Cocaine

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Cocaine
By Astrid Torres and Jannet Hernandez
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What is it?
Cocaine is generally sold on the streets as a
white, powdery substance that originates from the
coca bush that grows in Peru and Bolivia.
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Whats in it?

• Two chemical forms of cocaine
• Hydrochloric salt is the powdered form -can
  dissolve in water and taken by vein -or snorted
  up the nose
• Freebase is the form that has not been
  neutralized by an acid to make the salt -can be
  smoked

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How is it used?

• In slang terms, an individual would use cocaine
  by
• snorting (intranasal)
• chewing (the coca leaves)
• injecting (intravenous)
• smoking (inhalation)

Snorting is the process of inhaling the powder
through the nostrils and is absorbed into the
bloodstream through the nasal tissues Injecting
releases the drug directly into the bloodstream
and heightens intensity Smoking involves the
inhalation of cocaine smoke into the lungs where
it is absorbed more rapidly into the bloodstream
Theres no safe way to use it!
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What does it do to the brain?
Normal brain function The neurotransmitter
dopamine transmits brain signals by flowing from
one neuron into spaces between neurons and
attaching to a receptor on another neuron.
Normally, dopamine then is recycled back into
the transmitting neuron by a transporter
molecule.
On cocaine
If cocaine is present, it attaches to the
transporter and blocks the normal recycling of
dopamine.
Cocaines blocking action leads to produce
feelings of pleasure and intensifies feelings of
euphoria or elation.
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Can it be used as a medicine?
No! Remember, theres no beneficial way to use
it!
But

• In 1596, coca leaves were used as a medicine in
  South America
• It was extracted in the mid 1800s and utilized
  as a local anesthetic

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How can you tell if someone is using it?
As soon as its used, cocaine takes control of
the persons mind and become increasingly
consumed. The mental obsession grows larger and
the person will do whatever it takes to obtain
it lie, cheat, stealetc. in order to feel the
same effects.

• Because of their addiction, users have these
  qualities
• loss of appetite
• nosebleeds
• heart/respiratory problems
• less interesting
• stomach cramps
• spending time thinking about it or using it
• unexpected or irregular behavior
• the user thinking its hard to live happily w/o
  it
• making friends who do it and ignoring those who
  dont
• sudden change in school grades

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What are the street names?

• There are a whole list of names that are
  referenced to cocaine, but the most common ones
  are
• Coke
• Snow
• Wash
• The All-American Drug
• Crack
• Blow
• Bouncing powder
• Nose candy
• Charlie

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What does cocaine do to the body???

• Cocaine overworks the body- boosting your heart
  rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
• Cocaine can make you feel alert, energetic, more
  sociable, confident, and in control. For others,
  it isn't like that at all they feel withdrawn,
  anxious, or even panic-stricken.
• In long term affects the drug can make you feel
  paranoid or give hallucinations.

• Cocaine is expected to be present in the body for
  72 hours since its intake
• Cocaine is expected to be detected in your urine
  for 1-3 days since its intake provided the intake
  is only once
• Habituated use of cocaine results in traces of
  cocaine being detected in urine for up to 12
  weeks.
• Cocaine is said to be retained in your hair for a
  period of 3 months since its intake.

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Is cocaine addictive?

• Yes, cocaine can be both physically and
  psychologically addictive because of its
  interaction with the brains dopamine levels.
  Which make people to develop a tolerance for the
  drug and more cocaine is need to produce the
  effects the addicts want.
• One in ten people who have ever tried cocaine
  continue to use it once a week or more

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Does cocaine lead to other drugs?

• Cocaine is mainly used with marijuana and alcohol
  which can lead to the dangers becoming addicted
  to those drugs.

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What kind of treatments are out there for cocaine
addicts??

• Cocaine anonymous
• There are some 75 day DO-IT-YOURSELF programs.
• Rehab Centers
• Hundreds of cocaine users are testing a legal
  pill, called modafinil in order to help break
  their addiction.

Some symptoms of cocaine withdrawal may include
-agitation -depression -intense craving for
the drug -extreme fatigue -anxiety -angry
outbursts -lack of motivation -nausea/vomiting
-shaking -irritability -muscle pain
-disturbed sleep