Cocaine By: Nick DiPierro

Name of Drug Street Names: Coke, dust, snow, lines, charlie, blow, etc… Brand Name: Cocaine Hydrochloride (topical solution) Chemical Name: benzoylmethyl ecgonine (ben- zoy-al-meth-yl ek-o-neen) C 17 H 21 NO 4

How does it work? Under normal circumstances, the amount of dopamine at a synapse is controlled in part by the reuptake of dopamine by the transmitting neuron. Cocaine blocks the removal of dopamine from a synapse; the resulting build-up of dopamine causes continuous stimulation of the receiving neurons. (euphoric effects)

History 1500’s: Cocaine was used during religious ceremonies in Peru. They would chew the leaves of the coca plant during religious ceremonies to produce a stimulant effect that includes hallucinations both auditory and visual. 1859: German Chemist Albert Niemann first extracted the cocaine, the actual drug, from the coca leaves.

History 1884: Sigmund Freud, used the drug himself and realized the ability for cocaine to “cure depression and sexual impotence.” 1880’s: John Pemberton (maker of coca-cola) used the coca leaves as an ingredient in his cola drink. 1900’s: The U.S. Government reported as many as 5,000 cocaine related deaths each year. 1903: The drug was removed from the recipe in coca-cola. 1922: Cocaine was no longer legal.

Medical use Cocaine acts as a local anesthetic by blocking conduction of nerve impulses. Topical preparations of cocaine hydrochloride are applied to the lining of the mouth, nose and throat prior to certain surgical procedures as a local anesthetic to numb the area.

Schedule Rating Schedule II Drug: defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Physiological Effects Cocaine is responsible for more U.S. emergency room visits than any other illegal drug. Cocaine harms the brain, heart, blood vessels, and lungs. Heart: Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure while constricting the arteries supplying blood to the heart. This causes heart attacks and heart disease. Brain: Cocaine constricts bood vessels in the brain, causing strokes.

Physiological Effect Lungs: Snorting cocaine damages the sinuses and smoking crack cocaine causes permanent lung damage. GI Tract: Cocaine can cause ulcers, or perforations of the stomach or intestines. Kidneys: Cocaine can cause sudden overwhelming kidney failure. Sexual Function: Chronic cocaine use can cause delayed or impaired ejaculation.

Psychological Effects Depression, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty breathing, inability to feel pressure, and increased craving for cocaine. Physical symptoms: aches, pains, tremors and Chills. The effects of cocaine are intense but short lived.The immediate effects wear off in about 30 min. to 2 hours. Smoking or injecting cocaine results in a faster and shorter high, compared to snorting coke.

Reference Page "Cocaine Use and Its Effects." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 27 Oct "DEA / Drug Scheduling." DEA / Drug Scheduling. Web. 27 Oct "Detox.com." History of Cocaine. Web. 27 Oct Helmenstein, Anne Marie. "Cocaine - Benzoylmethylecgonine." About.com Education. Web. 27 Oct Insel, Paul M., and Walton T. Roth. "Substance Use Disorders: Making Responsible Decisions." Connect Core Concepts In Health. 14th ed. McGrawHill Print. Omudhome, Ogbru. "Cocaine Hydrochloride: Uses, Side Effects, Dosing." MedicineNet. 27 Oct Web. 27 Oct