Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant which grows in SouthAmerica. It is a central nervous systemstimulant. Cocaine appears in several forms, but usually appears as a fine white crystal-likepowder and is usually snorted intothe nose, although some users inject it or smoke a form of the drug called freebase.
When cocaine is "snorted" the effects begin within a few minutes, peak within 15 to 20minutes, and disappear within an hour.
The effects include dilated pupils and increases in blood pressure, heart rate, breathingrate, and body temperature. The usermay have a sense of well-being and feel more energetic or alert, and less hungry.
People can become dependent on cocaine and the drug dominates all aspects of theaddict's life. In addition, overdose deathscan occur when the drug is injected, smoked or even snorted. Deaths are a result of multiple seizures followed by respiratory and cardiac arrest.
The dangers of cocaine vary, depending on how the drug is taken, the dose and the individual. Some regular users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and sleeplessness. People who use high dosesof cocaine over a long period of timemay become paranoid or experience what is called a "cocaine psychosis," which may include hallucinations of touch, sight, taste,or smell.
Crack is a form of cocaine that has been chemically altered so that it can be smoked. Crack belongs to the category of cocaine known as freebase. The immediate effects of crack are similar to that of cocaine. The difference is that crack produces the most dramatic cocaine high-smoking allows high doses of cocaine to reach the brain almost instantly. This rapid "high" is followed bya profound "low" that leaves the user craving more. As a result, crack can be rapidly addicting.
Cocaine and crack can cause brain seizures, a disturbance of the brain's electrical signals, some of which regulate the heart and muscles controlling breathing. Some users have suffered strokes after using cocaine, the increase in blood pressure the drug causes may rupture brain blood vessels.