coca-Cola®. Dried coca leaves are not potent and contain only 1 percent of the hydrochloride; the leaves undergo different processes that produce what is known to be cocaine.
Just like its processes, cocaine comes in different forms: hydrochloride salt, crack cocaine (illicit drug) and cocaine sulfate. The drug is often identified as a pure white powder or hydrochloride salt. The Hydrochloride salt of the highest quality has 98 percent purity. While the salt’s color range can go from clear white, off-white, yellowish, or gray color (depending on the levels of the pure ingredient), it is most expensive when it looks whiter and brighter than the other variations. Street forms of hydrochloric salts are often mixed with other illicit ingredients and contain 5 to 40 percent of purity. To ingest, the drug can be snorted, dissolved in water before injected, and/or aspirated.
Crack cocaine is the crystal’s most freebase form and it is colloquially known as crack. Its physical appearance resembles rocks that are white in color or can give off a rosy shade that makes them appear pink. The variation of cocaine is normally smoked through a pipe and has stronger effects in the human body as opposed to its refined version. Street names for crack cocaine include Snow coke, Rocks, Black rock, Chemical, Candy, Nuggets, Gravel, Grit, Hail, Hard rock, Jelly beans, Cookies, Dice, Purple caps, Scrabble, Yam, Sleet, and Tornado.
Cocaine sulfate (also known as cocaine paste) is a cocaine drug made out of 50 percent sulfate and other chemicals such as methanol and sulfuric acid. Upon intake, it is smoked with marijuana or tobacco.
Cocaine is used as a stimulant and anesthetic that generates a euphoric effect. Because of this, users abuse this as a recreational drug mostly at parties to make the individual hyper-aware of their surroundings but viscerally indifferent at the same time. It us legally used medically as anesthesia for surgeries, especially those involving the ear, nose, and throat. Due to its addictive tendencies, its uses in medicine are highly limited and it has been replaced with other synthetic and less potent anesthetics. The use of cocaine as a medical substance is strictly and closely monitored and controlled.
Apart from its scientific term, cocaine is known by different names. These are Basa, Base, Baseball, Big flakes, Big Rush, Blow, Bump, C, Candy, Coke, Cola, Crack, Dust, Flake, Gravel, Line, Nose Candy, Nuggets, Pearl, Powder, Rail, Rock, Sleet, Snow, Stash, Toot, White, Yeyo.
Effects
Pure forms of cocaine can be incredibly strong for one’s system. Its danger lies in determining how strong it is especially if it is sold in the streets. Even for recreational users and experienced buyers, the difference in the type of cocaine is almost impossible to distinguish.
The significance of not knowing each variation’s characteristic proves more alarming due to the unexpected effects once coke is ingested. These symptoms become damaging to the body and can even cause an accidental overdose. An overdose happens once a user takes a large dose of a potent drug. Body functions of internal organs like the heart and the brain start to shut down. When a person takes coke more than their body is capable of, risks of having ill effects such as seizures, tremors, extreme agitation, fainting, high temperature, fainting, delirium, extreme anxiety, paranoid delusions, fast speech, and increased heart rate take place. Effects on drug potency, however, varies from person to person and depending on the substance used.
Cocaine is a drug that, upon entering the body, sends high levels of dopamine to the parts of the brain responsible for feelings of pleasure and response (also known as the reward system). Dopamine is a hormone/transmitter that is associated with happiness since it functions as a mood elevator. An increase of dopamine in the body causes an intense sensation of energy and alertness. Depending on the mode of its ingestion, cocaine can reach the brain faster at times. Smoked coke has quicker effects than snorted powder.
Cocaine has short-lived and acute effects that can temporarily quicken the way the brain and body works and functions. Repeated doses over a long period of time can eventually wear out the body and lead to overdose. Short term effects of cocaine ingestion are increased vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature), erratic behavior that can turn violent, heart ailments such as abnormal heart rhythm and heart attack, irritability, paranoia, muscle twitches, tremors, dizziness, extreme sensitivity, intense happiness, decreased appetite, and nausea or pain.
Long-term effects of cocaine are frequent panic attacks, profound sleep deprivation, heightened irritability, weight loss and/or malnourishment, bleeding in the brain, convulsions and seizures, stroke, mood problems, lung damage, HIV or hepatitis from needles, bowel decay (intestinal gangrene) if it is taken through swallowing, loss of smell, having difficulty swallowing, nosebleeds, nasal septum irritation, development of allergic and lethal reactions to coke that is distributed in the streets.
Addiction and Treatment
An indicator of addiction to the drug is psychological dependence. Users find pleasure in the euphoric high that it gives. The 2015 US National Survey reports that 1 in 20 American adults between the ages of 18 to 25 has used narcotics in their lifetime. The short-term effects of cocaine develop compulsive habits in users that enhance certain behaviors that make their system more tolerant of potent drugs. Tolerance can develop quickly for some people; the more intense the effects are, the more they crave for the drug.
In the case of an overdose, emergency medical care increases the chances of stabilizing organ functions in the lungs, heart, kidney and vital signs. Instant first aid helps reduce and even reverse the symptoms caused by too much cocaine. Users that suffer from high body temperature can apply a cold compress to prevent the body from overheating while waiting for medical assistance or treatment.
Cocaine is a dangerous drug but it is treatable. If you know of a friend or loved one involved in substance abuse, emotional support increases the chances of the progress in therapy. Discuss with a professional the different options and modalities that can improve addiction behavior.
