Cocaine is created from the cocoa plant which is native to the South American continent. And though governments have allowed healthcare service providers to use it under certain medical conditions, the manufacturing and supply of cocaine to the general public re strictly prohibited. Yet this addictive drug has found a large market across the world.
It is estimated that more than one-third of all drug-related emergency hospital visits involve cocaine abuse. Up to 6000 people die every year in the US because of being addicted to this drug. The use has also spread to teenagers, with various reports suggesting that more than 2% of US 12th graders could already have used cocaine. Given such alarming statistics, it is essential to know everything one can about cocaine use so as to protect themselves and their family from it.
- Cocaine Supply
Since cocaine is illegal for public use, people will have to buy it from smugglers. And these criminals don’t often sell the cocaine as it is. Instead, they mix cocaine with other ingredients in order to avoid detection. Common ingredients that are mixed with cocaine include baking soda, talcum powder, cornstarch, sugar, flour, boric acid etc. So, if you see that a family member has been storing any of these things at secretive locations in their room, then there is a possibility that it contains cocaine.
- Cocaine Intake
There are many ways to use cocaine. A popular way is to snort cocaine powder through the nose. Some people rub the powder into their gums and let it slowly dissolve in their mouth. People also use intravenous methods to inject cocaine into their blood. Some people heat up the cocaine crystal and inhale the vapors to get their ‘high’. There are also drug addicts who often combine cocaine with heroin. Usually, people take cocaine in a binge. And though the quantity will be lower initially, people increase the dosage after regular use.
- Effects Of Cocaine
In the short-term, cocaine users might look extremely happy and highly energetic. They can have a hypersensitivity to any sound or sight. They can become paranoid and start distrusting even their closest friends or relatives due to the smallest of disagreements. Such people also tend to be highly irritable and may also be prone to very violent behaviors. During work, they can appear very quick with their task. Cocaine addicts can also have a very rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, increased body temperature and dilated pupils. They might also feel random twitches in their muscles.
Over the long-term, cocaine addicts will lose their sense of smell if they have been snorting the powder. Plus, nosebleeds and difficulty in swallowing can also develop. If they have been consuming the cocaine through the mouth, then they will likely experience extreme bowel decay because of the decreased blood flow. And if they have been injecting the cocaine for very long, then they are at very high risk of contracting hepatitis C and HIV in case they have been sharing the needles with other cocaine users. If you feel that one of your family members is addicted to cocaine, then you should take immediate steps to enroll them in a good rehabilitation center. Check out https://whitesandstreatment.com/locations/florida/tampa-drug-treatment-center/ for a reputed rehab facility.
- Overdosing On Cocaine
A drug overdose takes place when the user consumes too much of a drug that causes an immediate toxic reaction. Many cocaine users tend to overdose because of their huge addiction to the drug. One can easily die due to an overdose of cocaine. And this can happen to either a first-time user or someone using the cocaine for the hundredth time. Some people use cocaine with other drugs or dangerous substances which can increase the likelihood of an overdose. Anyone who overdoses on cocaine usually has a heart attack, seizure, or stroke. When an overdosed cocaine user is admitted to a hospital, the doctors will typically look to restoring blood flow to the brain and heart.
- Treatment
Cocaine addicts are usually treated with medications and behavioral therapies. Even though there have been no medications for cocaine addicts that have been approved by the government, medicines used to treat other conditions are often administered to cocaine addicts. Disulfiram, a drug used for the treatment of alcoholism, is one such medication given to cocaine users. In addition, a medicine used to treat obesity, called Lorcaserin, is also offered to people addicted to cocaine. Behavioral therapies include programmes aimed at modifying the behavior of a cocaine addict so that to make them mentally block out any thoughts of consuming the drug.
