Cocaine

1907 Words4 Pages

Cocaine First of all this research paper will examine the history of cocaine, answer exactly who used it, effects of the drug and its addictive nature. People choose to write about cocaine so that others can clearly see and understand its historical origins and dangerous properties. Those who experiment with drugs should become aware of their dangerous effects and take caution. The more people that become knowledgeable about cocaine, the more they can protect themselves from seriously endangering themselves. Cocaine users that are seriously dependent on the drug can seek treatment and rehabilitate. Most cocaine users do not realize they have a problem until it becomes too late. Much like the alcoholic, a cocaine dependent’s body has accepted the drug and is used to it being in the body’s system. When the body needs it, and the user does not have it, withdrawal takes place. In this case, a long, gradual process of lessening the dosage is the only route for success. Experiments were conducted involving the effects of crack cocaine on case studies in Toronto. It is important that people monitor and stay knowledgeable about cocaine, “as medical experiments done at the turn of the century lacked today’s sophistication” (Karch A Brief History of Cocaine 11). These case studies are crucial to research if we are to fully understand the drug, its effects and its addictive nature. We can also observe from a safe pedestal the effect it has on society as a whole. This information was never really made public in the past, because researchers did not know much about the drug to begin with. In Toronto, “a core premise of media and law enforcement claims of an epidemic is that crack’s quick and intense high quickly leads to com... ... middle of paper ... ...rt moment, their problems disappear. In the article, “Resisting Cocaine’s Tragic Lure” by Farrington, a recovering cocaine addict said it best by exclaiming, “I was always looking for the answer to the question ‘How can I feel better?’…it never occurred to me I could do that on my own [without drugs].” Work Cited Karch, Steven B. The Pathology of Drug Abuse. Boca Raton, FL: CBC Press, 1993. Karch, Steven B. A Brief History of Cocaine. Boca Raton, FL: CBC Press, 2000. Erickson, Pat.,et al. The Steel Drug. New York: Lexington Books, 1987. Farrington, Jan. “Resisting Cocaine’s Tragic Lure.” Current Health 25.6 (1999): 6-13. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Roesch Library, Dayton. 14 Oct. 2002. Carpenter, S. “Cocaine Use Boosts Heart- Attack Risk.” Science News 155.23 (1999): 356. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Roesch Library, Dayton. 14 Oct. 2002

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