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The coca plant native to South America has been cultivated for centuries and then refined into a substance called cocaine. A powerful central nervous system stimulant and a mild topical anesthetic, cocaine is a popular recreational drug. Although methods of consuming cocaine vary, the most popular is to insufflate it in a powder form. It can also be injected intravenously into the bloodstream. Yet another method of consuming cocaine is to smoke crack, or freebase cocaine. This allows for a far more intense high that only lasts a short while.
Effects of Cocaine in the Short Term
On the psychological level, using cocaine introduces a variety of effects to the brain. Cocaine is said to cause a marked increase in alertness and wakefulness. Cocaine also elevates the mood and can cause a state of bliss in its users. It is for this reason that cocaine is often used as a party drug. Cocaine also decreases fatigue in its users, allowing them to stay awake for much longer than they would normally be able to. This has led some to use coke as a drug for work, harnessing its seemingly positive characteristics to concentrate on their work while simultaneously being able to stay awake for longer amounts of time.
After consuming a high dose of cocaine, marked differences in behavior often take place. Many cocaine users feel irritable while on the drug, and this, together with drug induced confusion and hyperactivity, can lead to irrational or violent behavior. Cocaine can cause hallucinations, usually auditory. Cocaine users often become paranoid and antisocial when using larger amounts of the drug, furthering their delusions and increasing their risk of injury. In addition to these mind altering psychological effects, cocaine introduces a variety of problems to the human body which can also be dangerous. Upon using cocaine, blood pressure and body temperature are raised. Perspiration and heart rate are increased, and these factors when in combination with the strenuous physical activity stemming from cocaine abuse can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. The risks of these type of health problems are especially increased in people who already have a heart condition or are at risk of seizure.
Compared to opiate withdrawal, withdrawal from cocaine is not nearly as dangerous to the user, although it is in no way a walk in the park. Cessation of cocaine abuse can lead to paranoid thoughts, loss of sexual drive, suicidal tendencies, and an overall sense of apathy. These symptoms are enough to tempt users to use cocaine just to get rid of them, and this self-medication often leads to a cycle of abuse, addiction, and eventually a dependency on the drug.
Regular Use of Cocaine and Effects
When using cocaine regularly over an extended period of time, more serious psychological changes occur within the brain. Cocaine's stimulating qualities combined with its propensity to induce paranoia can lead to further violent act and mood swings. Insomnia is normal among cocaine addicts, and combined with cocaine's tendency to suppress a user's appetite can lead to unhealthy weight loss. As with any insufflated substance, damage to the inside of the nose cartilage can take place, and will eventually tear a hole in the septum with repeated use.
Although cocaine may seem like an innocent party drug, this is not the case. Nobody likes to party with a paranoid drug user who may at any time become delusional and violent. Not only that, but partying too much while on cocaine can lead to death from heart attack, stroke, or overheating of the body. This, combined with cocaine's addictive properties, makes it a very dangerous drug to abuse.
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