• What is cocaine?
• Street Names
• How is it taken?
• What are the effects?
• What are the dangers?
• Is cocaine addictive?

What is cocaine?

Cocaine is the most powerful central nervous system stimulant of natural origin. It comes from the leaves of the cocoa plant (Erythroxylon coca), which is indigenous to the Andean highlands of South America. Cocaine comes in two forms:

• White crystalline powder (cocaine hydrochloride). Often sold as an impure powder and is diluted with sugars such as lactose, inositol and mannitol, and local anesthetics such as lidocaine, to increase volume and profits from sales.
  
• Off-white chunky material known as "crack" or "rock."

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Street Names

"blow," "nose candy," "snowball," "tornado", "wicky stick"
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How is it taken?

The cocaine hydrochloride powder is taken by two means:

• Snorted: The powder is sniffed through the nose.
  
• Injected: The powder is dissolved in water and injected intravenously through a needle.

The "crack" or "rock" form is smoked. It is known as a "hot" smoke (smoking methamphetamines is known as a "cool" smoke.
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What are the effects?

The means by which cocaine is used determines the speed in which the effects are experienced:

• Snorted: three to five minutes.
  
• Intravenous injection: 15 to 30 seconds.
  
• Smoked: Immediately.

Physical effects include:

• Dilated pupils.
  
• Increased blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate.

Psychological effects include:

• Intense initial rush.
  
• Increased alertness.
  
• Restlessness and anxiety.

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What are the dangers?

Cocaine users suffer from acute respiratory problems including:

• Cough.
  
• Shortness of breath.
  
• Severe chest pains.
  
• Lung trauma and bleeding.

High doses or chronic use causes:

• Nervousness.
  
• Irritability.
  
• Paranoia.
  
• Dysphoric crash ("coming down") follows the high and results in fatigue and depression. As a result, users feel the need to take repeated doses to avoid the crash, which can lead to seizures or death from:
  • Respiratory failure.
    
  • Stroke.
    
  • Cerebral hemorrhage (blood vessel bursts in the brain).
    
  • Heart failure.
• Cocaine is illegal in the United States and you could be sent to jail.

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Is cocaine addictive?

Cocaine is highly addictive both physically and psychologically.
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