Cocaine

Cocaine

What is Cocaine? Cocaine comes from the coca plant, and is one of the most worlds most addictive drugs. Many people take the drug in many different forms. The purpose of the use of this drug can very from person to person. The effects of the drug range from short term highs to long term damage. Quitting is one of the hardest habits to over-come, for some there is no coming back.

The plant is found mostly in South America. The leaves are grounded into a paste. The paste is then purified to produce a white powder. 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. (Beonline, 2003). Most of the drug comes from hills of Columbia. It makes it way north to the United States buy drug smugglers. Once the drug is in the United States the drug hit the streets and into the hand of the daily cocaine addicts. During this process many lives are lost. Many of lives that are lost are innocent people caught in the middle of drug wars between law enforcement and the drug dealers.

Cocaine comes in different forms. Cocaine may be snorted, injected or even converted to a free-base form and smoked. (Alcohol Drug Association, 2006). The two major forms are powder and a rock like form called crack. Cocaine can also be injected. If cocaine is injected, the effects come on within minutes, starting with a very intense rush. (Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse, 2002). Injecting is highly dangerous because of the risk of contracting diseases like HIV. Powder cocaine is widely use and is snorted through the nose. Cocaine will give the user a confidence high for about 30 minutes, leaving you craving more. (Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse, 2002). Crack, named for sound when heated, is a form of cocaine. Crack is mixed with chemicals to allow it to be more easily smoked. If smoked as crack the buzz comes on in seconds and is very intense but only last a few minutes, which makes it more addictive (Beonline, 2003).

What is the purpose for the use of cocaine? Cocaine releases dopamine's, which are responsible for pleasure and movement, and inhibits the reabsorption of cocaine, over-stimulating the brain. (Hoegler, 2000). People who use this drug report feeling of euphoria, hyper-stimulation, confidence, and alertness. Cocaine also reduces the user's appetite and makes them talkative. Cocaine's effects begin to wear off quickly fast. Affects of withdrawals can include irritability, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression, or aggression as the drug's effects wear off.

Cocaine user's report that the stop of the use of the drug is difficult, which makes them take more to keep up the high and avoid withdrawals. (Brown University, 2004). This is the main reasons cocaine is so addictive. Depression has been reported immediately after taking the drug. Cocaine also gives the user the sense of power and confidence and if mixed with alcohol can be a dangerous mix. The mixture of cocaine and alcohol creates a new substance which is Coca ethylene. (Landrdy, 1992). This intensifies the cocaine's euphoric effect but also increases the strain on the heart which there is a risk of death. Users of high doses of cocaine can become erratic, delusional, paranoid, violent and psychotic.

Long term-effects of the drug can be devastating. Most users will become addicted to the drug. It is very difficult to say who will become an addict. Cocaine addicts build a tolerance to the drug. Cocaine becomes an expense drug to the user. The user will have to spend more money to achieve there high. Users will tend to