Cocaine

What Is It?

• Cocaine is an extract from the leaves of the coca bush, native to South America.
• This extract is processed to create cocaine hydrochloride, freebase and crack.

What does it look like?

Most commonly it is Cocaine Hydrochloride which is a white crystalline powder

Street Names

Coke, crack, C, okey dokey, nose, charlie, nose candy, big C, blow, marching powder, snow, white lady, toot, ceci, candi, star dust

How Is It Taken?

• Cocaine Hydrochloride is usually snorted through the nose
• In various forms it is also smoked and injected

How Does It Work?

• Cocaine belongs to the family of stimulants which stimulate the nervous system.
• Messages between the body and the brain are sped up
• The effects of cocaine are felt almost immediately

Why Is It Taken? (Desired Side Effects)

• Increased energy levels
• More alert
• Euphoria
• Exhilaration
• Pain relief
• Excitement
• Increased confidence, superiority
• Hallucinations

Unwanted Side Effects

• Increased heart rate and temperature
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Irritability
• Headache
• Paranoia
• Dizziness
• Trembling
• Nausea
• Heart attack
• Muscle twitches

Long Term Side Effects

• Restless
• Paranoid
• Over excited
• Nausea
• Weight loss and eating disorders
• Depression
• Psychosis
• Insomnia
• Sexual dysfunction
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Irregular heartbeat
• Impaired thinking

Overdose And Death

Overdose on cocaine is not uncommon due to the unknown strength and content of a mix.

Overdose can result in

• Stroke
• Convulsions
• Brain haemorrhage
• Seizures
• Increased heart rate and temperature
• Heart attack

Addiction And Dependency

• It is quick and easy for cocaine users to develop a tolerance to sought after effects of cocaine. An increase in the amount of cocaine use must then increase in order to achieve the same high.
• On the other hand, regular use can also lead to the negative effects intensifying
• Cocaine is also highly addictive physically, with severe withdrawal symptoms.