ADA Facts
Cocaine                                                   Printer Friendly PDF

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Probably one of the more notorious drugs in recent times has been cocaine, perhaps because of the number of celebrities who have used it, its prevalence among affluent populations, and the anecdotes about its addictive properties. But cocaine is hardly a new drug. It has been used and abused for centuries.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant, derived from the leaves of the coca plant. The juice from the plant is boiled down and then dehydrated, leaving the familiar white powder. The powder form is often mixed (or "cut") with a neutral powder before being sold. Cocaine is sold in a powder form and in a crystalline form ("crack"). The powder is typically inhaled ("snorted"), and the crystal is typically smoked. Both the powder and the crystalline forms of cocaine can be injected using a syringe.

Cocaine's Affects On The Body

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant, often giving the user an initial feeling of euphoria. This feeling is typically followed by a feeling of depression. Cocaine use can also cause people to become violent or act erratically or paranoid; and they may experience hallucinations, confusion, anxiety, and a loss of interest in basic needs, such as food or sex. Cocaine can cause loss of concentration, irritability, and a loss of memory. It can impair judgment, which may lead to dangerous behaviors, such as unprotected sex, using a dirty needle, driving while under its influence, and violence. Cocaine interferes with the absorption of dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with pleasure and movement.

Cocaine is one of the most addictive drugs in common use. Many addicts report being "hooked" after their first time. Physically, cocaine causes increased body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. In fact, the heart may begin to race until it fails, causing sudden death. Strokes, heart attacks, and respiratory failure also are common reactions. Snorting damages the linings of the nose and upper respiratory tract. A red, runny nose or frequent nose bleeds are an indication of cocaine use.

Other warning signs include loss of interest in family, work, or friends; a need for large amounts of money; a decline in performance on the job or in the classroom; anxiety; and depression.

Cocaine use during pregnancy can lead to the death of the unborn child or miscarriage; babies can be born addicted to cocaine that passes from their mothers' systems to theirs. Along with having to go through withdrawal, these babies often experience developmental disabilities.

For additional information about cocaine visit the websites of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA ( http://www.drugabuse.gov/), and the National Center for Alcohol and Drug Information, NCADI ( http://www.health.org/).

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For more information,contact the
Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 687, 1706 East Elm
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4942
1-800-364-9687