Cocaine is one of the most widely abused drugs all over the world. Known as coke or blow, this is an illicit stimulant drug derived from the leaves of coca plants.
Many people use this drug because it causes them to feel euphoric and have increased energy and confidence. Once snorted, these effects last between 15 and 30 minutes, and this short-lived quality of cocaine make users seek it more frequently and regularly, and before you know it, addiction hits them.
1. Snorting Cocaine Destroys Your Nasal Passages. Cocaine is most usually snorted. Its effects include:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased body temperature
- Heart palpitations
- Erratic behavior
- Aggression and even violent behavior
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Seizure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
Snorting cocaine can also cause your nose to be chronically inflamed, have ulcers in the throat, suffer from sinusitis, and even have their nasal septum perforated or damaged.
2. Smoking Crack is Harmful. Crack is another form of cocaine and appears like small rocks. Unlike cocaine, crack is smoked out of pipes and give out a powerful, yet still short-lived high.
Crack’s effects are:
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- coughing up blood
- pulmonary edema
- bleeding of the lungs or pulmonary hemorrhage
3. The cocaine in the streets is not pure. The substance bought in the streets are never pure. To make the most out of their product, suppliers often cut it with different cutting agents (adulterants) so that they make more money. And since it’s an illegal drug, it’s not regulated, so users never know what really is in the cocaine they are using.
4. Cocaine is cut with other dangerous substances. The cutting agents used to extend cocaine are usually in powder form so that they look similar to cocaine and may have the same effects as cocaine. These include:
- talc powder
- laxatives
- flour
- sugar
- anesthetics
- Phenytoin (anticonvulsant drug)
- Levamisole (used to treat parasitic worms)
- other stimulants or powders
5. Cocaine is highly addictive. It is one of the most addictive illegal drugs. This is be because it floods the brain with dopamine, the neurochemical responsible with our reward system and motivation. This brain chemical is also associated with our feelings of pleasure. However, abusing cocaine over time can cause your brain chemistry to become altered.
5. Cocaine can also damage your emotions. Long-term use causes anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure or happiness. Even the things that used to be rewarding to you doesn’t seem so attractive anymore. Being with family or loved ones doesn’t bring you joy either. People who use cocaine can only find joy or pleasure from the drug, thus making it harder and harder to quit the drug.
6. Cocaine is fatal. People can die the first time they use cocaine. This is due to the cutting agents and the health of the user. The likelihood of death also increases if the user is intoxicated with alcohol. Mixing cocaine and alcohol is very dangerous, as it may cause sudden death.
7. Cocaine is bad for your heart. Many people die of heart-related problems when they use cocaine. Some of these cardiac risks include:
- plaque buildup on the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- formation of blood clots
- high blood pressure
- sudden constriction of blood vessels
- arrythmia
Do you know someone who is addicted to cocaine? Get help before it’s too late. Contact us at Bridges of Hope: 09175098826.
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