Facts on Cocaine
What is Cocaine? Cocaine is a substance chemically known as cocaine-hydrochloride and is obtained from the leaves of the South American Coca Bush (as grown in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru). When sold as a narcotic, Cocaine is in white powder form. The substance is either sniffed or injected hypodermically. Crack or Free Base contains the smokable base of Cocaine. Crack has the effect of inducing greater addiction as well as causing aggressiveness and leads to an increase in criminality (for example in the U.S. during the Nineties). Cocaine is degradable in the human body within a short period of time. When Cocaine is sniffed, the substance has a rapid narcotic effect, which lasts for around 30 minutes. After 90 minutes in the body, half the dose of the substance has already been metabolised into other products. Certain of the degraded products are still traceable in the urine after 2 to 4 days. Over time, a tolerance effect develops, which means, that a bigger amount of Cocaine has to be consumed in order to achieve any narcotic effect at all. This results in higher dosages and frequently repeated consumption in short intervals of up to 20 times per day. Due to the effects of Cocaine in the brain, dopamine, a messenger substance to the nerve cells, is no longer absorbed by them but remains longer on the receptors of the reward system. The organism becomes exaggeratedly stimulated and excited. The narcotic intoxication is displayed in good moods, over-activity, garrulousness, industriousness, exaggerated sociality, indiscreet behaviour, non-restraint and an overestimation of one’s abilities. An increase in intellectual capability or creativity is experienced, which can however not be utilised in a targeted manner because of the psychic side effects. The negative psychic side effects are distrust, persecutory illusions, hallucinations and disorientation. After frequent consumption, the narcotic intoxication is repeatedly accompanied by restlessness, over-irritability and insomnia. All these effects as a rule lead to depressions, isolation and often to personal neglect. As the intoxicating effects wear off, regular symptoms of suppression and depressive moods occur, during which there is an acute risk of suicide, together with compulsive sleep as a result of complete exhaustion. The craving to acquire the drug and to renew consumption rapidly reappears. Addiction Potential: Cocaine is able to render the drug abuser rapidly and massively addicted (“Cocaine Dependence”). Even those who are under the illusion of being able to control their consumption will gradually develop an addiction. The addiction potential is an estimated 90%, which means that 90% of the cocaine users are only able to free themselves of the habit with great difficulty. Cocaine is a typical example of how narcotic substances with euphoric effect components are capable of creating an addiction.
Facts on Cocaine Swiss Physicians against drugs, 2006
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Multiple Addiction: Heroine addicts frequently inject a mixture of heroine and cocaine. This will rapidly make them strongly addicted. In addition, there is the danger of an inadvertent overdose and the risk of contracting hepatitis and Aids in the sharing of injection needles. Infectious conditions such as endocarditis and cardiovalvulitis can also be the result of unclean injection needles.
Harmful Effects on the Body
After the drug intake drug users suffer from increased pulse-rate, high blood pressure, soaring body temperature, dry mouth, expanded pupils and outbreaks of sweating. The lack of appetite leads to serious loss of weight, digestive troubles and a general dehydration of the body. When used over a longer period of time, cocaine has the effect of causing ringing in the ears and diarrhoea, as well as the inability to relax and thus insomnia in spite of exhaustion. Mucous Membranes of the Nose and Sinuses The sniffing of cocaine in powder form has the effect of constriction in the blood vessels in the nose and sinuses. When the narcotic effect wears off, catarrh and a runny nose are experienced. The tissues of the nose degenerate over time, which can lead to an aperture in the nasal septum (coke nose). The sense of smell can thus be lost. Heart and Circulation The result of constriction in the blood vessels is deficient oxygenation in many organs, in spite of the rise in the heart-rate and the blood pressure. This can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart, brain and intestines. The consequences are heart attacks, strokes and – because of the lack of oxygen – disturbances in the heart rhythm (dysrhythmia), which can be followed by lethal ventricular fibrillation. Brain The effect of constriction in the blood vessels will lead to circulatory disorders in the brain tissue and to multiple, small-focus destruction of brain cells. The consequences are then spasmodic paroxysms, permanent paralysis or death. Other described effects are mental concentration disorders, reduction in memory capacity and the ability to learn. Increased blood pressure can even cause the bursting of blood vessels with subsequent cerebral haemorrhage, which will again encourage the onset of spasmodic paroxysms.
Pregnancy and Maternity
The blood vessel-constrictive effect can also lead to deficient blood circulation and an under-supply of oxygen to the unborn child. Possible consequences are: the death of-, or irreversible damage to the child, premature births, or low weight at birth. Known consequences include handicaps and deformities - defective limbs or defective organs, e.g. a partial closing-off of the intestines. Some of those children
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are born with paralytic symptoms as a result of strokes or cerebral haemorrhages. In any event, the mortality rate is considerably higher. Cocaine-Embryopathy Cocaine damages cerebral development in the unborn child. New born babies then suffer from a syndrome which is characterised by abnormal sleep patterns, trembling, feeding disorders, irritability, occasional spasmodic paroxysms and an enhanced risk of the sudden death. Children of Cocaine-Addicted Parents The children of cocaine addicted mothers begin their lives with grave withdrawal symptoms. Neglect and lack of emotional attention on the part of addicted parents lead to the situation where a bonding relationship can never develop. When such children enter school their problems become particularly obvious. The children have difficulty in forging relationships and possess little ability to process stimuli in a productive manner. They tend to react aggressively or withdraw within themselves. Hyperactivity disorders are the combined effect of prenatal exposure to narcotics and of being brought up in emotionally unresponsive family environments, or in impersonal institutions.
Overdoses
The intravenous application can easily lead to an overdose. The fatality inherent in any applied overdose varies from case to case. Death ensues in any event through respiratory standstill or heart failure.
Cocaine and Road Traffic
While under the influence of narcotics, there is a danger for addicts to overestimate personal capabilities, which often leads to speeding. Hallucinations and persecutory illusions also tend to put in danger other road users. When the intoxication begins to wear off, exhaustion can suddenly occur, compulsive sleep or unrest. All these factors can lead to uncontrolled reactions endangering the drug user and others.
Harmful Effects on the Psyche
Frequent consumption of cocaine can lead to a change in personality, as with the consumption of other narcotics. Drug users become superficial, insensitive, asocial and even uncontrolled and aggressive. The symptoms of insomnia, exhaustion, irritability, passiveness and aggressiveness then increase; inhibitions are reduced. Sexual desire is decreased and impotence occurs. Capability declines over time. The results are the loss of employment and a state of neglect, which can also lead to criminal activities to acquire money or drugs. A continuous use of cocaine can produce the following grave psychic disorders:
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Amotivational Syndrome This condition is comparable to the amotivational syndrome experienced under chronic consumption of cannabis or ecstasy. It translates into passivity, inner psychic vacancy, a sense of senselessness and a lack of spontaneity. In psychological tests, effects such as lowered performance in the ability to memorise and to learn, decrease in concentration, drive as well as practical intelligence, become apparent. Anxiety Symptoms Long-term consumption can lead to unjustified fears and depression with suicidal tendencies. Persecutory Illusions Many severe acts of violence and brutal murders have been committed by cocaine addicts, who, due to sudden persecutory illusions, lose control over themselves Cocaine Delirium In this disorder, the patient is convinced that small insects or even ants are crawling under his or her skin. This is a marked indication of delirium, which often ends in lethal complications. Cocaine Psychosis This is a morbid condition where hallucinations, persecutory illusions and disorientation occur. Withdrawal Symptoms: Grave Depression Disorders As soon as the cocaine intoxication wears off, any form of capability collapses. Withdrawal symptoms include unrest, anxiety, compulsion, despair, feelings- of failure, -guilt or even grave depressions. The danger of suicide is considerably increased.
Therapy
The consumption of Cocaine can – as with other stimulating narcotics – be discontinued immediately without any danger to the general organism. No physical withdrawal symptoms are observed. The treatment for cocaine addiction follows the general principles of the treatment of other patients addicted to other narcotics. Therapy, as a rule consists of the usual four conventional stages: contact with the advisory centre, withdrawal phase, withdrawal treatment and post-therapy treatment. Any depression arising can be fought by treatment with anti-depressive medication. Treatment and supervision in a closed hospital-ward environment is necessary as a result of the enhanced suicidal hazard and the marked craving for cocaine. Great attention must also be given to relapse prophylaxis, which will often take a life-time.
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The best thing is never to start using drugs at all. Whether the drug controls me or whether I control it can only be found out afterwards. And by that time, it is mostly too late.
Facts on Cocaine
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