Effects of Cocaine :: Papers

Effects of Cocaine Physical effects of cocaine use include constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. The duration of cocaine’s immediate euphoric effects, which include hyper-stimulation and mental clarity, is dependent on the route of administration. The faster the cocaine is absorbed, the more intense the high and the shorter the duration of action. The ‘high’ from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, whilst that from smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Increased use can reduce the period of stimulation. This euphoria is followed by depression and craving for more of the drug. Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. There is no way to determine who is prone to sudden death. Short-term physiological effects include raised hear rate, hyperactivity and restlessness. Blood pressure of the user is also increased and the pupils dilate. There is a great risk associated with cocaine use whether the drug is snorted, injected or smoked. Prolonged cocaine snorting can result in ulceration of the mucous membranes of the nose and can damage the nasal septum enough to cause it to collapse. The injecting drug user is at risk for transmitting or acquiring HIV infection/AIDS if needles or other injection equipment are shared. Hepatitis is another danger from the use of needles to inject cocaine. Cocaine smokers suffer from acute respiratory problems including coughing, shortness of breath, and severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding. In addition, it appears that compulsive cocaine use may develop even more rapidly if the substance is smoked rather than snorted. Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that interferes with the reabsorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with pleasure and movement. Dopamine is released as part of the brain’s reward system and is involved in the high that characterizes cocaine consumption. An appreciable tolerance to the