Cocaine is made from leaves of the coca plant. It's highly addictive and dangerous to the user's health. In 2014, approximately 1.5 million people ages 12 or older were current users of the drug. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-scope-cocaine-use-in-united-states History of Cocaine According to UptoDate an evidenced-based clinical decision tool, cocaine was extracted from the leaves of the coca plant native to Andean highlands of South America. Natives of the region chewed or brewed the leaves to make a refreshing tea or to help ease fatigue. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cocaine-acute-intoxication?source=search_result&search=cocaine&selectedTitle=3~150 Cocaine was first used for medicinal purposes …show more content…
Most often, this form of the drug is either snorted up the nose or dissolved in water and injected into the veins. Oftentimes, cocaine powder is diluted with common substances such as sugars or local anesthetics https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Cocaine.pdf Cocaine powder is normally chopped into a find powder with a razor blade on a hard surface, arranged into rows and inhaled quickly through the nose with a short straw or rolled dollar bill. If the powder is injected, generally, syringes, needles, spoons, belts, bandanas or surgical tubing accompanies the drug. http://www.town.princeton.ma.us/pages/princetonma_police/drug.pdf Cocaine powder is described as “cakey” to the touch and has a medicinal taste. When tasted it may numb your tongue instantly. http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/What-Does-Cocaine-Taste-Like.html Crack Cocaine Cocaine can also be made into small white rocks. “Crack” is more pure and potent then the powder version of the drug. It is generally smoked alone in a glass pipe or with marijuana or tobacco products. https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Cocaine.pdf Crack cocaine is most often packaged in aluminum foil, plastic or paper packets or in small vials and sold in small quantities enough for two to three use. http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/cocaine-crack.html Effect on the Body Cocaine is highly addictive and creates an intense sense of euphoria. …show more content…
This is depicted by mental and physical exhaustion, increased periods of sleep and depression. Users will generally crave the drug and want to use it again. https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Cocaine.pdf Users become tolerant of the drug rather quickly which causes them to take higher doses to experience that euphoric high. Treatment According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse cocaine accounted for almost 6 percent of all admissions to drug abuse treatment programs in 2013. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/what-treatments-are-effective-cocaine-abusers Any treatment plans implemented should be individualized to meet the user’s needs. Generally this may include behavioral and/or pharmacological interventionshttp://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Drugs_Used_to_Fight_Cocaine_Addiction Another treatment option is detox http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/drug-addiction-recovery/how-detox-from-cocaine Restoring Health Drug addiction is a complex disease that involves biological, social and environmental factors. Care and support from loved ones are crucial to restoring their health and
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Show MoreAttention 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 in the United States and is classified under the Schedule II medication which is contained in the Controlled Substance Act of the United States Constitution.
Cocaine is known for being a very addictive drug. Produced from the leaves of a coca plant caused the vast manufacturing of the drug. The process of creating cocaine is a long procedure but there are five key points. The leaves of the coca plant stripped in order to get to the essence of natural properties, soon after the escarpments from the leaves are dried. The dried leaf escarpments are then synthesized to create a paste that will be dissolved in order to condense and multiply the amount of the drug. After this process two very key chemical combinations are added sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate. The product is further dried and turns white thus cocaine is created and sold on the streets of our nation. Cocaine is known as “pure” and the extensive process of making cocaine is time consuming, thus making this form of the drug expensive.
Cocaine is a classified ‘Schedule II’ drug, also known as “crack”, and “coke” it is a powerful drug, and addictive stimulant well known as a psychoactive substance. That comes from a plant called coca leaf that has been around since the mid-1800s and throughout the 20th century. “In the mid-1980s, addiction to the drug was seen as exaggerated or dismissed as psychological and not addiction” (Miller, Gold, Smith, 1997, p.62). In the past, cocaine’s original use was for medical purposes as local anesthetic for surgeries. Now its usage is illegal and this drug is immersed into the body through various ways. However,...
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 the drug allowed the locals to endure a harsh and physically demanding life in the Andes. It was seen as a gift from the god Inti (Inciardi, 2002, pg. 49). Even today those natives of the region chew the coca leaves.
Cocaine is an addictive drug derived from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a strong stimulant mostly used as a recreational drug. Cocaine is commonly snorted, inhaled, or injected into the veins. It is one of the most widespread drugs in the United States. It is readily absorbed through the body’s mucous membranes. The onset of the action depends on the route of administration, which can take between three seconds to five minutes. Peak effects also depend on the route of administration which can take between one to twenty minutes or five to ninety minutes. Cocaine has a half-life of thirty to sixty minutes. Approximately 25-30 million Americans use cocaine
According to Gawin (1991), cocaine addicts report that during binges everything including: nourishment, sleep, money, family, responsibilities, and survival, are all focused on cocaine. After long-term cocaine use, cocaine addicts can develop digestive disorders, weight loss, physical deterioration, deterioration of the nervous system, increase heart rate and blood pressure which can lead to heart attack and stroke (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2013). Cocaine produces its effect of euphoria when an accumulation of dopamine is form in the synapse (NIDA,
Cocaine (C17H21NO4) comes from the leaf of an Erythroxylon coca bush. It is a drug that effects the central nervous system. It causes feelings of euphoria, pleasure, increased energy and alertness. People under the influence of cocaine often do not feel the need for food or sleep. They also feel energetic and may talk a lot. However, depending on factors such as environment, dosage, and the manner in which the drug is taken, cocaine can have adverse effects such as violent, erratic behavior, dizziness, paranoia, insomnia, convulsions, and heart failure to name a few. Long- term effects of cocaine include, but are not limited to strokes, heart attacks, seizures, loss of memory, and decrease in learning capability (1).
The powder cocaine is heated and a solid material isolates the boiling assortment. Next, it is removed and dried out and cut into “rocks” ( Streetdrugs). Crack cocaine gets its name from the crackling sound it makes when it’s simmered. Since coca trees grow primarily in South America, it is very easy to produce crack and many statistics show that US and Canada has the most crack addicts. Crack cocaine is also considered a stimulant because it increases the action of the central nervous system and speeds up the metabolism resulting in increased energy and alertness. Since it’s a stimulant and a narcotic, once a person takes it he yearns for it more. Taking crack cocaine produces a sense of euphoria, well-being (University Of Maryland). Symptoms of crack cocaine are both physical and psychological. Physical and psychological withdrawal begins if the addict lacks crack cocaine. Once he hits on the drug, his tolerance level boosts; he takes increased amounts of the drug each time to get desired effects. Psychological indications include the following: excessive thoughts over buying crack cocaine, regular craving ...
The new drug that became very popular was cocaine. Cocaine is made of coca leaves native in South America, it numbs the brain by releasing dopamine. Dopamine is released from the brain when it reacts to something it likes, for example smells, tastes and feelings. In the case of cocaine the dopamine in the brain is constantly produced. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse some of the effects of cocaine include happiness, hypersensitivity to light and sound, high alertness, and paranoia. The effects usually show up almost instantly but may last to a few minutes to hours depending how the drug is ingested. Overdosing can result in death which causes heart attacks, seizures, and blood
Cocaine is an addictive drug made of coca leaves, which are sacred leaves in Bolivia, as the leaves are believed to have healing powers. As I learned from https://www.yachana.org/teaching/ students/webpages/andean2k/cocaine/history.html, coca leaves have been used for a long time as a food substitute (because it satisfies your craving for food), simulant (it’s an antidepressant), medicine (weak to strong), to keep warm, and “as a measure of distance” (it allows you to work for long amounts of time with no pain). When Diego smoked the cocaine he was no longer hungry, he was very happy and he worked for hours in the pit with no pain. But I don’t think cocaine is important to the story because Diego smoked it, although to me it did symbolize the
Cocaine can be snorted, smoked, injected or even chewed; it can be consumed in any way as long as it ends up in the blood stream. It is a stimulant drug, meaning the messages travelling between the brain and body speed up. Cocaine affects the production, uptake and breaking down of three chemicals that naturally take place in the brain. These are: Dopamine, Serotonin and Norepinephrine. ...
I’ve learned that people who begin using, Cocaine will most likely become a heavy drug user. Cocaine is also known for being a very harmful drug, it can cause multiple symptoms. You can get Cocaine in 2 different forms, cocaine powder and crack. These are both different forms. It can be snorted, and you can inject it into yourself. This drug causes feelings of pleasure.
Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant which also provides us with the beans to make a popular delight, chocolate. Cocaine is a popular drug that has a great addictive quality, and it is very popular not only to those who use it but also in pop culture. Cocaine comes from Colombia mostly. The drug cocaine is a stimulant drug. This drug causes the body to feel a great sense of euphoria that is only normally released when you achieve an accomplishment. Cocaine can also give you a boost of self confidence when you have taken it, as well as an increase in socialability because the overall power you feel when high on this drug. Other forms of cocaine is free base cocaine, which is commonly known as crack. Crack is a crystal rock form of cocaine and is often cheaper than cocaine as well. Crack was given its name because if the crackling sound it makes when you smoke it.
Even though there are several risks to the use of cocaine, cocaine users continue to exist. The existence of cocaine users results in the existence of a growing fatality rate due to cocaine overdoses. Based on research by the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention they estimated that in 2011 there were approximately 4,681 deaths caused by cocaine. (Knopf, 2014, p. 3). When comparing the deaths from 2010 to 2011, there was an increase of 498 deaths within that year. Deaths caused by cocaine increased in 2011, although it was not an astronomical growth in deaths caused by cocaine it is still significant growth. Based on the research that was conducted it is evident that cocaine usage is increasing in our society. If nothing is done about the usage of cocaine, it will only continue to increase throughout the years. The growing number of deaths caused by the use of cocaine is reflective of how enticing this drug has become to drug users and how it has been promoted in our society. Regardless of the significant damage this drug can have on the human body, cocaine users continue to increase and these users are exposing their bodies to an extremely lethal drug and putting themselves at risk for overdoses and ultimately to
2. Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the cocoa plant and is then further processed to produce the common street drug.