Cocaine use: serious short and long term effects

Cocaine is a powerful, extremely addictive stimulant, which is almost always used as a drug. recreational. It comes from the coca leaf and began to become very popular during the 1980s. In its natural bush form, it has been consumed for thousands of years by the native peoples of America.

Its way Pure chemistry is cocaine hydrochloride, a substance produced in the laboratory for more than 100 years.. At the beginning of the 20th century this compound was the active ingredient in several elixirs and tonics that were used for medicinal purposes. Currently, it is still used as an anesthetic for throat, ear and eye surgeries.

Cocaine was also used as a component of various soft drinks. The best known of them is “Coca-Cola.”. The original formula of that brand’s emblematic drink contained up to 8 milligrams of cocaine per liter. However, this drug began to become unpopular due to its serious effects and Coca-Cola removed it from its prescription in 1903. In 1914 it became an illegal drug.

It is currently difficult to find cocaine in its chemically pure form. This is mixed with some starches, talcum powder, sugar or other elements. In street sales, the substance receives different names such as “perica”, “snow”, “white lady”, “talc” or simply “coca”. In English it is given names such as “blow”, “flake”, “coke” or “snow”.

Cocaine hydrochloride

As we already indicated, its pure chemical form is cocaine hydrochloride. Although its purity levels vary depending on how it is handled. The highest quality cocaine It reaches up to 98% purity and is known by the name “Yen” on the black market.. It is the most expensive and has a whiter and brighter appearance than the others.

The hydrochloride comes in powder form. It is estimated that powder cocaine sold on the streets is typically between 5% and 40% pure.. Sometimes it is mixed with very dangerous substances such as amphetamines or certain anesthetics. Powder cocaine is usually snorted or “snorted.” However, it is also common to inject it.

There are different varieties of “white cocaine” of medium or low purity. The most popular is one known as “chalk.” It is called that because it has a grayish white color and little shine. This variety is highly euphoric. There is also another category called “yellowish cocaine.” The most characteristic thing about these is their strong smell of gasoline or kerosene. They are the most powerful of all.

Other types of cocaine

Cocaine is also found in “base” form. It is what is popularly known as “crack.”. Its consumption began to spread when the authorities activated strong restrictions on the chemicals necessary to obtain cocaine hydrochloride. This caused its price to rise to unattainable levels for many consumers. Situation that caused the commercialization of the base, which is up to 15 times cheaper.

He crack It is a mixture of cocaine hydrochloride and other chemicals such as ammonia, ether, and sodium bicarbonate.. It is normally smoked in a pipe and its effects are much more severe than those of cocaine hydrochloride. It is also potentially more addictive and increases the risk of death. They call it “crack” because of the sound it makes when crushed.

Another type of this drug is the so-called “basuco” or coca paste, which is also called “cocaine sulfate.”. This is because up to 50% of this substance is a sulfate. During its production, highly toxic components are used, such as methanol or sulfuric acid. It is usually combined with marijuana or tobacco and smoked.

As he crack like basuco produce a “flash” type effect. This means that it is fast and very powerful. For this reason, addicts find it necessary to consume several successive doses to prolong the effect. Both have a high risk of causing overdose.

The short-term effects of cocaine

The effects of cocaine appear almost immediately after consuming it. Sometimes they last a few minutes and other times they last up to an hour. The substance causes feelings of euphoria and great vitality. The consumer feels mentally alert and sharpens their sensory perceptions, especially in sight, hearing and touch.

It is common for cocaine to reduce the need to eat and sleep. Some users report that the drug helps them perform tasks at a much faster speed. Others, however, perceive that it slows them down.

The duration and intensity of the effect depend on the type of cocaine consumed and the method used to ingest it.distress

From an organic point of view, cocaine alters the heart rhythm and can cause headache, abdominal pain and vomiting.. If overdose occurs, the user may have seizures, strokes, or fall into a coma. Sudden death is not common, but cardiac arrests leading to death do occur.

Long-term effects

The main long-term effect of cocaine is severe addiction.. As the addictive potential is extremely high, it is not possible for a person to predict to what extent he will need the drug after the first time he uses it. There is also a high risk of relapse when you stop taking it. This happens even several years after stopping the drug.

The brain adapts to cocaine use. This means that the feeling of gratification is less and less. Therefore, the addict must take higher doses or more frequently to obtain the same pleasant sensation as the first times. Over time, the annoying effects of the drug begin to increase, such as feelings of anguish, paranoia, or outbursts of anger.

In the most serious cases, the sense of reality is lost for long periods of time. Hallucinations appear, mainly auditory, and one can fall into a state of paranoid psychosis.

Magnetic resonance images show that there is a decrease in dopamine receptors in the brain of a cocaine addict. The consequence of this is that the person becomes incapable of experiencing gratifying sensations naturally.

Some of the long-term effects of cocaine also depend on the method of consumption and include, according to National Institute on Drug Abusethe following:

If inhaled: loss of smell, nosebleeds, frequent runny nose, and problems swallowing.If you smoke: cough, asthma, difficulty breathing and increased risk of contracting diseases such as pneumonia.If ingested by mouth: marked deterioration of the intestine due to reduced blood flow.if injected with a needle: increased risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases; skin or soft tissue infections; scars; collapse of the veins.

Common side effects

Cocaine use can cause physiological and psychological side effects. The physiological ones include:

Constricted blood vessels. Dilated pupils. Increased body temperature. Increased heart rate. Increased blood pressure. Weight loss. Nausea. Abdominal pain. Tremors. Vertigo.

The psychological effects of cocaine use may include:

Panic.Aggression.Irritability.Anxiety.Depression.Repetitive behaviors.Lack of judgment.Hallucinations.Paranoia.

Why does cocaine affect the brain?

Cocaine increases dopamine in the brain. In small doses this neurotransmitter travels through neurons producing pleasure or satisfaction. When cocaine is used, dopamine floods these nerve cells, but then has nowhere to go. This excess dopamine prevents brain cells from communicating with each other.

Over time, cocaine causes the brain to become less sensitive to dopamine. This means that greater quantities of cocaine are needed to produce the same effects that it previously generated. Progressively flooding the brain with dopamine can damage it.
Cocaine use can also induce cell death. In a study in mice, researchers have supported the idea that high doses of cocaine kill brain cells by triggering overactive autophagy, a process in which cells literally digest their own insides.

The negative effects of cocaine on brain cells becomes even more significant as you age. The typical brain loses 1.69 milliliters of gray matter each year as part of the aging process. According to research, people who regularly use cocaine lose more than twice as much in a year. Cocaine use in young adults also alters the structure of neurons and custom synapses.

The future of an addict

It is very difficult to predict what the fate of a person addicted to cocaine will be, since this depends on many factors and even chance. As long as consumption continues, the risk of death progressively increases. Also damage to personality and relationships with others.

Currently, Trials are being carried out with various pharmacological treatments, but none of them have passed all the tests.

Self-help groups are always an excellent alternativeexercise

Now, getting rid of addiction is not easy. Therefore, it is always best to prevent. Cocaine is not a drug to try out of curiosity or to live a new experience.. A single consumption has the potential to trigger a series of situations that, in the long run, could end up becoming a tragedy.

Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacological treatment for cocaine addicts continues to be fully developed. The definitive solution has not yet been found, but there are some enzymes that can be quite useful. The team of Salazar-Juárez (2016) sheds light on the finding of promising results. Above like BChE, COCH and bacterial CoCe have shown themselves capable of significantly reduce dose levels. This decrease would occur both at levels in the blood and in the brain.

These enzymes have been shown to be very effective in cases of overdose, so they would be a very effective tool for emergency teams. In this way the lethal effects could be reduced. Animal studies have also shown that these enzymes have the potential to rapidly deactivate cocaine and develop an effective treatment for it. avoiding relapses and maintaining abstinence.

You might be interested…