Side Effects Of Cocaine Usage

The coca plant, native to South America, can be prepared in a way that produces a powerful central nervous stimulant and topical anesthetic known as cocaine. The most popular methods of using cocaine are inhaling it into the nose (insufflating) and injecting it into the bloodstream. Another form of cocaine, called crack or freebase, is smoked. This creates a far more powerful high that only lasts a short while.

Short-Term Effects of Cocaine Use

As a powerful central nervous system stimulant, cocaine has a profound effect on the way the brain functions. Often used as a party drug, cocaine causes sensations of joy and euphoria. Adding to its party drug persona is cocaine's ability to eliminate fatigue and keep people awake, allowing them to stay up longer and dance longer. Not unlike amphetamines, a select few use cocaine while working to help them stay up, concentrate longer, and get more accomplished in the same amount of time.

When high amounts of cocaine are introduced to the system, many severe changes in behavior can take place. Irritability, coupled with confused and disorderly behavior, can lead some cocaine users to become violent and irrational while on the drug. Also, hallucinations may occur, leading to extreme sense of paranoia and an "everyone is out to get me" mentality. Cocaine users are sometimes known to become antisocial and aggressive, making them dangerous to themselves and to others. Along with its psychological effects, cocaine can affect the human body in many ways. Cocaine increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and overall body temperature of users. Breathing is sped up, and these things, coupled with nervous restlessness, can lead to heavy perspiration. Although cocaine decreases the desire to sleep and eat, the most common health problems associated with cocaine use are seizures, strokes, and heart attacks, especially in people who are susceptible or predisposed to having them.

When compared to opiates, withdrawal from cocaine abuse is a walk in the park. Although cocaine abuse does not affect the body so much as the mind, the mental toll cocaine withdrawal can take is more than enough to convince an addict to use cocaine. When withdrawing, users may experience thoughts of suicide, lack of sex drive, apathy, and severe paranoia. Withdrawals can be kept in check only by using more cocaine, leading to habituation and addiction.

Regular Use of Cocaine and Effects

When using cocaine regularly over an extended period of time, more serious psychological changes occur within the brain. Cocaine's stimulating qualities combined with its propensity to induce paranoia can lead to further violent act and mood swings. Insomnia is normal among cocaine addicts, and combined with cocaine's tendency to suppress a user's appetite can lead to unhealthy weight loss. As with any insufflated substance, damage to the inside of the nose cartilage can take place, and will eventually tear a hole in the septum with repeated use.

All in all, cocaine is a dangerous drug, the risks of which are downplayed by its reputation as a feel-good party drug. In reality, cocaine can not only cause death after one usage, but the psychological effects it imposes on addicts can lead to a violent lifestyle full of paranoid delusions.

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Learn more about Crack Addiction and Cocaine Addiction.

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