Cocaine
Substance
Cocaine [1] (benzoylecgonine methyl ester) is obtained from the leaves of the South American coca shrub ( Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense ) and belongs to the group of stimulants. Cocaine blocks monoamine transporters and thus increases dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the synaptic cleft.
group
Stimulants
Forms of appearance
White or slightly yellowish, bitter-tasting powder with a local anesthetic effect. Cocaine is frequently cut with pharmaceuticals (medicines) that can themselves have undesirable side effects (see card "Sold as...").
Consumption patterns
Cocaine is usually snorted, but can also be injected, swallowed, or smoked in the form of crack or freebase. Coca leaves are chewed, but only have an effect when mixed with an alkaline substance (e.g., lime), or they can be prepared as a tea. Orally consumed cocaine has a stimulating effect, but produces little to no euphoria.
dosage
The dose required to achieve the desired effect depends directly on the purity level available on the street. The purity level is generally greater than 70% for cocaine hydrochloride (powder) and often greater than 60% for crack [3] . The dosage information below can therefore only serve as a rough guide.
Single dose of pure cocaine, snorted: 50–100 mg, up to 300 mg for regular users; smoked: 50–350 mg; injected: 70–150 mg. (Dose based on pure cocaine.)
Be careful when mixing substances!
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alcohol
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MDMA (Ecstasy)
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Methamphetamine
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Amphetamine (Speed)
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Heroin and other opiates, ketamine, benzodiazepines, MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, local anesthetics, erectile dysfunction drugs (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra), beta-blockers
Substance groups
Effect
Suppression of fatigue, hunger, and thirst; euphoria; a feeling of increased performance; greatly increased self-confidence; talkativeness; sexual stimulation; loss of inhibitions and anxieties; increased risk-taking; occasionally: increased aggression; decreased critical thinking, judgment, and concentration; reduced pain perception; numbness; and a local anesthetic effect. Cocaine causes a significant increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, as well as an increase in body temperature and often pupil dilation. [1]
The individual effects of cocaine depend on many factors. Besides the dose, the individual's response to the substance and prior experience with cocaine also influence the perceived high.
Onset of action
Snorted after 3-5 minutes, smoked or injected after a few seconds to a few minutes, orally 15-30 minutes.
Duration of effect
Snorted: 60-90 min., smoked or injected: 2-20 min., oral: 2-4 hr.
Aftereffects
1-4 hours (depending on consumption duration and amount)
Risks and side effects
Sleep disturbances, irritability, aggression, anxiety and delusions, depression, memory/concentration problems, hyperactivity; nervous twitching and stereotypical movements, muscle cramps and tremors, nerve damage, narrowing of blood vessels, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure. Hypertensive crises, in extreme cases cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack or stroke. Liver damage due to the breakdown of toxins. Some adulterants are additionally harmful to health (see card "Sold as..."). Smoking freebase and crack can damage the oral cavity, lungs and airways; snorting can lead to tissue destruction/death of the mucous membranes. Simultaneous use of cocaine and alcohol increases the side effects and harmfulness; the heart in particular is subjected to additional strain. [1]
Long-term risks
With chronic use: Dependence with predominantly psychological symptoms, "craving" (uncontrollable urge to use) – cocaine is among the substances with the highest addiction potential and causes addiction faster than most other substances – inner restlessness, anxiety disorders, personality changes, depressive states with suicidality, cocaine psychosis with paranoid delusions (perception of persecution) and hallucinations, changes in thought processes, permanent short-term memory impairment; nervous twitching, seizures, persistent high blood pressure, changes in movement patterns, chronic, difficult-to-heal inflammation and damage to the nasal mucosa and nasal septum, damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood vessels (e.g., inflammation of the blood vessels leading to occlusion with death of the surrounding tissue, especially due to levamisole) and teeth, changes in blood count with a resulting weakening of the immune system (due to levamisole). With intravenous administration, abscesses, itching and tingling may occur. [1]
Safer Use
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Warning: High risk of addiction! Take breaks from consumption, even (especially!) if it's difficult for you.
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Use a low dose and avoid frequent refills!
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Eat and drink well and healthily before and after consumption, and do not consume on an empty stomach.
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Snorting is the lowest-risk form of consumption. Injecting and smoking crack or freebase significantly increases the risks.
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People with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, asthma, liver and thyroid diseases should not consume cocaine.
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People with epilepsy should avoid cocaine (increased risk of seizures).
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People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should avoid cocaine because they have an increased risk of addiction and the substance has a greater long-term impact on their intellectual performance. [1] [2]
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Do not combine cocaine with medications that raise blood pressure.
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Do not consume cocaine if you have consumed MDMA; this will negate the empathogenic aspect of the ecstasy effect, increase the risk of cardiovascular side effects, and enhance the neurotoxic effects of MDMA.
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Do not consume cocaine if you have consumed other stimulants (e.g., amphetamine).
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Do not mix cocaine with alcohol; the mixture makes you aggressive, potentially damages your heart and brain, and increases the risk of alcohol poisoning!
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The use of downers (e.g., benzodiazepines) can lead to further substance dependence.