COCAINE

BY ARIN MERRILL

THE HISTORY OF COCAINE

Cocaine is one of the two major psychoactive stimulants

Oldest, most potent drug

Cocaine is derived from coca leaves, grown in the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes in South America

Chewing coca leaves which have 2% of cocaine

During the last half of the 19th century , several medicines and beverages were sold that contained cocaine such as coca cola

FORMS OF COCAINE

Powdered cocaine: commonly known as “coke” or “blow” dissolves in water, can be snorted or injected

Crack cocaine: commonly known as “crack” or “rock” made by a chemical process that leaves it in its freebase form so it can be smoked

Freebase: cocaine hydrochloride- dissolve drug in water, mix it with baking soda until the water evaporates and boils off

STREET NAMES FOR COCAINE

Snow

Flake

Binge

Blow

Dust

Charli

Nose candy

Bernice

ADMINISTRATION OF COCAINE

Snorted (Sniffed): Damage to nasal mucous membrane causing bloody nose, runny nose, or stuffy nose, less intense high but lasts longer 15-30 minutes,

Injected: Increase risk of HIV due to sharing needles, intense effect/ “rush”, felt within seconds, only lasts 5-10 minutes

Smoked: Intense effect, “rush”, felt within seconds, only lasts 5-10 minutes

HOW COCAINE WORKS IN THE BRAIN

Cocaine enhances the activity of the dopamine in the brain

Cocaine travels to the region of the brain that controls pleasure

Cocaine blocks the reuptake process in the synapse

Structure of dopamine does not resemble the structure of dopamine

Chronic use of cocaine leads to loss of about 20% of the dopamine receptors causing a tendency toward a decline in the experience of pleasure

PRESENT-DAY COCAINE ABUSE

Peak of cocaine use in 1986

1.9 million users in the past year

Amount of users has decreased over the years

ACUTE EFFECTS OF COCAINE

Drastic mood changes, burst of energy

Irritably, despondent, depressed

Powerful craving

Increased sexual arousal

Heart rate and respiration increases

Appetite diminishes

Blood vessels constrict, pupil dilate, BP rises

Sweaty and pale

CHRONIC EFFECCTS OF COCAINE

Tolerance levels increase, making the dosage needed to get the same high increase as well

Irritable, depressed, paranoid

Disturbing hallucinatory experiences

“Cocaine bugs” may be so severe, user may scratch open sores or even attempt to dig out “bugs” with knives

Continuous runny, bloody, or stuffy nose. Septum in nose may even cause lesion

Loss of appetite causing malnourishment

BEFORE AND AFTER

LIKELY USERS OF COCAINE

About 14% of US adults have tried cocaine

One in 40 adults have used in the past year

Young men 18 to 25 are the biggest cocaine users

8% using in the past 12 months

COCAINE REHABILITAION CENTERS

First phase is detoxification and total abstinence

The cocaine abuser aims to achieve total withdrawal

Within the first 24-48 ours of coming off of cocaine, user will experience profound depression, severe headaches, irritability, and difficulty sleeping

Most treatments are out patient programs

MIXING ALCOHOL AND COCAINE

The combination of cocaine and alcohol greatly increases the risk of death

When ingested together, produces a metabolite called Cocaethylene causing cocaine to stay in the blood stream longer

The combination of cocaine and alcohol causes a stronger, longer feeling of euphoria

Abnormal heart rhythms, labored breathing, increased blood pressure

MEDICAL USE OF COCAINE

Only acceptable medical use would be to use cocaine as a medical anesthetic

When applied topically on the skin, cocaine can block the transmission of nerve impulses, deadening all sensations from the area.

Only legitimate use for medical cocaine is to numb the nasal cavity or throat after surgery

Downfall of using cocaine for medical purposes is that the cocaine could be absorbed in the bloodstream

Other topical anesthetics are preferred

CRACK BABIES

Health officials focus on women who have been crack abusers and are pregnant

Children may experience long-term mental and physical deficits

Lower birth weights and smaller head circumferences

Displace tremors, excessive crying, disturbed sleep patterns, and lowered responsiveness

COCAINE CARTELS

There are many cartels throughout the southern America

Columbia, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico

As the distance the drug travels is increased, the value increases as well

As the US restricted drugs crossing the border, the Mexican drug cartels increased the amount of drugs they were smuggling in

VIDEOS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMQBOTLfp08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsqVceV1bL0