The Effects of Cocaine Abuse

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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...

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