Cocaine is not a commonly used drug so many people do not know how serious the affects are or what to look for in someone who is using this drug. Unfortunately, for me it took witnessing a friend who went through the side effects of cocaine to want to find out more information about it. I knew the drug was bad for you but I had never been exposed to it to actually see the medical consequences. Some of the most frequent complications are cardiovascular effects, including disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks; respiratory effects such as chest pain and respiratory failure; neurological effects, including strokes, seizures, and headaches; and gastrointestinal complications, including abdominal pain and nausea. The long-term effects of cocaine lead to addiction, irritability and mood disturbances, restlessness, paranoia, and auditory hallucinations. If you are good friends with the user, I know firsthand that the long-term effects are easy to spot. You definitely notice something is different, even if you do not know the cause of the personality change right away. Sadly, cocaine is a hard drug to get away from. Recent studies have shown that, during periods of abstinence from cocaine use, the memory of the euphoria associated with cocaine use, or mere exposure to cues associated with drug use, can trigger tremendous craving and relapse to drug use, even after long periods of abstinence. If you suspect someone is using cocaine here are some signs to look for:
Red, bloodshot eyes
A runny nose or frequently sniffing
A change in eating or sleeping patterns
A change in groups of friends
A change in school grades or behavior
Acting withdrawn, depressed, tired, or careless about personal appearance
Losing interest in school, family, or activities he or she used to enjoy
Frequently needing money
Some important facts you should know about cocaine are:
· Cocaine affects your brain. It is made from the coca plant and causes a short-lived high that is immediately followed by opposite, intense feelings of depression, edginess, and a craving for more of the drug.
· Cocaine affects your body. People who use cocaine often don't eat or sleep regularly. They can experience increased heart rate, muscle spasms, and convulsions. If they snort cocaine, they can also permanently damage their nasal tissue.
· Cocaine affects your emotions. Using cocaine can make you feel paranoid, angry, hostile, and anxious, even when you are not high.
· Cocaine is addictive. Cocaine interferes with the way your brain processes chemicals that create feelings of pleasure, so you need more and more of the drug just to feel normal. People who become addicted to cocaine start to lose interest in other areas of their life, like school, friends, and sports.
· Cocaine can kill you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpGtgZw5Z_U
2 comments:
This is a scary topic. I had a friend who did coke and she was a diabetic. It was affecting her eating patterns so it caused her to become very sick. Doctors told her she might lose a kidney and could go into a coma if she didn't start eating right. I know how dangerous this drug can be. Good topic.
I know several people who have been negatively affected by this powerful drug. It must be considered, as you mentioned, that in excessive amounts the drug can potentially kill you. In many cases, people use the drug when drinking as well. Mixing the depressant properties of alcohol and the stimulant properties of cocaine can be very taxing on the cardiovascular system. Not to mention, it is a relatively expensive and highly addictive drug that people waste endless amounts money on just to get high.
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