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Facts about Cocaine, Effects of Cocaine

December 14th, 2006 by ddetox

Cocaine - An alkaloid refined from the coca plant that acts as a powerful short-acting stimulant and is similar to amphetamines. Cocaine is distributed on the street in two forms: cocaine hydrochloride, a white crystalline powder that can be dissolved in water and injected, and crack cocaine hydrochlorid that has been processed with baking soda or ammonia and water into a freebase cocaine. Its effects include excitement, euphoria, restlessness, and a feeling of well-being. Slang names: “coke”, “blow”, “flake”, “snow”, “nose candy”, “star dust”, “flake”, “big C”, “white”, “lady” and “snowbirds”.

In 2003, 34.9million Americans age 12 and over reported lifetime use of cocaine, and 7.9million reported using crack cocaine. About 5.9million Americans reported annual use of cocaine, and 1.4milion reported using crack, about 2.3million reported 30 day using, and 0.6million reported using crack. In 2003, the percentage of ages 12 to 17 reporting lifetime use of cocaine was 2.6%, among ages 18 to 25, the rate was 15%.

When people mix cocaine and alcohol, they are compounding the danger each drug poses and unknowingly forming a complex chemical experiment within their bodies. NIDA-funded researchers have found that the human liver combines cocaine and alcohol and manufactures a third substance, cocaethylene, that intensifies cocaine’s euphoric effects, while potentially increasing the risk of sudden death.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), InfoFacts: Crack and Cocaine (Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services)

Among the general population there has been no detectable increase in birth defects which may be associated with cocaine use during pregnancy.

Martin M.L., Khoury M.J., Cordero J.F., Waters G.D., “Trends in Rates of Multiple Vascular Disruption Defects: Is There Evidence of a Cocaine Teratogenic Epidemic?”

Although most cocaine in the U.S.A is snorted intranasally, smoking crack has become widely publicized. The imported hydrochloride salt is converted to a more volatile form, usually by adding sodium bicarbonate, water, and heat. The converted material is combusted, and the resultant smoke inhaled. Onset of effect is quicker, and intensity of the “high” is magnified.

An overdose of cocaine may produce tremors, convulsions, and delirium. Death may occur due to arrhythmias and cardiovascular failure.

“Cocaine Dependence”, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Section 15, Psychiatric Disorders, Chapter 195, Drug Use and Dependence, Merck&Co. Inc.

Research funded by the NIDA and the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia states: “Although numerous animal experiments and some human data show potent effects of cocaine on the central nervous system, we were unable to detect any difference in Performance, Verbal or Full Scale IQ scores between cocaine-exposed and control children at age 4 years.”

Hallam Hurt, MD, Elsa Malmud, PhD, Laura Betancourt, Leonard E. Braitman, PhD, Nancy L. Brodsky, Phd, Joan Giannetta, “Children with In Utero Cocaine Exposure Do Not Differ from Control Subjects on Intelligence Testing”, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

Drug War Facts

How long does cocaine (crack) stay in your system?

Cocaine can be detected in blood for up to about 72 hours and in your urine for approximately 48 hours. A number of factors can affect these figures, such as the quantity and strength your consume, how often you use and what other drugs you use; and your age, sex, health and metabolism. These factors can all interact in such a way that it is difficult to predict an accurate elimination time. However, most labs look for the metabolite, in the case of cocaine it is “benzoylecgonine” that will stay around long after the drug is gone, up to 30 days for a frequent user. If the drug test lab prefer to take hair as a sample, cocaine can stay in your hair up to about 90 days.
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