Basic facts about cocaine:
Other Names for Cocaine: Coke, Blow, Crack, Rock, Snow
- Snorted through the nose
- Rubbed into the gums
- Injected into the bloodstream
A Speedball is a combined injection of cocaine and heroin. Cocaine can be smoked in the form of a rock crystal (also called “freebase cocaine”). The crystal is heated to produce vapors that are inhaled into the lungs. This form of cocaine is called Crack, which refers to the crackling sound of the rock as it’s heated.
Short-term physiological effects of cocaine use include: constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; and increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Large amounts of cocaine can lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior.
Some cocaine users report feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, panic, and paranoia. Some may experience tremors, vertigo, and muscle twitches.
Severe medical complications can occur with cocaine use, including: cardiovascular effects, including disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks; neurological effects, including headaches, seizures, strokes, and coma; and gastrointestinal complications, including abdominal pain and nausea.
In rare instances, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly thereafter. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizures
To Read More: NIH Drug Facts- Cocaine