Nose candy. Booger sugar. Happy dust. Cocaine is a drug that goes by many names, many of which distract from the fact that it is a dangerous and one of the most addictive substances on the planet. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million Americans with a cocaine use disorder, making it the fifth most popular recreational drug in the country. In 2019, the number of cocaine overdose deaths increased once more, a trend that has been going on since the 2010s, to 15,883. That’s nearly five times higher than in previous decades. Today, cocaine kills almost as many people as prescription opioids.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine or ‘coke’ is a powerful plant-derived central nervous stimulant, a drug that makes users feel naturally energetic, alert, confident, and capable of both physical and cognitive feats. These effects increase sociability and heighten sensory stimulation, and is why cocaine is commonly used in nightlife settings such as nightclubs, raves, bars, music festivals and concerts, and parties. Stimulants are also popular amongst students and workers as a means to improve productivity (though cocaine isn’t considered a study drug).
It is a Schedule II controlled substance that still has occasional medicinal use as a topical anesthetic. Outside of this setting, possession of any amount of cocaine is illegal and carries legal fines as well as the possibility of incarceration.
Types of Cocaine
Cocaine is typically found in the form of a fine white powder and snorted directly in the nostrils, however, other forms do exist. The rock-like lumps are known as crack cocaine or simply ‘crack’ are a less pure form of the drug, made from a combination of cocaine and another substance (typically baking soda) that is mixed with water and then boiled down. Freebase is another form of cocaine where hydrochloride is extracted using ammonia, removing cocaine’s salt base and resulting in a product that is nearly 100% purity.
How Is Cocaine Used?
All of cocaine’s several forms can be smoked, snorted, or injected. Intravenous use (injection) puts the drug directly into the bloodstream, making it the most intense and fast-acting but also the greatest amount of risk. Inhalation (smoking) is also quickly absorbed into the bloodstream,
Side Effects of Cocaine Use
Cocaine might make you feel like you’re on top of the world, but internally, it’s wreaking havoc on your heart, lungs, and brain. To fully comprehend the scope of cocaine’s effects on the body, we must first understand how it works.
How Cocaine Works
The signature effects of a cocaine high is a two-part affair. The feelings of euphoria and pleasure, are related to cocaine’s effect on dopamine while the heightened energy, alertness, and other related effects, are a result of cocaine’s abilities as a stimulant.
Cocaine causes intensely pleasurable feelings by interfering with dopamine receptors and preventing their reuptake, which results in unnaturally high levels of dopamine in the body. This plays a strong role in the formation of addiction as our brain’s reward system quickly adapts to have us pursue the actions that trigger it. Cocaine also prevents the reuptake of norepinephrine, a key component in our fight-or-flight response.
When triggered, stress-related hormones prepare the body to flee by ramping up blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. Blood is diverted from the gastrointestinal system to the muscles and brain, prioritizing physical and cognitive function over the digestion of your last meal. The eyes dilate to allow for greater visual acuity and the body maximizes glucose conversion, providing a rush of energy.
These changes account for many of the most recognizable effects of cocaine such as:
- Anxiety or paranoia
- Bloodshot eyes
- Decreased appetite
- Dilated pupils
- Fast heart rate
- Heightened alertness and energy
- Increased body temperature
- Insomnia
- Talkativeness
Recognizing Cocaine Abuse
Repeated cocaine use can result in both physical and behavioral changes due to the lasting changes in nerve and brain structure. Many of these effects will resemble those of general stimulant abuse:
- No appetite / Rapid, unintentional weight loss
- Stomach pain and gastrointestinal issues
- Frequently runny or bloody nose
- Mood swings
- Nightmares
- Difficulty concentrating
- Tremors
Loss of interest in hobbies, poor work, or academic performance, and inability to manage daily responsibilities are signs that are ubiquitous with drug addiction of all substances. If you struggle with cocaine addiction, find an NA meeting near you today.
Sources:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/how-cocaine-used