Cocaine (coke)
What is it?
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that can make you feel more alert, energetic and confident when you take it. It does this by increasing your heart rate, body temperature and your breathing rate. It usually comes in a white crystalline powder and is often snorted. It can also be swallowed in a cigarette paper (bombed) or injected into a vein. The purity of cocaine varies widely, which can make it difficult to judge the dose.
Short-term effects
The effects depend on how much is consumed. Individual factors such as body weight, gender, the strength of the drug, mood, physical and mental health, how you take it, where you take it and whether or not it is mixed with other drugs including alcohol also have an impact.
As with any drug, users should test the strength of it by using a small amount first.
Cocaine is a stimulant drug which means it increases the heart rate and respiration. It also constricts the blood vessels (narrows them).
Cocaine creates feelings of euphoria and makes the user feel more alert and focused. It can also increase the sex drive, decrease the appetite and increase aggression and paranoia.
Cocaine use can also result in an increased risk of a heart attack or a stroke, mainly due to the constriction of blood vessels and rapid heart rate. It can be particularly risky if mixed with alcohol. This creates a new drug in the body, cocaethylene, which is very toxic to the liver.
Long-term effects
Long-term use of cocaine can result in physical and psychological dependence. There is also a risk of vein damage or contracting HIV/hepatitis C if cocaine is injected. This is increased if injecting equipment and paraphernalia are shared. Heavy cocaine use may also result in psychosis – experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations.
Prolonged use may also result in a loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness and an overall irritation of the nasal septum, which could result in a chronically inflamed, runny nose.
Ingested cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene, due to reduced blood flow.
Weight loss and malnourishment can also occur due to a reduction in appetite.
Harm reduction
If you are determined to inject, snort or smoke drugs, never share needles or paraphernalia such as spoons, water, filters, straws, bank notes, tooters or pipes with anyone – even if the person is your partner. This will reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis B, C and HIV.
Rotate your injecting sites to minimise vein damage and always use sterile needles and paraphernalia as this will reduce the risk of infection.
If you snort drugs always clean your nasal passage out to reduce the damage to your nose. Dissolve a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, pour a little of the salt water over your pinched thumb and forefinger and gently sniff it so that the warm spray spreads over the inside of your nose. Do this before and after each session. You can also lubricate your nose with Vitamin E oil every few days.
Avoid using heroin to make your comedown from cocaine easier as this could lead to a heroin addiction.
Avoid combining alcohol with cocaine/crack as it produces a substance called cocaethylene which is toxic to the liver.
The law
Cocaine is a Class A drug.
Penalties for possession are up to 7 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. Supplying cocaine holds penalties of up to life in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
Driving while under the influence of drugs is against the law and can lead to a heavy fine, disqualification from driving and even a prison sentence in some cases.
If you are convicted of a drug-related offence it can stop you travelling to certain countries and affect the types of jobs you can apply for.
If you are using cocaine (or any other substances), are worried about someone else’s use or would just like to know more, please contact us for more information
