Although cocaine has gained notoriety fairly recently, the drug has been used for thousands of years.  Cocaine’s stimulant properties have influenced people in the past to use the substance in patented medicines.  It was once even used in a popular soft drink.  Cocaine’s highly addictive qualities and users’ willingness to pay high prices for it have made it a subject well-known by the public.  The crime and violence connected with the transportation and sale of cocaine, and the famousness of some of its users, has kept it in the news.

Cocaine is an alkaloid which is extracted from the leaves of the South American coca plant.  It is a powerful psychostimulant which induces a sense of exhilaration in the user primarily by blocking the reuptake of dopamine in the brain.  In pure form, cocaine is a white crystalline powder.  On the street, the drug is cut with other substances to increase the quantity and make more money for its sellers.  

Cocaine powder is most often inhaled through the nose, where it is promptly absorbed into the bloodstream.  The drug can also be heated and transformed into a liquid.  The fumes are then inhaled through a pipe, a method called freebasing.  A form of the drug, called crack, is also freebased.  Crack looks like small pieces of rock and is often called rock on the street.  Freebasing is a dangerous method of abusing cocaine due to the high concentration of cocaine it sends into the bloodstream, which can overburden the cardiovascular system.  It has been reported that people have suddenly died while freebasing. 

Cocaine is highly addictive, particularly in its crack form.  In lab studies, animals addicted to the drug preferred it to food.  Many users report getting hooked after using cocaine only one time.  Addiction to cocaine is both psychological and physical. 

Symptoms

            Users generally feel an initial rush, a sense of well-being, greater energy, and more alertness.  The effect quickly wears off, leaving the user feeling down or depressed.  The down feeling can lead the person to use more cocaine just to feel normal.  Over time, more cocaine is needed to achieve a high and the down feeling can become chronic.  Addicts frequently use other drugs to relieve the down feeling if they cannot obtain cocaine.  This can lead to greater problems since the combination of drugs can prove to be more deadly than using only one drug.    

            It is a popular myth that cocaine enhances performance on the job, at school, in sports, or with a sexual partner.  In fact, long-term use can cause loss of concentration, loss of memory, irritability, loss of energy, paranoia, anxiety, and loss of libido.  Cocaine’s controlling effect can actually lead an addict to exclude all facets of life other than obtaining and using the drug.  A cocaine habit can cost thousands of dollars a week to sustain. 

Drug Testing

            Drug testing for cocaine is designed to detect the presence of its major metabolite, benzoylecgonine.  This substance can be detected in the urine for up to five days in casual users.  In chronic users, detection is possible for up to three weeks. 

Physical Effects

            Use of cocaine can cause some or all of the following physical effects:

·        Constricted blood vessels

·        Dilated pupils

·        Increased temperature

·        Increased heart rate

·        Increased blood pressure

·        Respiratory failure

·        Heart attacks

·        Chest pain

·        Seizures

·        Stroke

·        Headache

·        Gastrointestinal complications

·        Malnourishment

·        Nosebleeds

·        Loss of sense of smell

·        Hoarseness

·        Problems with swallowing

·        Chronically runny nose

·        Bowel gangrene

·        Risk of contracting HIV (from injecting)

·        Risk of addiction

·        Risk of death

Psychological Effects

            Some or all of the following psychological effects can be caused by use of cocaine:

·        Hyper stimulation

·        Increased energy

·        Increased mental clarity

·        Feelings of restlessness

·        Anxiety

·        Irritability

·        Paranoia

·        Psychosis (loss of touch with reality; auditory hallucinations)

·        Risk of addiction

·        Symptoms similar to alcohol intoxication

·        Interference with growth and development hormones in adolescents

Withdrawal  

Breaking a cocaine habit is very difficult and varies from person to person.  Treatment can be expensive and the craving for the drug may persist for a long time. 

Treatment

            The National Institute on Drug Abuse is currently investigating several medications that might be safely and effectively used in treating cocaine addiction.  In addition, behavioral interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can be effective in treating drug dependency by patients in treatment for cocaine abuse.  The best combination of these treatments is critical to successfully treating each individual. 

To visit our drug testing products on-line store, CLICK HERE, Please!