Effects of Cocaine

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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

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