By Jill Gonzalez
It may be hard to believe given cocaine’s reputation today, but the drug was once used for medicinal purposes. In the 1800s, pure cocaine was often used as an anesthetic for surgical procedures because it reduces bleeding and restricts blood vessels. At the time, no other drugs existed that offered the same type of performance as cocaine.
Cocaine is still the most powerful stimulant that can be found naturally, but its previous medical uses have mostly been replaced by drugs that are safer for human beings. Some of the effects of cocaine that users may experience include the following:
• Abnormally high blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Increased heart rate
• Irritability
• Serious respiratory problems (coughing, lung bleeding, breathing difficulties)
Crack cocaine is the most dangerous form of this drug. The reason: Crack cocaine is the cocaine base that you get before it has been neutralized to form the hydrochloride salt. Crack is sold in solid rock crystals that are smoked.
In addition to having serious effects on the lungs, cocaine is also quite harmful to the heart and the brain. It is not uncommon for cocaine users to experience heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure. This is true not only of long-time users, but for first-time users as well. Cocaine is an extremely addictive and powerful stimulant, and it is very dangerous to use.
It is important to note that cocaine that is commonly purchased through dealers is usually not “just” cocaine. There are normally other substances mixed in with the drug. This is done for a couple of different reasons:
1. The dealer is trying to stretch his supply of cocaine.
2. The dealer is trying to get people addicted to the drug in the hopes that they will keep coming back for more.
The effects that cocaine has on the brain are responsible for the euphoric feelings that people tend to experience while using the drug. These effects on the brain make the drug even more dangerous. The reason for this is that cocaine stimulates the part of the brain that controls our feelings of pleasure. It is very difficult for most people to stop using this drug.
If you know someone who wants to stop using cocaine, or who is currently trying to get off the drug, you should know that the withdrawal symptoms are much different than they are with other drugs. The most common withdrawal symptoms are mood swings, depression, anxiety, and nervousness.
There are also certain signs or symptoms you can look for to determine whether someone has overdosed on cocaine:
• Increase in body temperature
• Extreme sweating
• Fast breathing
• Unusually rapid heart rate
• Auditory hallucinations (hearing things)
One of the smartest decisions a person who is addicted to cocaine can make is to enroll in a substance abuse treatment facility. Obtaining professional help for an addiction is not only the smartest way to approach the addiction problem, but it is also the safest. Professional substance abuse counselors have the knowledge and experience to help addicted individuals overcome their addictions in a safe and controlled environment.