The Effects of Cocaine Abuse

1202 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Advantages and disadvantages of drugs use

Cocaine is: a white powder, rock crystal, pure chemical cocaine hydrochloride. Cocaine is a drug, both used medically and illegally, primarily known for its euphoric effects. It essentially affects the physical and mental processes of the body and brain. Cocaine can be a dangerous drug to play with, and the influence of it changes lives. The use of cocaine is potentially taken to receive a “high” effect, which can last for up to fifteen minutes. Cocaine empowers the body to be mentally alert after a single dose, but misuse or abuse of cocaine, or any other drug, can lead to fatal and serious effects. Utilizing cocaine is a critical and life-threatening decision; regardless of the pleasure that the current spur of the moment brings, the drug will pay its cost (DEA).

Cocaine is found in South America, near Peru and Bolivia. It derives from the coca bush and is extracted from the leaf of Erythroxylon. Cocaine can be made in different forms; one of the most common forms is crack, which consists of crystals, or chunks. "Crack" is the street name given to cocaine once it has been processed from cocaine hydrochloride to a free base for smoking (Gold). The term "crack" refers to the "crackling" sound of the mixture being smoked or heated. Crack is free based, which means it can be smoked. Smoking involves inhaling cocaine vapor or smoke into the lungs where absorption into the bloodstream is as rapid as by injection. When cocaine is in the white powder form, it can be snorted; snorting is the process of inhaling cocaine powder through the nose where it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. Mixing cocaine with water allows the powder to turn to a liquid to be injected, and injecting involves using a needle to rel...

... middle of paper ...

...enter. Gale. Tulare County Library. 12 Jan. 2010
&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010051216&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=sjvlstulareco&version=1.0>.

"Resource Center." FADAA. Web. 03 Feb. 2010. .

Riggs, Paula DeGraffenreid. "Drug abuse." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2010. Web. 26 Jan. 2010.

T., Buddy. "Cocaine - Basic Facts About Cocaine - What Is Cocaine?" Alcoholism - The Alcoholism Home

Page. Ed. National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2010. Web. 05 Feb. 2010.

"Trends in Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths." United States Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 03 Feb. 2010. .

Show More
Related

  • Cocaine Abuse: Effects and Treatment Approaches

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abuse and addiction to cocaine is a major problem in the world. Cocaine is known for its medical use; however, it is abused by many people. Scholars argue that at the age of 30, one out six people has abused cocaine. The concern for the abuse is high because of the adverse effects on the body and the mind. The abuse leads to addiction, which can be treated through cognitive behavioral approach that prevents relapse. This helps individuals focus on abstaining from cocaine and any other drug abuse

    Read More

  • HIstory of Cocaine

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    history of cocaine, current prevalence rates and health effects among other issues. 1.0 Introduction A. Attention Material: Cocaine is mostly known as an illegal drug, but very few truly acknowledge it for its medical purposes and fully understand its history in the country. Cocaine is a tropane ester alkaloid ,which is extracted from the leaves of the coca (Erythroxylon coca) plant (Clayton, 1996). Cocaine is considered the most powerful and most dangerous drug of natural origin. Cocaine is illegal

    Read More

  • The Crack Cocaine Epidemic of the Mid 1980s

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    and drug abuse. The topic of this statement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid 1980s. I shall discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s from a cultural and social stand point because on that decade this country moved to the rhythms and the pace of this uncanny drug. Cocaine took its told on American society by in the 1980s; it ravaged with every social group, race, class, etc. It reigned over the United States without any prejudices. Crack cocaine was the

    Read More

  • Cocaine Research Paper

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is cocaine? Cocaine is a powerful and highly addictive (due to the way it functions) stimulant that is considered one of the deadliest drugs to date. When someone intakes this substance, it results in euphoric emotions, adding on to why it is deemed highly addictive. Cocaine overdose occurs when a person ingests enough of the drug to result in fatal side effects, normally ending with death. In 2011, just over half a million of the drug-related visits to emergency rooms were due to cocaine, and

    Read More

  • Cocaine verus Crack Cocaine

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cocaine originated from South America, from coca leaves. Originally, the coca leaves were chewed by workers to decrease fatigue, improve endurance and have a greater resistance to the cold. This was to benefit the workers so they could work longer hours and be more productive. In 1855 the active ingredient in cocaine was isolated from the leaves, and in 1880 it was used as a local anesthetic (Nunes,2006). It was also used in coca cola. In 1855, coca cola was a soda beverage that contained sixty milligrams

    Read More

  • Racism In The Criminal Justice System Essay

    930 Words  | 2 Pages

    existent. The seemingly discriminating factors of the criminal justice system are clearly due to inner city isolation and patterns in drug crimes; racism has no effect whatsoever. Some factors such as the relation between cocaine and severe punishment do not support racism because in all reality crack cocaine is worse than powder cocaine. “The justice system isn’t racist. Black people are arrested more often because they commit more crimes. Period. End of

    Read More

  • Psychopharmacology Essay

    1561 Words  | 4 Pages

    substances are used by humans before we fully understand how they work, and the potential risks of use. Sometimes the discovered effects are beneficial, but more often they have negative and dangerous side effects. Some of the most dangerous drugs of today, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and opiates, started off in the most common, legal, and accessible products. Cocaine Cocaine is one of the oldest natural stimulations and while it is now considered to be one of the most potent and dangerous drugs, it

    Read More

  • Cocaine Vs Crack Cocaine

    2383 Words  | 5 Pages

    Pure cocaine is the product of the Erythroxylon coca bush, which is mostly found in South America (NIDA, 2014). In South America the consumption of the coca leaf have been recorded as far back as 3000 B.C. (Warner EA, 1993). The coca leafs only contain about two percent of cocaine and in this form there is few instances of abuse. The rate at which it is absorbed is slow in the digestive system and very little cocaine reaches the bloodstream. When the Spaniards came to the Inca civilization in 1532

    Read More

  • Addiction Essay

    1287 Words  | 3 Pages

    many different factors. In the UK, statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System shows that in 2011-2012, 197,110 people aged 18 and above were in treatment for drug abuse and addiction. An addiction not only can affect and ruin an individual’s health and quality of life, but it has wider reaching effects, as the individual may be seen as a burden or threat on their family and friends as well as the health care system and surrounding society. This report will be focusing on substance

    Read More

  • Drug Abuse in the United States

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    Drug Abuse in the United States of America In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which are freedom, expanding and taking care of our families and our financial security. We, the people, take such things for granted. We also discourage some behavior, such as crime, laziness and use of illegal drugs. Drug abuse is one of the most discouraged behaviors in our country. Use of illegal drugs is harmful to the userand all those with whom the user comes

    Read More

  • Substance Abuse and Effects On The Human Brain

    2429 Words  | 5 Pages

    Introduction Substance Abuse is a major contemporary issue we face as a society; affecting not only adults, but our youth as well. Statistics have shown that more and more adolescents are being introduced to substances at a much earlier age than before. In fact, most users began using in their teenage years, with half of those starting off with Marijuana. A survey taken in 2011 by the Subtance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, showed that an estimated 22.5 million Americans 12 and

    Read More

  • History of the Crack Cocaine

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    Crack cocaine has been popular since the 1970s and mid 1980s. Crack cocaine is not a new drug; this drug is obtained from coca plant which grows mainly in South America. For many years, the native South American Indians chewed its leaves to develop strength and increased energy. By the 1800s, the cocaine was secluded from its leaves and used as a medicinal drug. By the late 1800s, it was used as an anesthetic and to avert surgical hemorrhage. The next century, people recognized crack cocaine an addictive

    Read More

  • Modafinil Research Papers

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    Schedule IV drugs have low potential for abuse and minimal risk for dependency [5]. However, off-label use of modafinil is becoming widespread. The drug has received some media scrutiny due to its unique effects. Athlete, cultural members of Wall Street, and others exposed to long-hour and stress-filled environments have taken non-therapeutic advantage of the drug. In fact, modafinil is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, who compares the stimulant effect of the drug similar to amphetamine.

    Read More

  • Effects of Different Drug Use: Short Term and Long Term

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    typically used to provide the same effect that pure adrenaline does. The drug is specified for people with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity as well as narcolepsy, although if you decide to abuse the drug and use it for recreational purposes you may start to feel paranoia and nervousness. Using amphetamines can also put a strain on the circulatory system by causing the user's blood pressure to increase suddenly. (Amphetamine) Long term psychological effects of the drug can cause something

    Read More

  • Past and Current Trends of Drug Abuse in the United States

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Past and Current Trends of Drug Abuse in the United States Drug abuse has changed over the years due to the trends that Americans face from the encouragement of different cultures. The abuse of substances creates many health problems. The following will discuss the past and current trends of drug use and the effects these drugs have on the health of the individuals who abuse the drugs. The use of cocaine in the United States has declined over the last twenty years while the use of crack has

    Read More

More about The Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Open Document