The Dangers of Cocaine Use
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Cocaine is usually found in two forms: Powdered or crack cocaine which appears in a rock-life form. As a powder, cocaine is usually snorted or injected into a person's veins. Crack cocaine is able to be smoked.
Cocaine is dangerous because it prevents the brain from reusing dopamine neurotransmitters. Cocaine causes dopamine neurotransmitters to be unable to undergo re-uptake and return from the neurons they came from. Because of this, large amounts of dopamine remain in the synapse and causes feelings of euphoria. This euphoric feeling is coined a "high".
The temporary high that cocaine causes is dangerous because it is the high that causes a person to develop an addiction. People who use cocaine can constantly yearn for the high they feel while on the drug. When not using the drug, a person can undergo depression.
Some short term effects of Cocaine include increased heart rate and energy, anxiety, paranoia, aggressiveness, and dilated pupils. Long term effects include weight loss, heart problems, seizures, and addictions.
Because of cocaine's effects, it can cause severe health risks. Cocaine can lead to heart problems and even a heart attack. There is also a higher risk for strokes, ulcers, lung damage, and kidney damage. Psychologically, cocaine can cause you to risk your mental health. Cocaine users can experience depression and paranoia.
Even when a person tries to stop using cocaine, they can experience withdrawal symptoms. One withdrawal symptom of cocaine use is called Anhedonia. Anhedonia causes a person to be unable to feel any pleasure. Furthermore, if a person who had been using cocaine for a long time quits using the drug, they can experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, and mood swings. Withdrawal symptoms can last for as short as 24 hours to as long as months. Because of the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, a person trying to stop using cocaine can easily fall into addiction again in order to release their withdrawal symptoms.
Another danger with cocaine use is that it doesn't take much of the drug to overdose. An overdose is dependent on the person. A person's metabolism and weight can affect how much cocaine affects them. Also, for some people, cocaine can cause death on the first use because their body is unable to handle the effects of the drug.
When it comes to cocaine, don't start because it's hard to stop.
Work cited:
http://wellbeing.rice.edu/drugs/#pos13
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_cocaine.html
http://baysidemarin.crchealth.com/substance-abuse-addiction/about-cocaine/
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/coke/a/cocaine.htm
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/cocaine-use-and-its-effects
http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/UBNRP/dopamine/cocaine.html
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/drugs/cocaine_crack/hic_cocaine_and_crack.aspx
http://addictions.about.com/od/cocaine/a/What-To-Expect-From-Cocaine-Withdrawal.htm
http://www.drug-overdose.com/cocaine.htm
http://newyorkcriminaldefenseblawg.com/2010/09/understanding-possession-with-intent-to-sell/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine
Cocaine is dangerous because it prevents the brain from reusing dopamine neurotransmitters. Cocaine causes dopamine neurotransmitters to be unable to undergo re-uptake and return from the neurons they came from. Because of this, large amounts of dopamine remain in the synapse and causes feelings of euphoria. This euphoric feeling is coined a "high".
The temporary high that cocaine causes is dangerous because it is the high that causes a person to develop an addiction. People who use cocaine can constantly yearn for the high they feel while on the drug. When not using the drug, a person can undergo depression.
Some short term effects of Cocaine include increased heart rate and energy, anxiety, paranoia, aggressiveness, and dilated pupils. Long term effects include weight loss, heart problems, seizures, and addictions.
Because of cocaine's effects, it can cause severe health risks. Cocaine can lead to heart problems and even a heart attack. There is also a higher risk for strokes, ulcers, lung damage, and kidney damage. Psychologically, cocaine can cause you to risk your mental health. Cocaine users can experience depression and paranoia.
Even when a person tries to stop using cocaine, they can experience withdrawal symptoms. One withdrawal symptom of cocaine use is called Anhedonia. Anhedonia causes a person to be unable to feel any pleasure. Furthermore, if a person who had been using cocaine for a long time quits using the drug, they can experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, and mood swings. Withdrawal symptoms can last for as short as 24 hours to as long as months. Because of the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, a person trying to stop using cocaine can easily fall into addiction again in order to release their withdrawal symptoms.
Another danger with cocaine use is that it doesn't take much of the drug to overdose. An overdose is dependent on the person. A person's metabolism and weight can affect how much cocaine affects them. Also, for some people, cocaine can cause death on the first use because their body is unable to handle the effects of the drug.
When it comes to cocaine, don't start because it's hard to stop.
Work cited:
http://wellbeing.rice.edu/drugs/#pos13
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_cocaine.html
http://baysidemarin.crchealth.com/substance-abuse-addiction/about-cocaine/
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/coke/a/cocaine.htm
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/cocaine-use-and-its-effects
http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/UBNRP/dopamine/cocaine.html
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/drugs/cocaine_crack/hic_cocaine_and_crack.aspx
http://addictions.about.com/od/cocaine/a/What-To-Expect-From-Cocaine-Withdrawal.htm
http://www.drug-overdose.com/cocaine.htm
http://newyorkcriminaldefenseblawg.com/2010/09/understanding-possession-with-intent-to-sell/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine