Cocaine is considered one of the most expensive drugs. Cocaine intoxication is accompanied by sensations of lightness and happiness, increased endurance and ability to work. The duration of this condition depends on the method and length of use of the drug, the effect can last for 15-20 minutes, and can stretch for an hour and a half. Because of the short drug intoxication, it is difficult to control the dosage of the drug, so cocaine users often have overdoses.
The effects of cocaine on the body
Cocaine is used in several ways: injected, used in pasty form, inhaled or rubbed into the gums, etc. With any method of consumption, the effect is approximately the same. Cocaine is an effective stimulant, so even a single use of it can provoke serious intra-organic disorders. But how does it work?
When taking cocaine stimulates the pleasure center, located in the brain. As a result, a person falls into a state of euphoria, quickly changing opposite feelings, which are manifested by depression, lack of appetite, loss of energy and sleep disturbances. As a consequence of taking cocaine, addicts have tachycardia, paranoia, convulsions, and a stroke or infarction may develop.
Physical health
Usually the drug does not last long, after 15-20 minutes the addict releases, and he needs a new dose. The negative impact of cocaine is reflected in many inorganic structures.
Brain
After using the dose in the cerebrospinal structures, the pleasure center is activated, which introduces the cocaine into a euphoric state. The effect of cocaine on the brain causes disruptions in biochemical processes, the rapid development of cocaine addiction. When penetrated into the body, cocaine, like stress, affects the adjacent nucleus of the brain. In addition, the drug is also reflected on the genetic level, suppressing the genes responsible for the depressive state.
In return, cocaine causes the formation of neurons that protect the body from depressive effects, but only in a state of cocaine intoxication. Therefore, the rest of the time in the brain of the cocaine is dominated by depression, which can only be restrained by another drug dose. Because of intense cerebral stimulation, convulsions occur.
The heart of
Cocaine provokes spasm of the heart arteries and affects the electroactivity of the myocardium, which is fraught with a stroke or a heart attack even in relatively healthy patients. In medical practice, a case was described where, after the death of a cocaine addict with 15 years of experience, an autopsy was performed and the heart was extracted. Incredibly, it was still beating for 25 minutes after the actual death of the addict. Just myocardial cells adapted to drugs. Because of the constant narrowing of the cerebrospinal vessels and cardiac overload, heart rate in the patient was markedly increased. This helped the heart to adapt to ischemia and to acquire resistance to oxygen deficiency. As a result, it could work without oxygen for such a long time.
Muscular tissues
A typical disease of cocaine is rhabdomyolysis, which is the death of skeletal muscles. Cocaine affects the muscle tissue, destroying them. As a result, myoglobin penetrates into the blood, then clogs the tubule of the kidneys, which provokes the emergence of their acute deficiency.
Respiratory system, lungs
Against the background of frequent use of cocaine, the addict usually has chronic forms of pulmonary pathologies, bronchitis or throat diseases. If a cocaine user smokes a drug, then soon he has a stray and wheezing breath, a cough, asthma, arterial thrombosis or a lung infarction may develop.
Other bodies
Despite the reputation of an aphrodisiac, cocaine has a devastating effect on the sexual abilities of a person, which is manifested by the inability to fully end sexual intercourse. With chronic cocaine, addicts have abnormalities and delays in ejaculation, libido decreases, etc.
With the systematic use of cocaine, narrowing of the gastrointestinal vessels occurs, which causes hypoxia, against which ulcerative and perforating processes occur in the tissues of the intestine and stomach.
The action of this powerful stimulant of the central nervous system leads to the fact that people who are absolutely healthy soon get disabled, or even death occurs altogether. And given the above, the answer to the question whether cocaine is harmful is quite obvious.
Psychological problems
Experts call cocaine intoxication manic similar. Under the influence of cocaine there are various psychological changes:
- Euphoria - characterized by a sudden and sharp rise in mood, incredible joy, happiness, etc. The addict becomes sociable and friendly, easily shares with people the history of his life, etc.;
- Increased mental activity. It seems to the addict that he has unlimited mental abilities, because he quickly remembers an incredible amount of information, easily perceives it. But after the cessation of narcotic intoxication, everything that was easily perceived and remembered almost instantly disappears. To recall that information again, another cocaine dose is needed. Specialists explain this phenomenon with a double memory. Under the influence of the drug, the nerve-cell reserves are depleted, and the memory capacity for the preservation of information gradually weakens.
- Energy charge. A powerful influx of energy literally overwhelms the cocaine, who begins to feel light and cheerful. It seems to him that he has unlimited abilities. But this is only a fiction, in fact, motor coordination after using the drug is noticeably changing, the accuracy of movements is lost. Many people after a single intake of cocaine lost the need for sleep, that is, there came a persistent insomnia;
- Sensual perception is amplified. Under the influence of cocaine there is an aggravation of all feelings. It may seem that the auditory perception and vision have significantly improved. Begin to see clearly the smallest details, the colors of the surrounding world become brighter. Tactile touch causes sudden or unpleasant sensations. A person may think that he is bitten by insects, someone creeps under his skin, etc. Against the backdrop of hallucinations, cocaine psychosis develops;
- Increased self-confidence. Under the influence of cocaine, a person begins to believe that all his actions are the only true ones. Such a state is like a delirium of greatness and is accompanied by full confidence in its actions;
- Excessive anxiety. Although the cocaine player is under the influence of an euphoric state, he is still too excitable. Bliss and happiness can suddenly be replaced by causeless aggression;
- Dependency. Gradually the previous doses no longer cause the former effect of consumption, and yet you want to feel that euphoria again. This indicates the development of dependence. But the feeling that was when the first use of cocaine, will not happen again.
When the drug is no longer functioning, there is anxiety, depressive state and fatigue, a person can not experience pleasure, he is chilled and shivering, he is in pain, he is not able to concentrate. In some patients, giving up cocaine can provoke suicidal thoughts and actions.
On the video about the action of cocaine:
How much does it leave the body?
The duration of cocaine is insignificant and the effect usually lasts no more than half an hour, although sometimes it lasts up to 1-1.5 hours. In this case, it is worth considering how much the drug is kept in the blood and urine of a person.
To determine the presence of cocaine in the body can be using rapid tests or traditional tests of urine and blood. In the urine, cocaine metabolites persist for 48-72 hours and only then the substance is eliminated naturally.
In the hair, cocaine metabolites can be detected within 3 months( if the hair is short), the nails will give out the use of cocaine for half a year, saliva for 5 days.
Cocaine addiction is a rather complex mental state, because the cocaine is psychologically unable to give up the drug. Such a relationship with a long record is difficult to treat, and the consequences of taking cocaine can be very deplorable. Therefore, it is better not to go on about dubious pleasures, and not to start using cocaine.