Information and Issues

Myth The negative health effects are minimal.

Fact Chronic intranasal usage can degrade

the cartilage separating the nostrils (the septum), leading eventually to its complete disappearance

Myth Cocaine is non addictive, because withdrawal

symptoms are minimal. Fact

Cocaine has powerful psychological addictive properties. It affects the mesolimbic reward pathway.

Myth Cocaine was invented for use in coca cola.

Fact Though trace amounts were found in the

original coca cola formula, cocaine's first use is documented in the indigenous peoples of South America.

Myth Modern cocaine is free of impurities.

Fact One study found that on average street

cocaine is only 50% pure cocaine. Other adulterants include Novocain, ephedrine, and sugar.

Use noted amongst native South Americans for thousands of years. The leaves were chewed as a means of increased energy and intoxication.

The Spanish documented its use the mid 1500’s.

It was later studied by Europeans in mid 1800’s for its _______________________________________

Its medical use became popular in the late 1800’s as an analgesic.

The euphoric properties of cocaine were also studied in the mid to late 1800’s.

Various forms of use were noted during this time period. It was found in drinks, cigarettes, and powder form. It was incorporated in some wines and coca cola.

It became available in drug stores in the early 20th century.

Its recreational popularity grew in the late ________________________

The creation of “crack” cocaine introduced cocaine to urban inner city’s and it took on new popularity in 90’s and 2000’s.

Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant.  It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic.

Cocaine Production Video

Crack Production Video____________________________________________

________________________________

Cocaine Salt (powder) Form

Cocaine, like many alkaloids can form many different salts, such as hydrochloride (HCl) and sulfate (-SO4). Different salts have different solvency in solvents. Its hydrochloride, like many alkaloid hydrochloride is polar and is soluble in water.

Freebase As the name implies, “freebase” is the base form of

cocaine, as opposed to the salt form. It is practically insoluble in water whereas hydrochloride salt is water soluble. Requires further processing. Freebase cocaine is smoked.

Crack Cocaine-Crack is a lower purity form of free-base cocaine and contains sodium bicarbonate as impurity. Freebase and crack are often administered by smoking. The origin of the name is from the crackling sound produced when cocaine containing impurities are heated

Oral-Many users rub the powder along the gum line, or onto a cigarette filter which is then smoked, which numbs the gums and teeth – hence the colloquial names of "numbies", "gummers" or "cocoa puffs" for this type of administration. This is mostly done with the small amounts of cocaine remaining on a surface after insufflation. Another oral method is to wrap up some cocaine in rolling paper and swallow (parachute) it. This is sometimes called a "snow bomb."

_____________________ (known colloquially as "snorting," "sniffing," or "blowing") is the most common method of ingestion of recreational powdered cocaine in the Western world. The drug coats and is absorbed through the mucous membranes lining the sinuses.  When insufflating cocaine, absorption through the nasal membranes is approximately 30–60%, with higher doses leading to increased absorption efficiency. Any material not directly absorbed through the mucous membranes is collected in mucus and swallowed (this "drip" is considered pleasant by some and unpleasant by others). 

Injection-Drug injection provides the highest blood levels of drug in the shortest amount of time. Subjective effects not commonly shared with other methods of administration include a ringing in the ears moments after injection. An injected mixture of cocaine and heroin, known as “speedball” is a particularly dangerous combination, as the converse effects of the drugs actually complement each other, but may also mask the symptoms of an overdose.

___________________-Crack is smoked by placing it at the end of the pipe; a flame held close to it produces vapor, which is then inhaled by the smoker. The effects, felt almost immediately after smoking, are very intense and do not last long – usually five to fifteen minutes. Smoking freebase or crack cocaine is most often accomplished using a pipe made from a small glass tube.

1. Demonstrating excessive or inappropriate use of cocaine or other drugs.

2. Being preoccupied with getting or using cocaine or other drugs.

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Having trouble stopping or reducing your drug use once you start using cocaine or other drugs, or stopping drug use for a while, only to start using drugs again.

5. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop or reduce your use of cocaine or other drugs.

6. Continuing to use cocaine or other drugs even though they cause problems in your life.

7. Giving up important activities or losing friendships because of cocaine or other drug use.

Short-Term Effects When cocaine is used it interferes with the

reabsorption of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and movement, producing a euphoric effect. Shortly after cocaine is ingested the user may experience the following symptoms: Constricted blood vessels.

Dilated pupils.

Increased body temperature.

________________________________

Higher blood pressure.

Short-Term Effects When cocaine is used it interferes with the

reabsorption of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and movement, producing a euphoric effect. Shortly after cocaine is ingested the user may experience the following symptoms: Constricted blood vessels.

Dilated pupils.

Increased body temperature.

Increased heart rate.

Higher blood pressure.

During the euphoric period after cocaine use, which can last up until 30 minutes, user will experience __________________, reduced fatigue, and mental alertness.

However, some users also experience restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.

During a cocaine binge, when the drug is taken repeatedly, users may experience increasing restlessness, irritability and paranoia.

For some users this can lead to a period of paranoid psychosis, with ___________________and a disconnection with reality.

Long-Term Effects Repeated cocaine use can cause the following

health consequences: Irregular heart beat.

Heart attack.

Chest pain.

________________________

Stroke.

Seizures and headaches.

Abdominal pain and nausea.

Chronic runny nose Nasal tissue damage Nose bleeds Loss of smell Digestive problems Risks of disease related to needle use _____________________ Irritability Depression Fatigue

Crack withdrawal symptoms include intense cravings for the drug, hunger irritability apathy __________________ paranoia suicidal thoughts loss of sex drive insomnia or excessive sleep

When cocaine arrives at the brain reward system, it blocks the _______________transport sites, which are responsible for the reuptake of dopamine in dopaminergic synapses in this region.

Therefore, dopamine is not removed from the synaptic gap, and it remains free there, in ever increasing amounts, because successive nervous stimuli continue to arrive and to release dopamine.

The effect remains until cocaine is removed from the presynaptic terminals. It is believed that the abnormally long presence of dopamine in the brain is responsible for the pleasure effects associated to the use of cocaine.

The prolonged use of cocaine makes the brain to adapt to it, and the overall synthesis of dopamine by the neurons is decreased. Between cocaine doses, or when the use of cocaine is interrupted, the drug user experiences the opposite of pleasure, due to the low levels of dopamine: fatigue, depression and altered moods.