Cocaine
Cocaine is one of the addictive drugs on the planet. Many call it a stimulant because it causes you to be more alert, have more energy and makes you pay more attention.
How it’s Made
Cocaine is from a plant grown in South America known as the Coca plant and it is made and distributed there. The first step is that they harvest the leaves from the plant and pour gasoline on them and letting them soak. They put the leaves in gasoline to get the acid layer off of them, then they add chemicals to make the base of it. They then filter it through a cloth. After this, they pour the purified cocaine base through a solvent. They run the cocaine base through a line to get the solvents out, they first try to get it out by hand then they press it down with a hydraulic press. Next, they use a microwave to get all the solvent out of the cocaine base, this base is also called crack. Now, the cocaine is ready for distribution.
Names
- Coke
- Snow
- Rock
- Blow
- Crack
Ways it’s consumed
Cocaine might seem like it can only be nasally ingested, but there are multiple ways. It would be orally consumed and intravenously which means it can be injected into a vein to get it straight to the bloodstream.
What does it do?
The drug sends extreme levels of dopamine to the brain which causes it to be sent to your nerve system and effects every individual nerve cell. When it’s sent to the brain it affects the part of your brain that controls pleasure.
This causes a build-up, so once this build-up is released it is called a “high”. People describe this as a great feeling. Below is a story of the first-hand account of someone trying it.
The first time I tried cocaine, I was sober and a freshman in college. A few of my friends and I bought a half gram from, in hindsight, a very shady kid down the hall. We split it up so that each of us would have a few lines before going out to a party.
When you initially snort it burns a little, and it has a weird chemical taste that I liken to play-doh. And within a few minutes, I felt like a more social-able, cool version of myself. I felt as if I always knew the right thing to say, and I just couldn’t shut up with all my great ideas. After doing coke occasionally through college, I realized that it’s a pretty fun drug for social occasions in moderation, of course. Once you do it, you can understand why there’s that stigma that wall street business men do coke. It’s not mind altering, it’s just a huge confidence booster and just makes everything more interesting to talk about.
How long does it last?
Cocaine can take from right away to 5 minutes to get to a “high” state and it may last anywhere from 15 minutes to 90 minutes.
Below is a user explain how long it lasts for him/her.
All in all, depending on how much coke you’ve taken, your good feeling can last anywhere from half an hour to two hours. That is, unless you keep taking more and more throughout the night. But just a warning, that’s how you end up wide awake at 7a.m. feeling like a crack head.
What are the effects?
Short term effects include extreme sensitivity to touch, sound, and sight, intensive happiness, anger/irritability, paranoid feelings, and decreased appetite.
Long term effects include headaches, convulsions, and seizures, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, mood problems, sexual trouble, lung damage, HIV or hepatitis if you inject it, bowel decay if you swallow it, loss of smell, nosebleeds, runny nose, and trouble swallowing, if you snort it.
Below is a story of a user and the effects he/she has heard about.
Depending on what your cocaine is cut with, you could also experience the wonderful side effect of having to poop. Sounds gross, but to most cocaine users, a familiar task. Coke is usually mixed with other substances, famously, “baby laxative”. Just be careful and before you ever try coke, make sure your not allergic to anything. I’ve heard horror stories of people who did one line of coke then died because it was cut with something bad, or that they were allergic to.
How to treat addiction?
Counseling and other types of therapy are the most common treatments for cocaine addiction. You may need to stay in a rehabilitation center (or rehab). Sessions with a trained therapist can help you make changes to your behavior and thought processes. Medical detox centers can help your body adjust to treatment, but you’ll probably have to pay for them out of your own pocket. No medicines are approved to treat cocaine addiction. These are the best options for addiction. Cocaine rehabilitation usually takes longer than a normal rehab stays just because of the addictiveness of the drug. Also, there are a lot of sites that have toll-free numbers that are available 24/7 and that's a good way to start rehab.
Below is an interview with Allen Kehler a Canadian teacher, motivational speaker, and author. He’s talking about the most important part of rehabilitation for someone.
It is impossible to address something if there is no understanding. Having said that, knowing is not enough, and it is essential to start doing.
An individual must be active in their own recovery. It is also important to be honest with self. As the saying goes, b.s. only harms ourselves. The person must want to achieve recovery for themselves, and not anyone else. It is also important to understand that initially cravings can be intense and overwhelming, but these are normal and will eventually pass. Lastly, recovery is not something that has to be done alone, and it is essential to reach out to others in times of need.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cocaine can take over your life and ruin it, but just know the effects of it. If you need help or know someone needing help, help them start their journey of rehabilitation and getting their life back.
Sources
“Cannabis, Coca, & Poppy: Nature’s Addictive Plants.” DEA Museum, www.deamuseum.org/ccp/coca/production-distribution.html.
“Cocaine: Short and Long-Term Side-Effects & Treatment of Addiction.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/cocaine-use-and-its-effects#1.
“How to Recover from Drug Abuse? INTERVIEW with Allan Kehler.” Addiction Blog Drug RSS, Addiction Blog, drug.addictionblog.org/how-to-recover-from-drug-abuse-interview-with-allan-kehler/.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “6: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan of a Person on Cocaine.” NIDA, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/teaching-packets/brain-actions-cocaine-opiates-marijuana/section-iii-introduction-to-drugs-abuse-cocaine-opiat-5.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “How Is Cocaine Used?” NIDA, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/how-cocaine-abused.
“Will a Cocaine Vaccine Keep Addicts from Using?” The Fix, 7 Mar. 2014, www.thefix.com/content/let-us-all-now-vaccinate-against-cocaine.
