Rate Of Current Cocaine Use example essay topic

Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a potent brain stimulant and one of the most powerfully addictive drugs. Cocaine is distributed on the street in two main forms: cocaine hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder that can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected; and " crack' is cocaine hydrochloride that has been processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water into a freebase cocaine. These chips, chunks, or rocks can be smoked. Cocaine may be used occasionally, daily, or in a variety of compulsive, repeated-use 'binges'. Regardless of how it is used, cocaine is highly addictive.

Crack cocaine and injected cocaine reach the brain quickly and bring an intense and immediate high. Snorted cocaine produces a high more slowly. Cocaine can produce a surge in energy, a feeling of intense pleasure, and increased confidence. The effects of powder cocaine last about 20 minutes, while the effects of 'crack' last about 12 minutes. Heavy use of cocaine may produce hallucinations, paranoia, aggression, insomnia, and depression. Cocaine's effects are short lived, and once the drug leaves the brain, the user experiences a 'coke crash' that includes depression, irritability, and fatigue.

Many people ask is cocaine addictive? Yes. Cocaine can take over your life and cause you to lose interest in everything else. Studies in monkeys have shown that animals will work very hard (press a bar over 10,000 times) for a single injection of cocaine, choose cocaine over food and water, and take cocaine even when this behavior is punished.

Animals must have their access to cocaine limited in order not to take toxic or even lethal doses. People addicted to cocaine behave similarly. They will go to great lengths to get cocaine and continue to take it even when it hurts their school or job performance and their relationships with loved ones. Do users develop a tolerance to crack or cocaine? Yes. Users may find they need more and more of the drug to get high.

What are the effects of cocaine use? Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system. It acts on the 'pleasure centers' of the brain, producing heightened pleasure and increased confidence. Other immediate effects include dilated pupils and elevated blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. The pleasurable effects of powder cocaine last about 20 minutes. Occasional use can cause a stuffy or runny nose, and chronic use can ulcerate the mucous membrane of the nose.

Injecting cocaine with contaminated equipment can cause AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases. Preparation of freebase cocaine, which involves the use of volatile solvents, can result in death or injury from fire or explosion. Effects include constricted peripheral blood vessels, elevated temperature, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Some cocaine users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.

Prolonged cocaine use and smoking crack cocaine can also trigger paranoid behavior. Cocaine may also harm the health and development of infants born to women who use cocaine during pregnancy. When addicted individuals stop using cocaine, they often suffer from depression and anxiety, and the inability to experience pleasure from normally pleasurable activities. This makes it extremely difficult or the recovering addict to stay clean. Cocaine in its freebase form is extremely addictive, and its effects are felt within 10 seconds. The physical effects include dilated pupils, increased pulse rate, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, tactile hallucinations, paranoia, and seizure.

The use of cocaine can cause death by cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. Appearance of cocaine. Cocaine sold on the street is in the form of a white powdery substance. it resembles snowflakes, crystal or lactose. This accounts for two of its nicknames: 'crystal " and 'snow'. It is 'cut' for street sale, much like heroin.

(This means the drug is diluted with some other substance.) In street samples cocaine purity ranges anywhere from 15% - 50% with an average purity of 25%cocaine. Cocaine is cut with, lactose, , etc Under the Influence Symtoms Under the influence of cocaine means that there is physical evident cocaine present in the body such as dilated pupils, hyperactive nervous system, muscle relaxation, and cocaine found in blood or urine. Sincecocaine's activity level in the body is 3-6 hours following use the term 'under the influence' is restricted to users who show physical evidence of cocaine during its activity period of 3-6 hours. Persons using cocaine can show evidence of the following: Rapidity of speech (low dose) Agitated or hyper stimulated appearance (low dose) Slowing or slurred speech (high dose) Sedated or sleepy (high dose) High pulse and respiration rate Pupil size will be dilated Needle marks Presence of cocaine in nasal passage Hallucinations or delusions How many people use cocaine? The number of regular cocaine users has declined by 75% since 1986. In 1995, according to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 1.45 million Americans were current cocaine users; that is, they had used cocaine at least once in the past month.

Of that number, an estimated one-half million we recurrent crack users. As in the past, the rate of current cocaine use was highest among young adults. In 1995, approximately 54% of current cocaine users were aged between 18 and 34 1. Pollack MH, Bro tman AW, Rosenbaum JF. ' Cocaine abuse and treatment. ' Comprehensive Psychiatry 1989 Jan- Feb; 30 (1): 31-44.2.

Van dette JM, Cornish LA. 'Medical complications of illicit cocaine use. ' Clin Pharm 1989 Jun; 8: 401-11.