Because I am addicted to Cocaine/Crack...

Signs Someone is Addicted to Cocaine or Crack

Overview

Cocaine is an intense, euphoria-producing stimulant drug with strong addictive potential.

Street Names

Coca, Coke, Powder, Crack, Flake, Snow, Soda Cot

Looks Like

Cocaine is usually distributed as a white, crystalline powder. Cocaine is often diluted ("cut") with a variety of substances, the most common being sugars and local anesthetics.

Cocaine is "cut" to stretch the amount of the product and increase profits for dealers. In contrast, cocaine base (crack) looks like small, irregularly shaped chunks (or "rocks") of a whitish solid.

Methods of Abuse

Powdered cocaine can be snorted or injected into the veins after dissolving in water. Cocaine base (crack) is smoked,either alone or on marijuana or tobacco. Cocaine is also abused in combination with an opiate, like heroin, a practice known as "speedballing."

Although injecting into veins or muscles, snorting, and smoking are the common ways ofusing cocaine, all mucous membranes readily absorb cocaine. Cocaine users typically binge on the drug until they are exhausted or run out of cocaine.

Affect on Mind

The intensity of cocaine’s euphoric effects depends on how quickly the drug reaches the brain, which depends on thedose and method of abuse. Following smoking or intravenous injection, cocaine reaches the brain in seconds, with a rapid buildup in levels. This results in a rapid-onset, intense euphoric effect known as a “rush.”

By contrast, theeuphoria caused by snorting cocaine is less intense and does not happen as quickly due to the slower build-up of the drug in the brain. Other effects include increased alertness and excitation, as well as restlessness, irritability, andanxiety in some users. Tolerance to cocaine’s effects develops rapidly, causing users to take higher and higher doses.

Taking high doses of cocaine or prolonged use, such as binging, usually causes paranoia. The crash that follows euphoria is characterized by mental and physical exhaustion, sleep, and depression lasting several days. Following the crash, users experience a craving to use cocaine again.

Affect on Body

Physiological effects of cocaine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, dilated pupils, insomnia and loss of appetite. The widespread abuse of highly pure street cocaine has led to many severe adverse health consequences such as cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart conditions, sudden cardiac arrest, convulsions, strokes and death. In some users, the long-term use of inhaled cocaine has led to a unique respiratory syndrome, and chronic snorting of cocaine has led to the erosion of the upper nasal cavity.

Drugs Causing Similar Effects

Other stimulants, such as methamphetamine, cause effects similar to cocaine that vary mainly in degree.

Overdose Effects

Overdose effects include agitation, increased body temperature, hallucinations, convulsions and possible death.

Legal Status in the United States

Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and limited medical usage. Cocaine some users, the long-term use of inhaled cocaine has led to a unique respiratory syndrome, and chronic snorting of cocaine has led to the erosion of the upper nasal cavity.

Common Places of Origin

Cocaine is derived from coca leaves grown in Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia. The cocaine manufacturing process takes place in remote jungle labs where the raw product undergoes a series of chemical transformations. Colombia produces about 90% of the cocaine powder reaching the United States. According to the 2005 Colombia Threat Assessment, 90% of the cocaine shipped to the United States comes from the Central America-Mexico corridor.