Cocaine is a powerful stimulant which gives the temporary illusion of limitless power and energy that leave the user feeling depressed, edgy, and craving more after the effects ware off. Cocaine is a white powder that is derived from the leaves of the South American coca plant and is either "snorted" through the nasal passages or injected intravenously. Crack is a smokable form Cocaine that has been chemically altered, it got its name from the process of heating crack rock, it melts and makes a crackling sound.. Highly addictive, cocaine or crack can erode physical and mental health and can become so strong that these drugs dominate an addict's life. Colombia produces around 75% of the world's cocaine.

Cost

Colombian peasants sell cocaine between $500 - $600 per kilogram
One kilogram of cocaine costs $1,500 in Colombia
One kilogram of cocaine costs $30,000 in Miami

Street Names

cocaine, crack, Texas Death Rails, Colombian gold, snarf, blow, yowder, yizzle, chowda, yeyo, yola, snow, charlie, coke, rock, wash, stone

Methods of Consumption

Cocaine is a commonly chopped up, divided into lines on a mirror and then sniffed up the nose through a tube like object (referred to as tooters). Crack is cocaine, which has been processed with chemicals into small crystals about the size of raisins for smoking (which is known as freebasing). Sometimes Cocaine can be injected or processed into a substance that can be smoked. If taken with alcohol, cocaine combines with the ethanol in the liver to form cocaethylene, which is both more euphorigenic and has higher cardiovascular toxicity than cocaine by itself.

Consequences & Associated Risks

Cocaine or crack, no matter the form taken, is as dangerous physiologically as it is addictive. Taking it through the nose causes damage to the lining of the nose, which may lead to frequent nose bleeds. Smoking it can cause breathing problems and its effects on the lining of the lungs is far worse then tobacco related products. Due to its highly addictive nature, frequent use must be maintained in order to keep the high and get away from the associated low. As a result, it leads to sickness, sleeplessness, weight loss, convulsions, depression and suicide.

The physical and psychological risks associated with crack or cocaine are the same. Increases in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. There is a higher chance of heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure, brain seizures, reduction of the body's ability to resist and combat infection. Continued use may also lead to violent, erratic, or paranoid behavior hallucinations and coke bugs (a sensation of imaginary insects crawling over the skin). There is also confusion, anxiety, depression loss of interest in food or sex and cocaine psychosis (losing touch with reality, loss of interest in friends, family, sports, hobbies, and other activities).

Addicts will do just about anything to support their habit which can become quite expensive with regular use. Cocaine and crack addicts often become unable to function sexually and even first time users may experience seizures or heart attacks, which could be fatal.

Effects

Cocaine makes you feel like you are on top of the world, full of strength, well-being, exhilaration and alertness… the euphoria is very intense but lasts less than an hour. It tends to reduce appetite, increases pulse rate and blood pressure. During use many have a runny nose and enlarged pupils.

Crack has the same effect on the user with a more intense high but it lasts only a few minutes. Some users combine crack with heroin to 'come down' from the intense high.

Benefits

Cocaine is also a topical anesthetic that was used in eye and throat surgery in the 19th and early 20th centuries, its use has been replaced by synthetic local anaesthetics such as benzocaine, proparacaine, and tetracaine.

Once its effects dissipate, how do you feel?

Anxiety, panic and the complete opposite of the euphoric feeling you had while on - which makes it highly addictive. Addicts quickly become preoccupied with getting more, and most of their thoughts and behaviors are directed to that end. In rare cases, cocaine can produce death, after first use or after prolonged use. Death occurs from cardiac arrest (the person's heart stops beating), or seizures followed by respiratory arrest (the person stops breathing). Cocaine metabolites are detectable in urine for up to four days after cocaine is used. Cocaine also proves to be often fatal when used in combination with heroin, this is called speedballs (when injected) or moonrocks (when smoked), combinations of stimulants and depressants can have unpredictable and sometimes fatal results.

Signs of overdose:

Symptoms of cocaine overdose may include some or all of the following:

• Dangerous or fatal rise in body temperature
• Seizures
• Heart attack
• Brain hemorrhage
• Kidney failure
• Stroke
• Repeated convulsions
• Tremors
• Delirium
• Death