Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. The white powder is made from the leaf of the coca plant. Crack is a smokeable form of cocaine that that gives a very quick, intense high. It got its name because it crackles when it is heated and smoked. Crack looks like white or tan pellets.
Also known as: big C, blow, coke, flake, freebase, lady, nose candy, rock, snow, bump, charlie, toot, snowball, tornado, wicky stick, white, base
How taken:
Cocaine is snorted through the nose or dissolved in water and injected into a vein. Crack is smoked in a pipe.
How teens get it:
From friends, at parties and clubs and through buying it themselves on the street.
Effects & dangers:
Cocaine is a stimulant. Its effects appear almost immediately after taking a single dose. The duration of the effects depends on how it is taken. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high, and the shorter the duration of the high. The high from snorting cocaine may last from 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking crack may last from 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can make the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound and touch. It can produce an intense feeling of power and energy. When it wears off, the user often feels depressed and nervous and craves more of the drug. Cocaine makes the heart beat faster (and sometimes abnormally) and it can cause blood pressure and body temperature to increase. In rare instances, people have died, from a heart attack or stroke, after using cocaine just once. These deaths are usually a result of cardiac arrest or seizures followed by respiratory arrest. Drug dealers often mix cocaine with other substances so they can have more of the drug to sell. These 'fillers' make the drug even more dangerous because the user doesn't know how much cocaine he or she is taking. The fillers also can add harmful side effects to an already unsafe drug. Snorting cocaine can damage the septum between the nostrils, causing a hole in the middle of the nose.
Signs of abuse:
Dilated pupils, insomnia, nervousness, weight loss, decline in personal appearance or hygiene, constant runny nose, frequent upper-respiratory infections, depression and loss of appetite. Loss of interest in family, friends and social activities. Using large amounts of cocaine can lead to bizarre, erratic and violent behavior. These heavy users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches and paranoia.
Is cocaine addicting?
Yes. Both cocaine and crack are highly addicting. It is possible to become addicted after occasional use or even after the first use.
Sources:
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm)
- NIDA for Teens (National Institute on Drug Abuse (http://teens.drugabuse.gov/)
- The Partnership for a Drug-Free America (www.drugfree.org)
- The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center (www.clevelandclinic.org/health)
- The Nemours Foundation (www.kidshealth.org/)
- The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (www.theantidrug.com)
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