Homework Help: Health: Substance Abuse: Cocaine

Cocaine is an alkaloid (C₁₇H₂₁NO₄) derived from the leaves of Erythroxylum coca, specie of coca plant. This plant grows in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

During pre-Columbian times, the Incans used the stimulating effects of coca leaves to rid themselves of hunger and fatigue. In the 19th century, the Spanish conquerors introduced coca leaves to Europe. It became a sensation. Sigmund Freud, a psychologist, said that cocaine was a magical drug. He wrote papers claiming that cocaine could cure depression, alcoholism, and morphine addiction. Before 1858, cocaine was extracted from coca leaves. A German chemist named Albert Niemann managed to purify cocaine. Cocaine was used as anesthetic for eye, ear, and throat surgeries.

Later, cocaine was sold over the counter. Cocaine was thought to be a harmless drug. As more people became addicted to cocaine, cocaine became to be recognized as a dangerous drug. Strict laws against sales and possession contributed to lower use of cocaine in the first half of the twentieth century.

A typical cocaine leaf contains .1%-.9% cocaine. It is not enough to give the user mental or social problems. Coca leaves are chopped, pounded, and mixed with chemicals to remove cocaine. Cocaine is now in its freebase form, which is 60%-80% pure. The freebase form is mixed with more chemicals to convert it to a salt form. Some users were not satisfied with the short euphoria. Soon, a smoke able form was developed. The freebase cocaine was heated at high temperatures. Since freebase cocaine makes a "cracking" sound, this new form is called crack. Cocaine are usually in those two forms: the salt form and crack. It is exported as cocaine hydrochloride, a form of salt. This form of cocaine is inhaled through the nose or injected. The degrees of effects depend on the amount and how the drug is taken. Short-term effects usually appear after cocaine is taken between a few minutes to hours. Short-term effects include the feeling of euphoric, energetic, and talkative and increase of mental alertness. Sometimes the effects can be negative, such as anxiety and being panic stricken. Physical symptoms are high blood pressure and increased breathing. Large doses often lead to bizarre and violent behavior. Physical effects include chest pain, muscle spasms, and convulsions. In long term users, the feeling of euphoria gradually transforms to restlessness, extreme excitability, and hallucinations.

Although cocaine does not have a strong physical dependence, its psychological dependence is very strong. The orgasmic feeling of cocaine makes some users ignore any risk of injury. When the feeling euphoria diminishes, depression occurs. To still high, users take large doses of cocaine.

Although there are hundreds of supports groups attempting to decrease the number of cocaine users, there are still millions of crack users. Fortunately, the trend has become more stable. Cocaine treatment programs use the twelve-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Homework Help: Health: Substance Abuse

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