Chapter 5
Cocaine.
Cocaine is derived from coca leaves (from the coca plant). Indeed, up to 1906 the stimulant cocaine was used in the production of the soft drink Coca-Cola, and was originally named after the plant. Chewing coca leaves is a practice generally limited to native populations in Central and South America where cocaine is grown. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant. It can produce feelings of euphoria, curb hunger, deaden pain, and bolster self-confidence. Cocaine may be brewed from coca leaves as a tea or snorted in powder form, or injected in liquid form. It is sometimes mixed with heroin, yielding a drug combination known as a speedball. Repeated snorting constricts blood vessels in the nose, drying the skin, and sometimes damaging the cartilage and nasal septum. These problems require surgery. The potent cocaine derivatives known as crack and bazooka are inexpensive because they are unrefined.
Crack differs from other forms of cocaine because it is dried in to small rocks and is easily vaporized and inhaled and thus its effects have an extremely rapid onset. Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that has extremely potent euphoric effects, and individuals exposed to it can develop dependence after using the drug for very short periods of time. An early sign of cocaine dependence is when the individual finds it increasingly difficult to resist using it whenever it is available. Because of its short effective duration of about 30-50 minutes, there is a need for frequent dosing to maintain a high. Individuals with cocaine dependence can spend extremely large amounts of money on the drug within a short period of time. As a result, the person using this drug may become involved in theft, prostitution, or drug-dealing or may request salary advances to obtain money to purchase the drug, and often finds it necessary to discontinue use for several days to rest, or to obtain additional money. Important responsibilities such as work or child-care may be grossly neglected to obtain or use cocaine.
As mentioned earlier, cocaine is a highly addictive drug that causes aggressive behaviour, paranoia, anxiety, depression (that can be accompanied by suicidal thoughts), panic attacks, weight loss and failure to experience pleasure from the ordinary pleasant experiences of daily life. Users mostly become psychologically dependent on the drug, using it compulsively to deal with the stresses of life. As with almost all drugs, tolerance occurs with repeated use. Withdrawal symptoms, particularly hypersomnia, increased appetite, and depressed mood are likely to enhance craving and the likelihood of relapse. Cocaine is a highly dangerous drug. It provokes sudden rises in blood pressure, constricts the coronary arteries and thickens the blood (both of which decrease the oxygen supply to the heart), and quickens the heart rate (tachycardia). Overdoses can result in respiratory and cardiovascular collapse, leading in some cases to sudden deaths. Cocaine is a short acting drug, as mentioned earlier, that produces rapid and powerful effects on the central nervous system, especially when injected or smoked. When injected or smoked, cocaine typically produces an instant feeling of well-being, confidence, and euphoria. Dramatic behavioural changes can rapidly develop, especially with dependence. Individuals with this dependence have been known to spend very large sums of money on the drug within very short periods of time, resulting in financial catastrophes in which savings or homes have been lost. Mental disturbances that occur in association with cocaine use are usually resolved within hours to days after cessation of use, although they can persist for as long as a month. Erratic behaviour, social isolation, and sexual dysfunction are often seen in long-term cocaine dependence. Cocaine use can also result in H.I.V. Individuals who are addicted to cocaine often develop a conditioned response to things related to cocaine, for example, developing a craving upon seeing any white powder. Indeed, this is a phenomenon that occurs with most drugs that cause intense psychological changes. This craving often leads to relapse, is hard to eradicate and can persist long after detoxification is completed. Cocaine use is often associated with other addictions or abuse, especially involving alcohol, marijuana, heroin (a speedball), benzodiazepines (pills for reducing anxiety and to aid sleep), which are often taken to reduce the unpleasant side effects of cocaine. The age group with the highest rate for cocaine and crack use is the 18-25 year-olds.
