Cocaine

Cocaine was originally used in medical situations before the development of anaesthesia. It was used in surgeries involved the ear, nose and throat because of its ability to put the patient to sleep and restrict the blood vessels, this reducing the amount of bleeding. It is the most powerful stimulant in the line of illicit drugs.

Cocaine is a powder that comes from the leaves of the cocoa plant. It looks like a fine white powder and users tend to snort it by inhaling it through the nose. The powder can also be dissolved in liquids and taken as a drink or injected. When it is snorted, it goes into the bloodstream through the membranes in the nose and reaches the brain in less than 5 minutes. When injected, it reaches the brain in about 20 seconds and the result is a feeling of euphoria.

There are many risks associated with using cocaine. It is a very powerful stimulant for the nervous system and users can become restless, irritable and really anxious. Some of the effects of using this drug include:

• Constricted blood vessels
• Increased body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate
• Heart attack
• Respiratory failure
• Seizures

When it is combined with alcohol, the drug becomes even more dangerous because it heightens the feeling or euphoria.

Some of the street names for cocaine include blow, nose candy and nose powder. It is an illegal drug and is highly addictive. Using it even once, presents a high degree of becoming dependent on it. Those who inject the drug are a higher risk than those that snort it.

A form of this drug is called crack cocaine and users smoke it. It is made from the powdered form of cocaine by dissolving it in liquid, boiling it and waiting for it to harden. It is sold in chunks and when smoked delivers a huge quantity of the drug to the lungs. Users can become quite aggressive after the euphoric effects of the drug wear off.