How Cocaine is Used - Research Paper

Introduction

Cocaine which is commonly known for its street name `coke' is one of the strongest stimulants which is used for recreational purposes. The drug is mostly used through smoking, inhaling or snorted. It is also sometimes dissolved and injected into the body blood veins. Therefore it is administered orally intravenously, intranasally and inhaled. When used orally, the users rub the drug into their gums in the mouth. When it is dissolved in water and then injected, the drug goes directly into the bloodstream and then it increases the sensitivity and the effects.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Cocaine

Medically cocaine is used as local anesthesia because it has the power to block the nerve impulses. It specifically blocks the norepinephrine uptake leading to vasoconstriction. It is mostly used medically on the ailments which involve the upper respiratory tract by shrinking the mucous and mucosa membranes. To the user, cocaine makes one feel stimulated energized and forgets all the problems because after the brain is intoxicated one goes to a different world mentally where there are no problems (Milivojevic et al. 44-53). The people who use the drug also develop self-confidence, well-being, and vigilance though temporarily. It therefore temporarily relieves one's problems.

Short and Long-Term Effects of Cocaine

Cocaine too has very devastating effects on the body. After using cocaine for a short period, there is a very high risk of getting myocardial infarction, infections of the blood, a stroke or lung problems and affect the cardiac arrest. The cocaine which is used in the street is mostly mixed with sugar, quinine which increases its levels of toxicity hence posing more danger to the users. The long-term effects of the drug include reduction of the concentration levels because the neurotransmitter is affected which later leads to the permanent damage of the functioning of the brain. In the USA it costs $300 a gram. According to the survey that was conducted in the United States in 2018 by the National Institute of Drug Abuse showed that the most people who use drugs cocaine in the United States are aged between 18 and 25 (Foltin et al. 20-26).

Amphetamine

Amphetamine is a drug which stimulates the nervous system, and it is therefore used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity. Its street name is mollies or speed. Athletes mostly use it because it is a performance-enhancing drug. It is a prescribed drug in several countries. Some of the effects of the drug include alertness, self-confidence, and apprehension, decreased sense of fatigue, insomnia, low libido, restless, irritability, and anxiety. According to the survey that was conducted in the United States in 2018 by the National Institute of Drug Abuse showed that the most people who use drugs cocaine in the United States are aged between 18 and 25. Amphetamine being very expensive drugs (Moratalla et al. 149-170). Therefore, users must be well-off financially. This is the reason as to why it is most used by the people of higher social class in the United States. Its cost varies from one black market to another and it is mostly consumed by injection to the body.

Nicotine

Nicotine is a stimulant which is used found in several plants of the nightshade family. It is used medically for the treatment of tobacco use. It has various street names, such as ciggie and smokes. Nicotine is also found in millions of other plants such as eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes. However, the greatest percentage of nicotine is found in tobacco. It is one of the most highly abused drugs because it is easily available and is cheap. Some of its effects include distress, physical dependence, and irritability, difficulty in concentration, stress anxiety and disturbances in sleep. The drug is mostly taken through smoking and chewing. It is mainly used by all groups of people but mostly the ones who are in the lower social class.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a chemical compound which is commonly found in tea, coffee, guarana, mate, cola and other products. It does not have a street name. It is mainly used so that it can improve the alertness of the mind. It is taken through the mouth or rectally when it is combined with painkillers like aspirin. It is also used for the treatment of headaches more especially after one has used anesthesia. It is also used for the treatment of asthma attention deficit and the diseases of the gall bladder. It is also used for the treatment of diabetes as well as for the reduction of weight. All members of the society use the drug because it is naturally found in certain plants such as coffee and tea which are used by the majority of the population. Athletes sometimes abuse caffeine because it stimulates their bodies and gives them instant energy.

Works Cited

Foltin, Richard W., et al. "Making risky decisions to take drug: Effects of cocaine abstinence in cocaine users." Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 177 (2019): 20-26.

Milivojevic, Verica, et al. "Effects of progesterone stimulated allopregnanolone on craving and stress response in cocaine dependent men and women." Psychoneuroendocrinology 65 (2016): 44-53.

Moratalla, Rosario, et al. "Amphetamine-related drugs neurotoxicity in humans and in experimental animals: main mechanisms." Progress in neurobiology 155 (2017): 149-170.

Newman, Tim. Uses and Risks of Amphetamine. Medical News Today. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221211.php