Cocaine Description: Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Cocaine has been labeled the Drug of the 1980s and '90s, because of its extensive popularity and use during this period. However, Cocaine is not a New Drug. In fact, it is one of the oldest known Drugs. The pure chemical, Cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years and coca leaves, the source of Cocaine, have been ingested for thousands of years.
Pure Cocaine was first extracted from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca bush, which grows primarily in Peru and Bolivia, in the mid-19th century. In the early 1900s, it became the main stimulant Drug used in most of the tonics/elixirs that were developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Today, Cocaine is a Schedule II Drug, meaning that it has high potential for abuse.
There are basically two chemical forms of Cocaine: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The hydrochloride salt, or powdered form of Cocaine, dissolves in water and, when abused, can be taken intravenously (by vein) or intra nasally (in the nose). Freebase refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. The freebase form of Cocaine is smokable.
Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder. Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active Drugs as procaine (a chemically-related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants as amphetamines.
Cocaine Dependency: High risk
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms: Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:
-agitation
-depression
-intense craving for the Drug
-extreme fatigue
-anxiety
-angry
-outbursts
-lack of motivation
-nausea/vomiting
-shaking
-irritability
-muscle pain
-disturbed sleep
Cocaine Trend Statistics Across the United States
Cocaine trends across the nation are indicators of the percentage of cocaine abuse, cocaine addiction, domestic violence, and child abuse. The cocaine trends for each state has a direct relation to the amount of cocaine confiscated by federal authorities.
Overdose
The dosage and method of use that can cause cocaine overdose differs from individual to individual. The effects of overdose are extremely intense and, usually, short in nature. Even though uncommon, fatalities have been recorded from cocaine overdose due to: seizures, heart attack, brain haemorrhage, kidney failure, stroke and repeated convulsions.
