Cocaine
Addictions
COCAINE
Cocaine is a powerful drug that stimulates the brain. People who consume it can develop a strong addiction. They may have to use more and more drugs to get stimulated. It is sold on the streets in the form of a fine white powder. There are two forms of cocaine: hydrochlorate salt and cocaine (crack) crystals. Salt dissolves in water. People can inject it into a vein or breathe it in through their nose. The crystals can be smoked. The form of cocaine that is smoked is known as crack. Regardless of how it is used, cocaine is dangerous. Some of the more serious common problems are: Heart problems, including heart attacks Respiratory effects, including respiratory failure Nervous system problems, including stroke Digestive problems Any of them can be fatal. The use of cocaine in combination with alcoholic beverages is a common cause of drug-related death.
How does cocaine affect the brain?
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system. Increases the concentration of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain circuits that regulate pleasure and movement. Normally, dopamine is released into these circuits by neurons in response to potential gratification (for example, the rich smell of a meal) and is then recycled back to the cell that released it, thereby turning off the signals between neurons. Cocaine works by preventing dopamine from being recycled, causing excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter to accumulate at the synapse, which is the point of communication between neurons. This amplifies the dopamine signal and ultimately disrupts normal brain communication. It is this surge of dopamine that causes the characteristic high of cocaine. When used repeatedly, cocaine can induce long-term changes in the brain's gratification system as well as other brain systems, which can lead to addiction. Repeated use often also creates tolerance for cocaine. Many cocaine users report trying in vain to get the drug to give them the same pleasure they felt the first time they used it. Some users increase the dose to try to intensify and prolong the euphoric effects, but this can also increase the risk of damaging psychological or physiological effects. What other adverse health effects does cocaine have? The use of cocaine has a variety of effects on the body. It constricts the blood vessels, dilates the pupils, and increases body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can also cause a headache and gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea. Since cocaine has a tendency to decrease appetite, many regular users may also suffer from malnutrition. Among the more serious effects, people who use cocaine can suffer heart attacks or strokes, which can result in sudden death. Cocaine-related deaths are often the result of the heart stopping beating (cardiac arrest) followed by respiratory arrest. Some effects of cocaine depend on the method of consumption. For example, regular snorting of cocaine can lead to loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, swallowing problems, hoarseness, and chronic runny nose. Oral ingestion of cocaine can cause severe intestinal gangrene due to reduced blood flow. Injecting cocaine can cause serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne diseases. Repeated binging-style episodes of drug use can lead to irritability, restlessness, and anxiety. Cocaine users may also experience strong feelings of paranoia, a temporary period of total paranoid psychosis, during which the user loses a sense of reality and suffers from auditory hallucinations.
Cocaine withdrawal
Cocaine withdrawal occurs when a person who uses a lot of cocaine reduces or stops using this drug.
Causes: Cocaine produces a sensation of extreme bliss by causing the brain to release greater than normal amounts of some biochemicals. However, the effects of cocaine on other parts of the body can be very serious and even deadly. When cocaine use is discontinued or its effect wears off, collapse occurs almost immediately thereafter, accompanied by a craving for more cocaine. Additional symptoms include fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, drowsiness, and sometimes extreme agitation or paranoia. Cocaine withdrawal usually does not exhibit visible physical symptoms such as vomiting and trembling that often accompany heroin or alcohol withdrawal. In the past, people underestimated how addictive cocaine can be. However, this drug is addictive when addiction is defined as a desire for more drug, despite the negative consequences. The level of craving, irritability, delayed depression, and other symptoms produced by cocaine withdrawal equals or exceeds what is felt with other withdrawal syndromes.
Symptoms: Primary symptoms include: Agitation and restless behavior Discouragement Fatigue General discomfort Increased appetite Overly intense and unpleasant dreams Decreased activity Craving and depression can last for months after stopping heavy use (especially daily) for a long period of time. In some people, withdrawal symptoms can also be associated with suicidal thoughts. During withdrawal, strong and intense cravings for cocaine may occur. However, the "binge" associated with progressive use becomes less and less pleasant and can lead to an experience of fear and paranoia rather than joy. In the same way, the desires can remain intense.
Possible complications: Depression Craving and overdose Suicide Because many users will abuse more than one drug, other withdrawal syndromes, such as alcohol, need to be ruled out.
