Cocaine, also known as coke, is a stimulant drug. It affects the brain very quickly and there is a lot of side-effects that cocaine cause.
A person may take cocaine in many ways. It may be smoked, snorted or taken intravenously.
History of the cocaine
It is one of the oldest opiates in the world. It has a natural origin and its effects are very dangerous.
In the beginning, coke was chewed. People wanted to get their hearts racing and to speed up their breathing. This drug was, also, very popular during religious ceremonies in the 15th century.
Cocaine was first extracted from coca leaves in 1859 by German chemist Albert Niemann. In the 1880s it started to be popularized in the medical community. Sigmund Freud used the drug himself. It was the first to broadly promote cocaine as a tonic to cure depression and sexual impotence.
In the late 1970s, Colombian drug traffickers began setting up an elaborate network for smuggling cocaine. By the year 2008, cocaine had become the second most trafficked illegal drug in the world.
Does cocaine affect the organism?
Many people consider cocaine as a street drug. It looks like a white, crystal powder.
It is a very strong stimulant that causes numerous contraindications. No matter the way it is consumed, cocaine, through the bloodstream, goes directly in the brain within seconds.
Heavy and often use of cocaine may have extremely negative consequences. From nosebleeds to permanent lung damage and even death if the high dose is consumed.
How cocaine effects mostly depend on the size, weight, and health of the addict. If the person is petite, cocaine will have a stronger effect. Of course, when the person is big and strong, a higher dose will be needed.
Moreover, a person would feel strong and unbreakable after consumption. After longer consumption, the blood vessels will tighten or constrict. In like manner, heart rate will rise, and the appetite might disappear. A person may feel irritable, anxious, or paranoid.
How cocaine affects the brain
When consumed, cocaine first goes directly into the brain. Therefore, euphoric behavior starts almost immediately.
An addict will be happy and confident and he will feel the need to take some more. He will consider himself as energetic, and like no one can come near to him.
Usage of cocaine, like other drugs of abuse, induces long-term changes in the brain. Cocaine exposure can cause significant issues in neurons that release glutamate.
Coke also affects brain pathways that respond to stress. It may cause a stress-related disease. Cocaine diminishes functioning in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). It appears to underlie the poor decision-making, inability to adapt to negative consequences of drug use. Also, there is a lack of self-insight shown by people addicted to cocaine.
After some time, an addict will become indifferent to pain, and his sexual desire will increase. Most commonly, a person will become violent and aggressive. His body temperature will be higher, and pupils will enlarge.
How cocaine affects the brain – overdose
If a person ever experiences an overdose, he has to ask for help and find a clinic for rehab.
The first sign of an overdose is vomiting. After that, an addict will feel extreme anxiety and chest pain. Also, a panic attack is a common thing. There is a “cocaine psychosis” which means that an addict will experience some paranoid delusions, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior.
Breathing will become irregular. Stroke, heart problems, and seizures are more than possible. After some time, kidneys will just stop working.
If an addict takes cocaine intravenously, there is a possibility that he will have an issue with tetanus. Also, with hepatitis or AIDS.
How to stop using cocaine?
An addict has to accept that it is not possible to stop using a drug without professional help.
There is a clinic that may be a sanctuary.
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