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Hannah Pettersson

Section 401

Ibarra

Sep 14, 2017

NIDA Cocaine

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from leaves of the coca plant native

to South America. Street dealers often mix it with things like cornstarch, talcum powder, or flour

to increase profits. They also mix it with other drugs such as the stimulant amphetamine. People

snort cocaine powder through the nose, or rub it into their gums. Others dissolve it in water and

inject it or inject a combination of cocaine and heroin, called a speedball. Another method of use

is to smoke Crack cocaine. Cocaine increases levels of natural chemical messenger dopamine in

brain circuits controlling pleasure and movement. This increase in dopamine disrupts normal

brain communication and causes the cocaine high. Popular nicknames for cocaine include: blow,

coke, crack, rock, and snow.

Some short-term effects include: constricted blood vessels, nausea, increase heartbeat,

extreme happiness and energy, irritability, and paranoia. Some long-term effects include:

nosebleeds, severe bowel decay, higher risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood-

borne diseases, malnourishment, restlessness, and severe paranoia with auditory hallucinations.

A person can overdose on cocaine, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, seizures, or death.

First responders and emergency room doctors try to treat overdose by treating these conditions,

with intent of: restoring blood flow to the heart, restoring oxygen-rich blood supply to the affect

part of the brain, and stopping the seizures. Behavioral therapy may be used to treat cocaine

Source:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
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addiction. Some examples include: cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management, or

motivational incentives- providing rewards to patients who remain substance free, and

therapeutic communities- drug-free residences in which people in recovery from substance use

disorders help each other to understand and change their behaviors. While no government-

approved medicines are currently available to treat cocaine addiction, researchers are testing

some treatments.

Citation

NIDA. "Cocaine." National Institute on Drug Abuse, , https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-
abuse/cocaine. Accessed 19 Sep. 2017.

Source:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine