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biological influences of cocaine
biological influences of cocaine
phsyiological effects of cocaine research paper
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Effects of Cocaine
Physical effects of cocaine use include constricted peripheral blood
vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and
blood pressure. The duration of cocaine’s immediate euphoric effects,
which include hyper-stimulation and mental clarity, is dependent on
the route of administration. The faster the cocaine is absorbed, the
more intense the high and the shorter the duration of action. The
‘high’ from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, whilst that from
smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Increased use can reduce the period
of stimulation. This euphoria is followed by depression and craving
for more of the drug.
Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability,
and anxiety. In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first
use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. There is no way to
determine who is prone to sudden death.
Short-term physiological effects include raised hear rate,
hyperactivity and restlessness. Blood pressure of the user is also
increased and the pupils dilate.
There is a great risk associated with cocaine use whether the drug is
snorted, injected or smoked. Prolonged cocaine snorting can result in
ulceration of the mucous membranes of the nose and can damage the
nasal septum enough to cause it to collapse. The injecting drug user
is at risk for transmitting or acquiring HIV infection/AIDS if needles
or other injection equipment are shared. Hepatitis is another danger
from the use of needles to inject cocaine. Cocaine smokers suffer from
acute respiratory problems including coughing, shortness of breath,
and severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding. In addition, it
appears that compulsive cocaine use may develop even more rapidly if
the substance is smoked rather than snorted.
Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that interferes
with the reabsorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger
associated with pleasure and movement. Dopamine is released as part of
the brain’s reward system and is involved in the high that
characterizes cocaine consumption. An appreciable tolerance to the
Cocaine abuse and dependence affected 1.4 million Americans in 2008 (Volkow, 2010). Cocaine is known for its addictive properties (Letchworth et al., 2001). Therapeutic and medicinal techniques utilized to relieve drug effects and drug seeking behavior have become increasingly popular in the scientific community. In general the affected areas during or after cocaine use have been identified subsequently providing research into the physiological aspects of cocaine use. Research to determine drug-seeking and relapse is imperative due to the prevalence of cocaine use and the rehabilitative qualities a medicinal cure could provide.
In Less Than Zero, cocaine addiction tests a group of three friends against the backdrop of glamorous, 1980’s Los Angeles. I chose this film because I’ve read the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. While the movie differs quite a bit from the book, it still touches on some key points about drug use that Ellis speaks to in the novel. At the beginning of the film, Clay, Julian, and Blair have graduated high school in Beverly Hills. Clay chooses to leave and attend a prestigious university. Blair (Clay’s girlfriend) stays in Los Angeles because she is too afraid to go to school. Julian’s father gives him a large sum of money to start his own recording studio. By Thanksgiving, Clay returns to Los Angeles to find Julian and Blair sleeping together. At
“The first time cocaine is used it may make the heart beat faster leading to a feeling of excitement and fear” (qtd. in Carroll, 1994, p.24). Followed by euphoria, these feelings can peak within five seconds. The user then begins to feel more energetic and becomes more sociable (Carroll, 1994). One inhalation will produce a high usually lasting 10-15 minutes. After this zenith of intense sensation, “…the drug wears off, these temporary sensations of mastery are replaced by an intense depression, and the drug abuser will then "crash", becoming lethargic and typically sleeping for several days” (qtd. in Narconon, 2001). There are several different ways to use crack. It can be snorted, smoked, or taken intravenously. It can also be taken orally (chewed), but this method is not preferred because of the low intensity of the high. The two most popular ways of using crack are smoking and IV usage. These two methods are most favored because they give the most intense sensations.
Black women have been imprisoned for having the ‘girlfriend role’. This is when a woman is dating a drug dealer and gets caught in the drug conspiracy charge due to her boyfriends or husbands drugs in one form or another (acluvideos, 2008). This does not just hurt the woman who was convicted but also here children and other dependents. Black women who live in poor neighborhoods are disadvantaged within their disadvantaged neighborhoods and are often exploited by men who hold the power.
There are thousands of people in the United States that are addicted to cocaine and are left untreated. Many of them are at risk of severe health problems. I am conducting this research paper to compare and contrast the differences between the effectiveness of drug courts and cognitive behavioral therapy for cocaine addicts. We know that all people respond differently to therapy than others do, but it is good to be able to find the effectiveness and success rate of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and drug courts overall. But before we jump into the effectiveness of CBT, we need to know what the goal of CBT is and what the process is for CBT. Not only do we need to know the effectiveness and success rates of these two, but we also need to know the differences. We need to know the different paths that they take and how those different paths translate into success. Last but not least, we need to know what the best overall option is for clients. Every client is going to be different, but looking at drug courts and cognitive-behavioral therapy as a whole, figuring out the most successful treatment is the most important question to answer. Drug courts or cognitive-behavioral therapy is going to benefit the individual regardless; any sort of help is better than no help at all. We know that people react differently from these two treatments, but finding the overall best treatment is what we are looking to figure out.
Cocaine is an illegal drug that can be either smoked in a crack form, or inhaled in a powder form. According to Charles F. Levinthal, cocaine is a stimulant that increases the production of dopamine in the brain. Along with the desired feeling resulting from the increasing dopamine levels, there are many other things taking place inside of the body after intake not only for the user, but also for the growing organism inside of the user (2005). While the drug is in affect in the body (for about 20 to 30 minutes), Laura E. Berk’s research has found that cocaine constricts the user’s blood vessels causing oxygen delivered to the developing organism to fall dramatically for 15 minutes following a high dose (2003). This depravation of oxygen to the developing baby is one of the causes of damage. One of the problems that can result from cocaine ...
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience on the history of cocaine, current prevalence rates and health effects among other issues.
In the eyes of the public, the word addict stirs up a negative image: a person of low moral character who willfully chooses to engage in questionable behavior. This image is perpetuated in the media; on a recent episode of E.R., the chief surgeon criticizes another doctor for allowing a heroin addict (who has been treated for an abscess) to exchange a dirty needle, explaining "we donât want these low-lives hanging around the hospital." The social stigma attached to addicts reflects the great gap that exists between scientific knowledge and public perception of addiction. Just as mental illness was viewed as a social problem instead of a medical issue until the last several decades, drug addiction continues to be seen as a character flaw instead of as the biological problem that it is.
Crack is the name given to cocaine that has been transformed into a condensed, more pure, rock form that can be smoked. It is the most addictive form of cocaine due to a higher potency level than the typical batch of street cocaine. Crack cocaine has often been referred to as a ‘soul drug’ because it has a tendency to rob its victims of everything including money, family, morals, and even life itself. Furthermore, it is possible to become addicted to crack cocaine from the very first time it is used, creating a vortex of misery for those who come into contact with it. Compared to other drugs, crack cocaine has a rather short history in America since it was only introduced the 1980’s. However, within this short period, Crack cocaine
Don't let incarceration or death affect the life of you, or someone that you love. Understanding the horrific effects of methamphetamine can make a difference in life or death. According to T. Lopez (2014), at age eighteen she lost her father due to the impact that methamphetamine had on his heart and kidneys. Nevertheless, a few years later she and her husband became a victim of the awful cycle of addiction. Unfortunately, due to their addiction they became involved in criminal activity and found their selves jailed leaving behind their five children. Methamphetamine is a potent stimulant that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is commonly called speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, crank, and glass. Meth is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystal-like powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol (Speed , 2011). It was created “from the drug amphetamine, and was originally used in nasal decongestants, bronchial inhalers, and the treatment of narcolepsy and obesity” (Treating Methamphetamine Addiction). Methamphetamine is considered to be “a Schedule II drug - a drug with little medical use and a high potential for abuse” (Treating Methamphetamine Addiction). Although it can be made in small secret laboratories with fairly inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients, “over 85% of methamphetamine is made in super labs in California and Mexico” (Meth Addiction Statistics, 2014). Methamphetamine abuse is a very serious addiction that affects a user’s mental and physical states while simultaneously destroying their lives; without managed treatment, misfortune is inevitable.
The purpose of this research paper is to inform my audience of three primary sections based on biological aspect of the addictive substance cocaine, and its addictive properties. This will include the primary effects on the brain and other organs in the human body. The second section will confer, clinical issues along with medical treatment, future directions of treatment. The third section biological aspects of the addictive substance from a biblical perspective will be discussed. Some areas of interest include freedom and caution for Christian counselor’s based on the addictive substance used.
"Cocaine delivers an intensity of pleasure - and despair - beyond the bounds of normal human experience."
The use of cocaine in the United States has declined over the last twenty years while the use of crack has increased. Many people avoided the use of crack because of the harmful chemicals used in creating the drug. One of the reasons why crack became popular is because of not needing to inject the drug hence less risks of being infected by the AIDS virus. Carroll (2000) states cocaine is the most powerful stimulant of natural origin. Most users snort or inject the drug to enable a quicker “high.” Cocaine use brings on many health problems. Fatal complications occur from regular use, for example, liver damage, seizures, elevated blood pressure causing stroke, heart failure, or heart attack.
When using a drug like cocaine it causes the nerve cells to release an abnormal large amount of natural neurotransmitters and also prevents the normal recycling of brain chemicals which are needed to shut off the signal between neurons. Such disruption produces an amplified message that disrupts the normal communication patterns in the brain.
Many people that have smoked marijuana also try other drugs to get another type of high. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that effects the brain directly. This powerful drug takes effect in very small doses by making a person feel more alert or energetic. Though people may think the drug helps them perform tasks faster with fewer complications, it also carries a list of effects. Some include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, high temperature, high heart rate, and bizarre behavior. Some...