Cocaine

Cocaine (also cocain) is a white, crystalline alkaloid obtained from coca leaves, used especially as a local anesthetic. It is sometimes referred to as coke. Cocaine is a stimulant. Most cocaine is used as an illegal drug, by people who want to feel a happy feeling of having energy, called "being high." Sometimes, doctors or dentists use cocaine as a legal drug.

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cocaine

Origin and effects

Where cocaine comes from

Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Coca plants are mostly grown in South America, in countries like Brazil or Argentina. When coca plants were discovered by Spanish conquistadors (explorers), it was sent back to Europe. People started using cocaine for medicine, because they did not know it was addictive.

In America, cocaine was used during operations, or to treat toothaches. It was also put in drinks. When Coca Cola was first made in 1885, it got its name from the traces of cocaine added for energy. The caffeine was from the Kola Nut making the name Coca Cola. It was removed completely by the 1920's due to pressure groups in USA.

Effects of cocaine

When a person uses cocaine by inhaling it into their nose (called "snorting"), smoking it, chewing or eating it, or injecting it into their veins, they feel euphoric, alert, and full of energy. This feeling is called "being high". Some people who take cocaine begin to feel worried or anxious, or even experience feelings of paranoia. Sometimes the person shakes.

Cocaine as an illegal drug

Cocaine is illegal to produce, sell, and use recreationally in most countries. When cocaine is used as an Illegal drug, it stimulates the nervous system of the body and makes a person feel excited, full of energy, and happy. People who take this don't know really what that are doing as they have hardly any control over themselves.

Another form of cocaine is "crack" or "crack cocaine." This is a cocaine which is turned into little crystals or "rocks." Both cocaine and crack are very addictive.

There are many types of legal cocaine, most of which get modified for street usage, "Mersh" Cocaine is a cheaper alternative to cocaine, but in many ways its, its less harmful, not as addictive, and the cutting agents are usually other drugs or amphetamins, such as MDMA, which will give the drug a flowery smell and chemically taste and texture.

Dangers of using cocaine

If people use cocaine, they may take too much and get sick or even die. This is called an "overdose". When people take cocaine, they get intoxicated as well. When a person is intoxicated, they may do dangerous things, such as having unsafe sex with a person they do not know, or getting into a violent fight with a person.

If a person uses it for long, they can start to get weird feelings, like there are bugs crawling under their skin, or they can get paranoia (a feeling that there are people that want to hurt them).

Cocaine is a very addictive drug. It can lead to psychological and/or chemical dependency. When a person is addicted to a drug, they might do bad or criminal acts in order to get money for more drugs, such as crimes (for example theft, robbery, fraud, or prostitution).

Another danger from using cocaine is risk of infection via unhygienic ingestion methods (such as dirty needles). Use of such apparel can result in diseases such as AIDS or Hepatitis C.

Cocaine as a legal medicine

Cocaine is also occasionally used as a legal medicine in Australia and some parts of Europe, if a person has a prescription from a doctor. Doctors sometimes prescribe cocaine as an appetite suppressant, for people who want to lose weight.

Dentists in countries like Australia sometimes use cocaine in dental operations, as an anaesthetic. Anaesthetics are medicines or drugs which stop a person from having feelings in their body. Doctors, surgeons, and dentists use anaesthetics when they are doing operations, so that the patient will not feel pain. Dentists put the cocaine on the patient's mouth so that the patient will not feel pain in their mouth during the operation.

Other pages

• Crack, a form of cocaine that comes in little crystals or "rocks."
• Illegal drugs, the drugs which are not legal to use in most countries.