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Cocaine
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Slang:
Barley, charlie, cheng, clam chowder, coke, gack, toot, Vialli,
showbiz sherbert.
Background
Cocaine is a white flaky powder obtained from the leaves of the coca
plant. It is odorless, soluble, and has powerful stimulant
properties similar to those of amphetamines.
The most common method of taking cocaine involves sniffing or
snorting a small amount (usually called a 'line') up the nose
through a small tube. The drug is then absorbed into the blood via
the nasal membrane. Cocaine can also be heated and the fumes
inhaled. In soluble form, cocaine can be injected.
Other forms of cocaine
Freebase cocaine is cocaine without its water-soluble component or
'base'. A chemical treatment is used to draw out the 'pure' cocaine
from many of the impurities, increasing the impact of the effects
when smoked. Crack
is a form of freebase cocaine made by heating cocaine hydrochloride
with baking soda or ammonia in water. Speedball is the term given
for an injectable and dangerous mixture of soluble cocaine and
heroin.
The Effects:
- Cocaine produces feelings of well
being, mental exhilaration, and euphoria.
- The sensations often last between
15-30 minutes followed immediately by a 'coming down' period.
- Anxiety, paranoia, depression, and
often the inability to sleep can occur during the come down
period, thus encouraging users to repeat the dose in order to
maintain the effect.
- Other effects can include tremors,
muscle twitching, rapid pulse, nausea, anxiety, confidence, high
blood pressure, cold sweats, and mood changes.
Health Hazards
Physical effects. Physical
effects of cocaine use include constricted peripheral blood
vessels, dilated pupils, and increased body temperature, heart
rate, and blood pressure. Some cocaine users report feelings of
restlessness, irritability, and anxiety, both while using and
between periods of use. An appreciable tolerance to the high may
be developed, and many addicts report that they seek but fail to
achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure.
Paranoia and aggression. High
doses of cocaine and/or prolonged use can trigger paranoia.
Smoking crack cocaine can produce particularly aggressive
paranoid behavior in users. When addicted individuals stop using
cocaine, they may become depressed. This depression causes users
to continue to use the drug to alleviate their depression.
Long-term effects. Prolonged
cocaine snorting can result in ulceration of the mucous membrane
of the nose and can damage the nasal septum enough to cause it
to collapse. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of
cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest.
The Risks:
- Chronic sneezing, frequent
nosebleeds, and nasal congestion can be a consequence of
snorting cocaine.
- Repeated snorting can cause
serious damage to the membranes lining the nose and the
structure separating the nostrils.
- The mucous membranes may become so
irritated and inflamed that sores develop inside the nostrils.
- For women who are pregnant,
cocaine can cause bleeding and separation.
- Users can develop a strong
psychological dependence to cocaine, often taking more to deal
with the comedown.
- Overdose is possible, and even
fatal in some cases.
The Law:
- Cocaine in all forms is a Class A
drug. It is illegal to produce, supply, or possess.
- It is also illegal to allow
premises to be used for supplying or producing cocaine.
If you are planning to take this drug...
- Keep track of the amount used as
tolerance quickly builds up. The more you take to get the same
effect, so the risk increases of a hit your body may be unable
to handle.
- If injecting, use new needles to
reduce the risk of HIV or hepatitis infection.
Advice and support:
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