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Cocaine is a powerful drug, the use of which produces a short but strong euphoric effect. When the effect of a psychoactive substance stops, a person feels irritability, aggression, and in the chronic form of addiction, becomes depressed. People suffering from cocaine addiction are ready to do anything to get the next dose of the drug, rarely admit the existence of any problem, and refuse to undergo treatment from a narcologist. The first thing that loved ones of a cocaine addict should do is to seek help from a specialized clinic.

The effects of cocaine on the body are manifested by the following symptoms:

• talkativeness;
• increased activity;
• euphoria;
• delirium, inappropriate behavior.

In the chronic form of addiction, a cocaine addict becomes like a drug addict, his actions and words are devoid of any meaning and come down to the realization of only one goal - getting the next dose of the drug. A person who starts using cocaine becomes hot-tempered, impulsive, and loses the ability to adequately assess his intellectual and physical capabilities.

Cocaine has an intense effect on the nervous system, the human brain loses the ability to rest and relax without the drug. This feature explains the psychological dependence on the drug. Cocaine provokes the development of acute mental and behavioral symptoms against the background of increased levels of serotonin and other trace elements in the blood.

When using cocaine through the respiratory tract - by smoking, the effect of the drug begins 5-10 seconds after inhaling the vapor. When the drug is administered intravenously, the effect of the drug is delayed and begins to appear a few minutes after the injection. By inhaling powdered cocaine through the nose, the addict will feel a state of dope in about half an hour. Regardless of the method of using the drug, the effect of narcotic intoxication does not last more than 20-40 minutes, which provokes the patient to sharply increase the dosage with each use of the prohibited drug. The intensity of the “arrival” decreases significantly with each dose.

Compared to drugs of other groups, cocaine has high levels of tolerance. That is, you can get the same effect as when using the first dose of the drug only with a constant increase in the dosage of the drug. After using the drug, the patient feels an unprecedented surge of strength, increased mental activity, etc. The most common effects of cocaine use include:

• Euphoria. After taking a dose from a drug addict without apparent reason mood improves. The patient's behavior is characterized by increased activity and talkativeness. In a state of drug intoxication, the addict is inclined to tell such details from his life that under other circumstances he would prefer to hide.
• Mental activity. A person under the influence of heroin sharply but briefly improves memory and mental abilities.
• Energy surge. The patient experiences an extraordinary surge of strength, his performance increases significantly. After using cocaine, the addict completely loses drowsiness, which does not in any way affect his energy.
• Loss of coordination. The movements of a cocaine addict are similar to the actions of a person who is extremely intoxicated.
• Increased self-confidence. Drug addicts feel that they are right in everything, and under the influence of delusional ideas they are prone to commit inappropriate actions.

The effect after using cocaine does not last long; the patient feels the most acute feeling of pleasure 5 minutes after taking a dose of the drug. After the end of drug intoxication, the hormone dopamine, which is responsible for the feeling of joy and euphoria, sharply decreases in the patient’s body, so drug addicts experience a sharp deterioration in mood, fatigue, and weakness. Cocaine addicts can only get rid of depression through regular use of the substance, which explains the formation of a strong psychological dependence.

The main way to recognize a cocaine addict is to conduct laboratory tests of blood and urine at the Salvation clinic. IN biological material Traces of cocaine breakdown remain for 5-6 hours after the last dose. If it is not possible to deliver the patient to a clique, there are a number of signs by which one can recognize the existence cocaine addiction. These include:

• Dilated pupils. In a healthy person, the pupils actively react to changes in light levels. In cocaine addicts, the pupil is as narrow as possible; it is practically impossible to see it in the iris of the eyes. However, drug addicts are well aware of this symptom, so they try in every possible way to hide it with the help of pharmaceutical drops that dilate the pupil.
• Increase in respiratory rate and body temperature without preliminary physical activity. Cocaine has a stimulating effect on the nervous system, which causes changes in heart rate and respiratory rhythm disturbances.
• Weight change. Cocaine reduces appetite, so with prolonged addiction, you may notice changes in the user's weight. Some drug addicts experience cyclical weight fluctuations associated with changes in drug dosage.

When addicted to cocaine, a person gradually loses his personality, stops caring about appearance, maintaining hygiene. This feature is explained not only by depression, but also by the cost of all vitality in search of a new dose of the drug. A cocaine addict shows no interest in family, work, and gradually stops communicating with friends.

Specialists at the Salvation clinic note that cocaine causes severe mental and physical dependence. The drug has a detrimental effect on the body. Experiencing intense euphoria when consuming a dose of cocaine, the addict’s brain no longer wants to relax in other ways.

The ability of cocaine to actively influence changes in hormonal levels; long-term use of the drug provokes the development of the following diseases:

• stroke and myocardial infarction;
• hypertensive crises;
• mental disorders;
• chronic respiratory diseases.

The most difficult consequence of cocaine addiction is sudden death. With prolonged use of cocaine through the respiratory tract, the nasal septum is subject to destruction (rotting), which often provokes cancer and pulmonary hemorrhages.

Vascular thrombosis is also considered one of the most difficult consequences of cocaine addiction. If a woman uses cocaine during pregnancy, such rash behavior is fraught with fetal loss, bleeding, development serious pathologies The child has.

Many drug addicts suffering from cocaine addiction are in no hurry to seek medical help to get rid of their disease. When abruptly quitting the drug, the patient invariably experiences cocaine withdrawal symptoms, which are a severe consequence of using psychoactive substances.

Cocaine withdrawal syndrome is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Auditory and visual hallucinations.
• Fear, panic attacks.
• Physical discomfort (muscle pain, dizziness, vomiting, cramps, etc.).
• Uncontrolled aggression.

The consequences of long-term cocaine use can only be eliminated with the support of experienced specialists at the Salvation clinic. Narcologists at the rehabilitation center have everything necessary to quickly relieve patients from physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances with minimal consequences for health.

Signs of cocaine intoxication can easily be confused with symptoms of regular intoxication. viral disease or simple fatigue. Psychologists, along with narcologists at the Salvation clinic, have compiled a list of symptoms, the complex manifestation of which may indicate a person’s abuse of coke:

• dry mouth;
• vomiting (especially common with a single dose of cocaine);
• drowsiness alternating with sudden bouts of activity;
• pale and dry skin accompanied by itching;
• inhibition of speech and movements;
• tremor of the limbs;
• impaired coordination of movements.

Less commonly, the development of visual and auditory hallucinations can be considered a sign of heroin use. The breathing of a person suffering from cocaine addiction is rapid, and after consuming a dose of coke, the addict also experiences a heart rhythm disturbance.

What help should be provided for a cocaine overdose?

Cocaine overdose is no less common than with other drug groups. The dose of a substance that can lead to an overdose is determined individually for each person depending on physiological characteristics, as well as other factors:

• Stage of the disease.
• Patient's age.
• Experience of using illegal drugs.
• Mental and physical characteristics.

IN difficult cases Cocaine overdose can be fatal. To avoid the disastrous consequences of careless drug use, at the first symptoms of overdose, the patient should be immediately taken to the toxicology department of the Salvation clinic or a team of narcologists should be called to their home. Any attempts to independently help a drug addict who has not calculated the dose of cocaine are useless. The sooner the patient’s relatives contact doctors, the higher the patient’s chances of survival.

First steps in case of suspected cocaine overdose

• calling an ambulance or transporting a drug addict to a clinic;
• providing the patient with a flow of fresh air (it will be enough to open the windows in the room, unbutton the top buttons on the patient’s clothes);
• usage ammonia to bring the drug addict to consciousness in case of fainting;
• artificial respiration and direct cardiac massage.

Before the ambulance team arrives, you need to constantly talk to the patient, preventing him from losing consciousness. When a person with a cocaine overdose is admitted to the Salvation clinic, the center’s specialists conduct active detoxification therapy with the patient.

Narcologists specializing in the treatment of cocaine addiction emphasize the futility of trying to get rid of the addiction at home. Only in a specialized medical institution do specialists have everything they need to provide patients with effective assistance and decent care.

In the inpatient clinic "Salvation" residents can expect:

• Attentive attitude of the staff.
• Anonymity.
• Personalized approach to treatment.
• Application effective drugs and modern techniques.
• Complex therapy.

The complexity of treating cocaine addicts directly depends on the stage of the disease and the person’s personal characteristics. Narcologists and psychologists at the Salvation Center have extensive experience in treating drug addiction and will be able to select effective motivation for recovery for each patient.

The practice of specialists proves that if you apply for timely medical care, drug addiction can be cured and is considered just a temporary diagnosis, not a sentence. After being discharged from the center, former drug addicts return to society healthy people ready to build successful relationships with society.

Cocaine is considered a rather insidious drug because it quickly causes psychological dependence. After the first time, a person wants to experience cocaine euphoria again, however, to achieve it, an increase in dosage is necessary. Each time, to achieve full cocaine intoxication, the dose increases and the duration of the effect decreases.

Consequences of taking cocaine

Cocaine, in accordance with the nature of its effects, is a powerful psychostimulant, so even with a single use, very dangerous consequences for the body develop. Cocaine has a negative effect on all organic structures: nervous system, cardiovascular structures, psyche, etc. Some cocaine effects appear immediately after use, others appear after a fairly long period of time. But regardless of the speed of manifestation, the outcome of the consequences is very sad.

The effect of the drug itself can be observed for 15-20 minutes, after which the cocaine addict is overcome by a depressive state that cannot be eliminated by anything other than a dose of cocaine, only in a larger volume. All consequences can be divided into psychological and physical.

Physical

Regular cocaine use leads to a sharp reduction in the vascular lumen, which causes a sudden increase in blood pressure. This drug has a negative effect on the general condition of the blood system.

As a result of such a serious blow to the cardiovascular system, consequences develop such as:

• Severe hypertension;
• Arrhythmias;
• Ventricular fibrillation;
• Vasoconstriction of coronary vessels;
• Accumulations of fluid in the lung tissues;
• Acute and extensive heart attack;
• Dissection of arterial and aortic walls;
• Hypertrophic changes in the heart muscle;
• Accelerated formation of atherosclerotic complications on vascular walls.

Other body systems also suffer from cocaine. Among the neurological consequences, headaches, seizures and seizures are especially pronounced. Long-term drug use causes various types of respiratory problems, chest pain, chronic cough and pulmonary pathologies. In addition, experienced cocaine addicts are bothered by chronic pain in the gastrointestinal tract, necrosis of gastrointestinal tissues, causeless nausea, etc. Among the consequences of cocaine addiction, experts name visual disturbances, frequent nosebleeds and loss of olfactory functions, chronic inflammation of the nasal passages.

The consequences of using cocaine together with alcohol are especially dangerous. Such a combination provokes the formation of cocaethylene, a very dangerous substance. It is when alcohol and cocaine are combined that most often causes death.

Psychological

As for the psychological consequences, after the first dose a person wants to repeat the cocaine effect, and after several uses a severe addiction is formed.

Among the first consequences, narcologists name:

1. Aggression towards loved ones and others;
2. Excessive irritability;
3. Sleep disorders, and if a cocaine addict manages to fall asleep, he is bothered by nightmares;
4. Causes cocaine and violent behavior;
5. The cocaine addict experiences hallucinosis, paranoid thoughts and behavior;
6. Feeling of unreasonable fear, panic attacks;
7. Acute psychosis in its most severe form;
8. Psychopathic-like personality changes;
9. Cocaine delirium;
10. Tactile hallucinations such as worms crawling under the skin, biting bugs, etc.

Addiction is quite difficult to treat and forms on psychological level, therefore, treatment, in addition to medications, involves long-term psychiatric rehabilitation.
Video shows the consequences of cocaine use:

Development of addiction

Is cocaine addictive? Once upon a time, doctors decided to use this substance for treatment because they believed that cocaine addiction was not so dangerous and much easier to tolerate. However, practice soon showed that addiction to cocaine use develops much more rapidly, and its consequences are much worse than previously thought. Even if you take cocaine occasionally, you still develop an addiction. This is harmful because addiction is predominantly mental in nature, so it is much more difficult to cope with it.

Cocaine addiction develops in several stages:

• The first stage is formed during the first 3-4 weeks with irregular use. The attraction to drugs is very pronounced and occurs fast formation tolerance and increase in daily dosage by increasing the frequency of administration.
• At the 2nd stage of cocaine addiction, the daily tolerance of the drug is up to 3 g. Intoxication does not cause the delight that was observed at the previous stage, while even under cocaine the addict retains aggression, rudeness, and anger. The need to take the next dose is uncontrollable, appetite and sleep are excluded, food is rejected by the body through vomiting;
• The third stage is characterized by a reduction in drug doses. There is no pleasure and euphoria after cocaine, the use of which is necessary to maintain previous life functions. The state of intoxication is characterized by the presence of clear signs of personal degradation: the drug addict repeats expressions, drawls out words, his speech is viscous and meaningless. At this stage, the cocaine addict stops using the drug because it doesn’t “get into him”; the meaning of use disappears, because cocaine only causes fear of death and paranoia.

In terms of the degree of mental stimulation, cocaine is equated to. How quickly addiction to cocaine develops depends on how the drug is used. Cocaine addiction develops most quickly through oral use, in other words, through the mouth by rubbing the powder into the gums. It takes a little longer for cocaine addiction to form when inhaled, and even longer when administered through a vein. Cocaine addiction takes the longest to develop by smoking the drug.

Overdose

Recognizing a cocaine addict can sometimes be quite difficult, especially when he uses the drug occasionally and in reasonable quantities. Outwardly, such people are no different from ordinary people, only more energetic and excited. However, knowing the symptoms of a cocaine overdose, it is quite possible to identify it and help the person in time.

Signs and symptoms

The lethal dose of cocaine, according to Freud, is prohibitively high, so it most likely does not exist. However, doctors determine the lethal dose of the drug to be 0.5-1 g.

As for the symptoms, an “overdose” is indicated by such signs as:

• Blueness of the skin;
• Convulsive contractions;
• Confusion;
• Drying of mucous membranes;
• Hyperthermia;
• Hypersweating, chills.

The blood vessels and the heart are the first to suffer from an overdose: the blood vessels narrow, coronary spasm occurs, which is fraught with heart failure. A sharp rise in pressure is also possible, which is dangerous due to internal vascular ruptures and bleeding, and ischemia or stroke is possible. There is a high probability of renal failure due to cocaine overdose, impaired consciousness, etc.

First aid

Initially, you need to call a doctor, because it is impossible to cope with a cocaine overdose on your own.

Cocaine poisoning is a rather dangerous condition, but timely measures taken to help the patient will help save his life:

1. It is necessary to attract the attention of the victim, try to switch it to yourself. To do this, you can try to rub the ears, slap the ears, or bring ammonia to the nose.
2. To make breathing easier, you need to free your chest and neck from constricting clothing, unbutton your collar, etc.;
3. It is strictly forbidden to allow the victim to fall asleep - distract him with conversation, ask him simple questions;
4. Watch your breathing; in case of a cocaine overdose, it may become irregular or stop. For better air intake, the drug addict's head must be thrown back.

If breathing is not restored, a pulse cannot be felt, and the cervical artery does not pulsate, then you can try to save the victim with artificial respiration and cardiac massage.

When you stop using the drug, cocaine withdrawal develops, which is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting syndrome, severe headaches, tachycardia and chills, musculoskeletal aches and pain. A feature of cocaine withdrawal is the presence of its mental aspect, which manifests itself much more intensely than the physical one. For many cocaine addicts, mental withdrawal remains an overwhelming and intolerable condition.

Cocaine addiction is accompanied by:

• Severe depression;
• Severe drowsiness and a tendency to solitude;
• Depression and lack of mood;
• The presence of delusional ideas and persecution mania;
• Suicidal thoughts, ideas, and sometimes actions;
• Constant search for a cocaine fix.

Practice shows that most people die during cocaine withdrawal due to suicide. To relieve symptoms, you need to consult a narcologist.

How to help the body

Since cocaine addicts suffer from insomnia, it is recommended to take sedatives in order to fall asleep. As for how to avoid depression after quitting a drug, only an experienced narcologist can help.

It is worth understanding that in the absence of sleep, depression worsens, the body becomes exhausted, not only physically, but also mentally. But it’s safer to contact a qualified narcologist; if necessary, you can anonymously.

Incredible consumption growth cocaine in all sectors of society began in the 1960s. He attracted attention when the drug played main role in the Hollywood blockbuster Easy Rider. It became a super popular drug and there was an explosion in demand, causing an increase in supplies from South America. International supply chains were formed and the names of drug cartels became common knowledge. The biggest drug lord of them all, Pablo Escobar, was one of the richest men in the world, earning millions of dollars every day.

Since Escobar's time, the cocaine business has expanded its product range. Now it is cocaine for any budget. This stuff costs £40 per gram. You can easily see the difference because it is powdery, while coke which one is worth? 80 grams, it's crystalline, you can even see a little sparkle. You just chop it up. This is good stuff, you can taste the difference. This cheap material, it makes my nose hurt a little. This coke doesn't hurt your nose at all, it goes on nice and smooth.

Why is cocaine harmful?

Inhaling too much of any type of coke can damage your nose. The mucous membrane inside the nostrils is affected, causing the blood vessels to shrink and clot, depriving the surrounding tissue of blood and oxygen supply. Eventually, the tissue weakens and dies. This can cause a perforation to form in the nose. Surgery is often required to treat these injuries. Consultant surgeon Sandeep Paun is a leading specialist in nasal reconstruction. As a result of regular use cocaine, his patient developed a hole in his nose. He wished to remain anonymous. Today we are going to perform surgery to repair a perforation in your nasal septum. When was the last time you did this? I do it regularly last time six months ago. OK. There is no guarantee that we will be able to completely close the perforation. After consumption cocaine, the operation to close the perforation of the septum is quite difficult

The destructive power of cocaine

I only found out about the hole when I went to the doctor and he pulled blood clots out of my nose that were covering the hole, which looked really scary. And it was all his fault cocaine, drug. When you look at Daniella Westbrook, as soon as you see her, you will understand what happened to her, her nose has actually collapsed and the worst thing is that it can happen to you. During the operation, the patient's nose will be cut and divided into two parts. The picture is very illustrative. We'll just look into this gentleman's nose now. We move in through the nostrils, here internal view. We can see this hole on the front wall. In fact, this is a relatively small hole for a patient who is abusing cocaine It should be much bigger. Often these holes progress well beyond the size we see here. Knife please. Sometimes when you get the strip done, you will experience a very strong, unbearable burning sensation from the very beginning of your nose to the back of your throat, very painful. The next day, you wake up with blood clots and you're actually blowing bits of your nose out.

Harm from drug use

For chronic abuse cocaine, the perforation gets bigger and bigger, and the cartilage gets weaker and weaker because it doesn't have enough support. Top part The nose begins to deteriorate, and one can eventually acquire a boxer's appearance. Scissors please. I have had patients whose entire nasal septum was destroyed. They had one nasal cavity, and everything just fell inside. I smelled coke every day. You don't worry when you do it. But then, the nose hurts terribly when it comes out of the nose there's blood coming out you regret doing this.. So we see inside the nose, the mucous membrane, on the one hand, you can see a hole in the membrane, at first the cocaine creates a hole in the membrane, not in the cartilage, but then it eats away the cartilage and eventually , forms a through hole.

About coke

Cocaine often mixed with all sorts of contaminants, including baking soda, glucose and, in worst cases, even talc, which can lead to an intense inflammatory reaction. This inflammation can cause tissue in the nose to die even faster. Ironically, Mr. Pown uses cocaine to stop the patient's bleeding. Patients don't inhale it beforehand, we give them a small amount in liquid form. I'm simply cutting out a small piece of cartilage from the back of the nasal septum, which we're then going to insert into the front. A little bit of cartilage will close the hole. So you can see here that the shell was completely closed where the hole was. If we look from the other side, there is no hole there now either. I carry out quite a lot of nose surgery in London. There's a lot of money floating around here. About once every few weeks, I see a patient who has problems related to their use. cocaine.

According to the Ministry of Health, in Russia “only” 58 people are addicted to cocaine - a hundredth of the number of registered drug addicts. And in society, “coke” is sometimes perceived as something frivolous, a kind of “fun for the elite.” However, this "frivolous" drug has the same effects on the brain as Alzheimer's disease. What is the harm of cocaine and how to find out if you are using it close person or not?

Text: Galina Diomidova

What is cocaine today

Cocaine is a drug in the form white powder or small crystals (aka crack). Most often, cocaine is inhaled through the nose, but hardcore drug addicts dissolve the powder and inject it through a vein into the blood. Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs, as it acts directly on the brain receptors and very quickly causes an addictive effect. It is because of this that it is necessary to constantly increase the frequency of administration and dosage. Cocaine use leads to death from respiratory failure, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage and heart attack.

Voted the best bass player of all time John Entwistle from the legendary group The Who, died of a heart attack caused by cocaine... Famous German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder died of a cocaine overdose when he was not yet 40 years old.... Singer Whitney Houston, suffering from heart failure, accidentally drowned in the bathtub in 2012, as pathologists later established...

But this is already the finale. And in the interval between the first dose and the sad outcome there is a time of suffering for the addict’s loved ones and his own ordeals.

In slang, cocaine is called: coke, coconut, Aunt Nora, ball, frost, refined sugar, coke, si, Charlie, coca, dust, loose, plague, sniffer, paradise, sneeze, sniff, snow, fun, white.

Cocaine and teenagers

The drug trade brings enormous profits. According to statistics from the State Drug Control Service, Russians spend about 10 billion dollars annually on the purchase of cocaine and other psychostimulants. Therefore, we can assume that there are many more cocaine addicts than are registered with the Ministry of Health.

Teenagers are the most fertile audience for the distribution of forbidden powder. The desire to “become cool”, “to be no worse than others”, “to try what it’s like” - these are the main reasons that encourage children to take up drugs. But teenagers also have internal problems of growth, their own sorrows and sorrows, their own problems that in their opinion are insoluble... And drug dealers are already right there. They will “help” and “lift your spirits” and “turn your life into an endless party.”

According to experts from Drug Free City, the most vulnerable to drug traffickers are:

1. Boys 10-16 years old, whose parents divorced and their mother has a new man.

2. Girls who are in love with drug addicts or drug dealers, who get them hooked on drugs.

Why do people take drugs

To keep up with others

To relax and disconnect

To cope with boredom

To look more mature

As a protest

To try

People think that drugs will alleviate, or even solve, all problems. But over time, the drug itself becomes a problem, and a much more serious one.

What should your family and friends be wary of?

Lie. To get money for a dose, a drug addict is forced to lie and get out all the time, piling up mountains of the most fantastic lies. Life forces him to be good psychologist, and he knows that the bolder the lie and the more naive the facial expression, the greater the chance that they will believe him and give him money.

Circle of friends. The drug addict makes new friends who experience chronic lack of money. Things start disappearing from the house.

What does a new drug addict experience?

1. Euphoria, his mood suddenly improves for no apparent reason. He becomes overly sociable and talkative. Talkativeness leads to the fact that a person voluntarily tells others about things that in his right mind he would prefer to keep silent about.

2.A surge of energy. A drug addict who is high has the feeling that he is about to fly away. I don't feel like sleeping at all. His physical capabilities seem limitless. However, experiments have shown that under the influence of cocaine, coordination of movements is sharply reduced. Hence falls and other life-threatening troubles.

3.Increasing mental activity. It seems to a person that all his abilities have been revealed, his memory has improved, and his ability to make decisions has sharpened. When the intoxication wears off, it turns out that the supposedly acquired knowledge has disappeared somewhere, and in general the person has done a lot of stupid things.

4.Excessive self-confidence. A weak-willed person thinks that everything he does is right. Fortunately, work started while under the influence of drugs is never completed. And thank God, because it is rarely reasonable. Excessive self-confidence in this case is similar to delusions of one’s own grandeur and does not allow for a critical attitude towards one’s own actions.

5.Strengthening sensory perception. The world is full of colors, sounds, smells. Like any psychostimulant, cocaine increases skin sensitivity. Therefore, a drug addict very often experiences skin hallucinations - goosebumps and “worms crawling under the skin.” At some stage, under the influence of the drug, a person may scratch himself until he bleeds in order to get rid of this “scratching and tickling.” The same happens with the other senses. At first, a person sees something that is not what it is, mistaking, for example, a toothbrush for a knife, or a stranger for a close relative. And then it comes to hallucinations, when knives and killers seem everywhere

6. Excitability and imbalance. Having taken coke, the drug addict is in an elated, blissful state, which can instantly give way to irritation and aggression. Drug addicts themselves say that it is better not to touch a cocaine addict who is “high.” He can give a completely inadequate aggressive reaction.

7. The need to repeat the experience of intoxication. First one dose, then another, then another and another... But it is important to understand that a person can get the full range of pleasure only when using cocaine for the first time. The desire to repeat it leads to an increase in the dose and frequency of taking the drug. This is one of the main mechanisms of mental dependence.

Sign of cocaine addiction

It is possible that using cocaine once or twice will not lead to addiction. Some consumers even claim that you can use “coke” all your life and not be addicted. However, according to narcologists, addiction begins much earlier than the stage when the cocaine addict begins to skip work and, in order to earn money for a dose, sell things from home and steal. When cocaine begins to occupy the main place in a person’s thoughts, when he builds all his plans (for the evening or for vacation) around the drug, this is the main sign of addiction.

How dangerous is cocaine?

Cocaine and other drugs are essentially poisons. The effect of a drug is determined by its quantity. A tiny dose accelerates the processes occurring in the body and stimulates them. A slightly larger dose slows down and calms down. A little more - and the dose can kill.

But there is another problem. Cocaine directly affects the mind, distorting the perception of the world around us. As a result, human actions become inadequate, irrational, meaningless and even destructive.

As it turned out, the brain structure of cocaine addicts is different from the brain of ordinary people, in particular, the reduced size of the cerebellar tonsil. This "miniature" influences their ability to analyze possible consequences of your actions. By the way, scientists also found similar deviations in people suffering from manic depression and Alzheimer's disease.

Consequences of cocaine use

Loss of appetite

Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, temperature

Constriction of blood vessels

Dilated pupils

Restless sleep

Nausea

Overexcitement

Strange, erratic, sometimes dangerous behavior

Hallucinations, overexcitement, irritability

Tactile hallucinations (worms crawling under the skin)

Euphoria (extremely cheerful attitude towards the world around you)

Painful anxiety, suspicion, fear

Depression

Strong need for a new dose of drug

Panic, psychosis

An overdose, even a single one, can lead to convulsions, respiratory arrest, and unexpected death.

Side effects and long-term consequences

Irreversible damage to the blood vessels of the heart and brain

Cocaine, an expensive way to get high, has its own secret. Dubbed the "caviar of street drugs," cocaine is regarded as a status drug used by celebrities, models and Wall Street entrepreneurs. Films and books have extensively covered the production and use of cocaine.

In reality, after the euphoria comes the severe consequences of cocaine use. Cocaine has powerful negative effects on the heart, brain and emotional sphere. Many people who use cocaine become addicted with long-term and life-threatening consequences and must undergo drug treatment. Even casual use of cocaine carries risks sudden death associated with its use. Below you will read the unvarnished truth about cocaine and its consequences.

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Coca, Cocaine and Crack

Cocaine is a purified extract from the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca bush. This plant grows in the Andes region in South America. Different chemical processes produce two main forms of cocaine:

Dry cocaine - commonly known as "coca" or "blow" - dissolves in water. Users can snort or inject powder cocaine.

Crack cocaine - known as "crack" or "crystal" - is produced through a chemical process that leaves behind purified cocaine that can be smoked.

About 14% of US adults have tried cocaine. One in 40 adults used it in the past year. Young people aged 18 to 25 are the main users of cocaine, with 8% having used it in the previous 12 months.

Cocaine: Anatomy of Euphoria

Smoking or injecting cocaine produces an almost immediate effect. The rapid absorption by the nasal tissues makes snorting cocaine almost as effective. Regardless of the method of administration, cocaine quickly enters the bloodstream and penetrates the brain.

In the brain, cocaine affects chemical messengers—neurotransmitters—used to connect nerves to each other. Cocaine blocks the absorption of norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters. The resulting chemical formations between the nerves cause euphoria, or a feeling of “high.”

What's so appealing about being high on cocaine? People who use cocaine often describe the feeling of euphoria as follows:

• increasing feeling of energy and alertness
• extremely high spirits
• Feeling superior

On the other hand, some people describe other feeling notes along with the high:

• irritability
• paranoia
• restlessness
• anxiety

Signs of cocaine include:

• dilated pupils
• high levels of energy and activity
• excited, violent speech

Cocaine's immediate effects wear off in 30 minutes to two hours. Smoking or injecting cocaine results in a faster and shorter high, compared to snorting coke.

Physiological effects of cocaine

Cocaine produces powerful highs by affecting the brain. But just as cocaine passes through the bloodstream, it affects the entire body.

Cocaine is responsible for more US emergency room visits than any other illegal drug. Cocaine damages the brain, heart, blood vessels, lungs - and can even cause sudden death. Here's what happens in the body:

Heart. Cocaine is bad for the heart. Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure by narrowing the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The result can be a heart attack, even in young people without heart disease. Cocaine can also cause a fatal heart rhythm disorder called arrhythmia.

Brain. Cocaine can constrict blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes. This can happen even in young people who have no other risk factors for stroke. Cocaine causes seizures and may lead to strange or aggressive behavior.

Lungs and airways. Snorting cocaine damages the nose and sinuses. Regular use may cause nasal perforation. Smoking crack cocaine irritates the lungs and, in some people, causes permanent lung damage.

Gastrointestinal tract. Cocaine constricts the blood vessels supplying the intestines. As a result, oxygen starvation can cause ulcers and even perforation of the stomach or intestines.

Kidneys. Cocaine can cause sudden, overwhelming kidney failure through a process called rhabdomyolysis. In people with high blood pressure, regular use of cocaine may accelerate long-term kidney damage caused by high blood pressure.

Sexual function. Although cocaine has a reputation as an aphrodisiac, it may actually make you less able to finish what you start. Chronic cocaine use can lead to decreased sexual function in men and women. In men, cocaine can cause delayed or impaired ejaculation.

Cocaine: Psychological Effects and Addiction

Cocaine acts in deep areas of the brain. It is in these areas that reward us for "good behavior" - those activities that lead to food, sex, and healthy pleasures. Stimulating this area of ​​the brain with cocaine feels good. And this can create a powerful craving to use more cocaine. Repeated use of cocaine leads to tolerance (that is, higher doses required to achieve the same effect), dependence, and addiction.

There is no "safe" frequency of cocaine use. It is impossible to predict whether a person will become physically or psychologically dependent on cocaine.

After using cocaine regularly over a long period of time, addiction develops. When addiction is present, stopping cocaine suddenly leads to withdrawal. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms are more psychological than physiological. Typically, cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

• depression and anxiety
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• inability to experience pleasure
• increase cravings for cocaine
• physical symptoms including aches, pain, shaking, and chills

Withdrawal of cocaine from the body is rarely accompanied by serious consequences. For some people, withdrawal from cocaine can cause suicidal thoughts. Typically, withdrawal symptoms from cocaine addiction subside within one to two weeks. However, intense cocaine cravings may return, even years after your last use.