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Drug Name: Cocaine
Slang Names: C, Coke, Blow, Crack, Stardust, Snow, Rock, Nose Candy, White Lady, Toot, Charlie, White Dust
Scientific Name: Benzoyl-methyl-ecgonine
Classification: Schedule II, CNS stimulant (central nervous system) - control over the functions of the body and mind

Works Cited:
“Cocaine.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/cocaine#section=Safety-and-Hazards.

“DEA / Drug Scheduling.” DEA.gov / Statistics & Facts, www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml.

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Stevie Nicks: "I Used to Carry a Gram of Cocaine in My Boot"

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Stevie Nicks: "I Used to Carry a Gram of Cocaine in My Boot"

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Stevie Nicks: "I Used to Carry a Gram of Cocaine in My Boot" | Oprah’s Master Class | OWN

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Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug, originating from the coca plant from South America. Despite health professionals using cocaine for local anesthesia, this is an illegal drug.
Crack is a form of cocaine that can be smoked, giving a more immediate and intense high, however it is short lived and only lasts a few minutes.
What does it look like: It is available as a fine, white powder, paste, or crystal form (crack cocaine). This is often mixed with cornstarch, talcum powder, flour, or other stimulant drugs to increase effects.
How is it taken: oral, snorting, injection, and inhalation (smoking)
~ Oral: needs to either be in leaf or powder form. This is put between the gum and cheek, similar to chewing tobacco, allowing it so be slowly absorbed.
~ Snorting: also known as insufflation, is the most common way of consuming recreational cocaine. About 30%-60% is absorbed this way, much higher than oral ingestion.
~ Injection: assures 100% absorption into the blood stream and the fastest way to get high. Since cocaine is a vasoconstrictor, syringes become harder and harder to use.
~ Inhalation: when users inhale the vapors from heating crack cocaine. The effects can be felt immediately and although they are very intense, they only a few minutes.

Works Cited:
"Cocaine." UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances, edited by Barbara C. Bigelow, vol. 2, UXL, 2006, pp. 164-185. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3448100034/GVRL?u=lom_inac&sid=GVRL&xid=421cd8dc. Accessed 16 May 2018.

Hobbs, Susan, et al. "Cocaine and related disorders." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, edited by Jacqueline L. Longe, 5th ed., Gale, 2015. Health & Wellness Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/ZGXSSY816298489/HWRC?u=lom_inac&sid=HWRC&xid=31b57607. Accessed 16 May 2018.

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- extreme happiness and energy
- mental alertness
- increase sex drive
- staying up for long hours (through the night)
- boost confidence
- feeling physically strong and mentally sharp
- indifference to pain
- suppress appetite

Works Cited:
NIDA. "Cocaine." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6 Jun. 2016, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine. Accessed 16 May 2018.

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Medical professionals use it as a local anesthetic for eye, nasal and laryngeal surgery. It is also a vasoconstrictor which helps stem the bleeding during surgery. However, it was more prevalent in the past. Doctors have switched away from the use of cocaine as newer and safer anesthetics have come into the market.
In the past, doctors have used them for many purposes like prevented tooth decay, stopping nosebleeds, etc. However, there were many deaths resulting from cocaine use and was eventually made illegal.

Works Cited:
“Cocaine Abuse Facts | Dangerous Side Effects of Cocaine Use & Abuse.” Confirm BioSciences, www.confirmbiosciences.com/knowledge/drug-facts/cocaine/.

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~ mood swings
~ total exhaustion
~ nausea and vomiting
~ faster heartbeat and increased blood pressure
~ irritability
~ paranoia
~ nosebleeds
~ dilated pupils
~ increased body temperature
~ anxiety
~ muscle twitches
~ reduced appetite
~ dry mouth
~ unpredictable, violent or aggressive behavior

Works Cited:
NIDA. "Cocaine." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6 Jun. 2016, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine. Accessed 16 May 2018.

“ADF - Drug Facts - Cocaine.” ADF - Alcohol & Drug Foundation, adf.org.au/drug-facts/cocaine/.

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~ abscesses developing at the injection site
~ insomnia and exhaustion
~ depression
~ eating disorders and weight loss
~ sexual dysfunction
~ hypertension and irregular heartbeat
~ sensitivity to light and sound
~ seizures
~ tremors
~ hallucinations
~ kidney, liver, and lung failure
~ stroke
~ heart problems (constricted vessels)
~ coma
~ death

Snorting cocaine over a long time can cause:
~ runny nose and nose bleeds
~ nose infection
~ a hole in the tissue separating the nostrils
~ long term damage to the nasal cavity and sinuses

Works Cited:
NIDA. "Cocaine." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6 Jun. 2016, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine. Accessed 16 May 2018.

“ADF - Drug Facts - Cocaine.” ADF - Alcohol & Drug Foundation, adf.org.au/drug-facts/cocaine/.

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Since cocaine is widely and easily available on the street, teens are likely to try it. Most use it for stimulant effects, staying up for long hours, or simply peer pressure. About 6% of high schoolers have tried cocaine or crack in their lifetime. It is not the lack of education or awareness that is causing this, but the fact that they think it's "cool". Most teens use code words and that should be an alert for parents. Cocaine can be even more harmful for developing brains, such as in teenagers, and can lead to sudden death. There can teen rehabs that can help with the addiction and help should be approached as soon as possible.

Works Cited:
Monroe, Jamison. “Teen Cocaine Abuse.” Newport Academy, Newport Academy, 7 Feb. 2017, www.newportacademy.com/resources/substance-abuse/cocaine-abuse/.

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Cocaine dates back to the Incas. Since mountain air is thicker which slows the breathing, they chewed on coca leaves to increase their breathing rate. It was also used for religious reasons among many. Later, when the actual drug was extracted from the coca leaves, researches thought of it as something that could cure depression and sexual impotence. It got widespread and there was no way of knowing that it could lead to addiction. It was so popular that the main ingredient for Coca-Cola was cocaine, hence the name. It took many years for people to realize the harmful effects of the drug on the human body. Eventually, people started shunning the drug and later a law was passed by the government, making it illegal. It was also removed from Coca-Cola. Unfortunately, there was another rise in cocaine use eventually, leading us to this day.

Works Cited:
"Cocaine." UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances, edited by Barbara C. Bigelow, vol. 2, UXL, 2006, pp. 164-185. Gale Virtual Reference Library, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3448100034/GVRL?u=lom_inac&sid=GVRL&xid=421cd8dc. Accessed 16 May 2018.

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Giving up cocaine can be difficult, but not impossible, after long term use. The withdrawal symptoms usually start around 1-2 days after last use and can last for about 10 weeks (3-4 months). Usually days 4 through 7 are the worst.
There are 3 main phases of withdrawal:
1. Crash: agitation, anxiety, intense hunger, cravings for cocaine, restless sleep, extreme exhaustion (first few days)
2. Withdrawal: cravings, tiredness, anxiety, angry outbursts, unable to feel pleasure (about 10 weeks)
3. Extinction: cocaine cravings at irregular intervals (lifelong)

Works Cited:
“ADF - Drug Facts - Cocaine.” ADF - Alcohol & Drug Foundation, adf.org.au/drug-facts/cocaine/.

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1. The original Coca-Cola had cocaine in its recipe. It has since discontinued this use.
2. Cocaine is a multi-billion dollar business, including abusers of all types: young, old, rich, poor, etc.
3. Many consider mixing it in water when on drug testing to avoid testing positive. It is considered an inefficient way of absorbing cocaine otherwise.

Works Cited:
“Cocaine Abuse Facts | Dangerous Side Effects of Cocaine Use & Abuse.” Confirm BioSciences, www.confirmbiosciences.com/knowledge/drug-facts/cocaine/.