Over nine percent of Americans admit to abusing drugs, such as
marijuana, psychotherapeutics, hallucinogens, and cocaine
(www.drugabuse.gov). Drugs have been a great constituent in American
society since the first English colony of America was founded in 1606.
Now drugs play an enormous role in the nation’s economy. People also
started to abuse drugs for the effect of the substances caused on the brain
(www.schmoop.com/drugs-america/). A very popular drug in America is
cocaine, a drug that is widely used for its producing of euphoric feelings,
loquaciousness, and vivacity. Cocaine is a very powerful drug that has
an extensive and interesting history.
Cocaine is usually a white powdered substance. It can also be
found in
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The price range varies depending on the
quality of the drug the user is purchasing. There are several street names
used for cocaine. There are more commonly known names such as coke
and sniff. There are also names like Aunt Nora and Toot. Cocaine is
used to get an intense high. It can be smoked, snorted, or injected.
Injection or smoking it causes almost immediate effects. It also causes a
rush of energy and I feeling of motivation to do certain things. Cocaine
was first used about three thousand years before the birth of Christ. It
was chewed by the Incas in the form of cocoa leaves. The Peruvian
natives chewed cocoa leaves during religious ceremonies. In recent
years, Peru became the country that produces the most cocaine by
passing up Columbia.
Cocaine causes a brief, exhilarating high, and when finished, the
user feels quite the contrary. They become jittery, on edge, and long for
the next dose of “blow”. It causes increased heart rate and often causes
convulsions and spasms. The user most likely will experience paranoia,
anxiety, hostility, and anger. The effects of using cocaine are very
repercussive. There can be permanent damage to the blood vessels of
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Placental abruption can be
incited as well, causing bleeding which may be fatal to the baby and
mother. Because cocaine Is so highly addictive, a full recovery is very
hard to accomplish; however full recovery is possible.
The chemical formula for cocaine is: C17H21NO4. Cocaine
affects the brain in several different ways. Cocaine increases levels of
dopamine in the brain, preventing it from being recycled naturally. This
also causes dopamine to be built up in the synapse, disrupting brain
communication. With long term use, the brain’s reward system is
damaged along with other brain functions which can lead to addiction,
depression, tiredness, empathy, and minor hallucinations.
As of today, no FDA- approved treatments are readily available for
cocaine. There are; however, some treatments such as vigabatrin,
modafinil, tiagabine, disulfiram, and topiramate that help improve the
condition of the addict’s well being. Interventions are also an effective
way of treating cocaine addicts.
Cocaine is and has been one of the most popular drugs in the