Cocaine

Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration.

Cocaine is a crystalline substance that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from “coca” in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It is most frequently used recreationally for this effect. Because of the way it effects certain pathways in the brain, cocaine is addictive. Cocaine is still widely used in medicine as a topical anesthetic, even in children, specifically in eye, nose and throat surgery.

Its possession, cultivation, and distribution are illegal for non-medicinal and non-government sanctioned purposes in virtually all parts of the world. Although its free commercialisation is illegal and has been severely penalised in virtually all countries, its use worldwide remains widespread in many social, cultural, and personal settings.

Originally the leaves of the Coca plant were chewed and gave the “user” small bursts of energy (much like the way we would now use coffee). In its refined (and purest) state it is a white, pearlescent, crystalline substance. Adulterated it is often white, off-white or pinkish brown. Street Cocaine is frequently “cut” with other powdery substances to increase its bulk and profits for those selling it. Most frequently it is cut with sugars such as lactose, dextrose, inositol, and mannitol; and local anesthetics, such as lidocaine or benzocaine, which mimic or add to cocaine’s numbing effect on mucous membranes.

Freebase

As the name implies, “freebase” is the base form of cocaine, as opposed to the salt form of cocaine hydrochloride. Whereas cocaine hydrochloride is extremely soluble in water, cocaine base is insoluble in water and is therefore not suitable for drinking, snorting or injecting. Whereas cocaine hydrochloride is not well-suited for smoking because the temperature at which it vaporises is very high, and close to the temperature at which it burns; however, cocaine base vaporizes at a much lower temperature, which makes it suitable for inhalation. Smoking freebase is preferred by many users because the cocaine is absorbed immediately into blood via the lungs, reaching the brain in about five seconds.

Insufflation

Insufflation, or “snorting,” “sniffing,” or “blowing”, is the most common method of ingestion of recreational powdered cocaine in the Western world. Cocaine is not inhaled using this method. The drug coats and is absorbed through the mucous membranes lining the sinuses. When insufflating cocaine, absorption through the nasal membranes is approximately 30-60%, with higher doses leading to increased absorption efficiency. Any cocaine not directly absorbed through the mucous membranes is collected in mucus and swallowed (this “drip” is considered pleasant by some and unpleasant by others).
Prior to insufflation, cocaine powder must be divided into very fine particles. Cocaine of high purity breaks into fine dust very easily, except when it is moist (not well stored) and forms “chunks,” which reduces the efficiency of nasal absorption.

Effects and Health Issues of cocaine use

Cocaine’s primary acute effect on brain chemistry is to raise the amount of dopamine and serotonin in the nucleus accumbens (the pleasure centre in the brain); this effect ceases, due to metabolism of cocaine to inactive compounds and particularly due to the depletion of the transmitter resources. This can be experienced acutely as feelings of depression, as a “crash” after the initial high.

Chronic use can result in ongoing problems with the nasal membranes. Any damage to the inside of the nose is because cocaine highly constricts blood vessels - and therefore blood and oxygen/nutrient flow - to that area. If this restriction of adequate blood supply is severe enough and, especially prolonged enough, the tissue there can die.

Excessive doses of the drug can produce itching, tachycardia (rapid beating of the heart), hallucinations, and paranoid delusions. Overdoses cause tachyarrhythmias (irregular heart activity) and a marked elevation of blood pressure. These can be life-threatening, especially if the user has existing cardiac problems.

Tests have shown that particualrly high doses of cocaine are lethal. Toxicity results in seizures, followed by respiratory and circulatory depression of medullar origin. This may lead to death from respiratory failure, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, or heart-failure. Cocaine can cause coronary artery spasms which lead to a myocardial infarction (Heart Attack). This effect can happen randomly to any user. The coronary artery spasms can occur on the users first usage or any other usage after.

Physical withdrawal is not dangerous, and is in fact restorative. The experience of insatiable hunger, aches, insomnia/oversleeping, lethargy, and persistent runny nose are often described as very unpleasant. Depression with suicidal ideation may develop in very heavy users. Cocaine abuse doubles both the risks of strokesand years after the abuse has ended, many ex-abusers report a noticeably reduced attention span.

Addiction to cocaine

Cocaine addiction is physical and psychological dependency on the regular use of cocaine. It can result in physiological damage, lethargy, depression, or a potentially fatal overdose. The immediate craving of the addict for more soon after use is due to the short-lived high that usually subsides within an hour, leading to prolonged, multi-dose binge use. When administration stops after binge use, it is followed by a “crash” (also known as a “come down”), the onset of severely depressed or anxious mood with escalating exhaustion until sleep is achieved, which is sometimes accomplished by taking sleeping medications, or sedatives or by the use of alcohol and/or cannabis. Resumption of use may occur upon awakening or may not occur for several days, but the intense euphoria of such use can, as it has in many users, produce intense craving and develop rather quickly into addiction.

For information about treatment for Cocaine use or to simply discuss any questions you may have call treatment-now.com on 0207 100 9931