Cocaine/Coca

Behavioural symptoms

• Reckless and risky behaviour
• Sudden boost in energy
• Excessive talking
• Violence
• High consumption of alcohol

Physical symptoms

• Nose bleeding
• Increased heart rate
• Decreased need for sleep
• Dilated pupils
• Sexual dysfunction
• Risk of HIV and hepatitis

Serious side effects of cocaine

• Reproductive damage and infertility
• Serious brain damage (Psychosis)
• Liver, kidney and lung damage
• High amount of tolerance and addiction even after one use
• Severe depression
• Hallucinations
• Damage to blood vessels of brain and heart
• Respiratory failure

Cocaine is induced out of the coca plant which has huge cultivation in countries like Columbia, Argentina, Ecuador and Peru. It is in the form of white powder and is mostly inhaled from nose, taken orally or smoked.

HISTORY
Cocaine was invented in 1860 by a German student Albert Niemann who was studying for chemistry doctorate. It was later used as a local anesthetic, while performing eye surgeries.
Now days cocaine has become a commonly used drug among rich people, it is also one of the most addictive drug in the world.

Alcohol and Cocaine a Dangerous combination

Cocaine users mostly abuse this drug alongside alcohol, it is a deadly combination as cocaine increases the metabolism in the body and as a result a person starts drinking way more than his normal limit. A cocaine and alcohol session severely damages the brain and liver damage alongside rapid changes in the respiratory and heart functions, which can lead to sudden death due to cardiac arrest, seizure or heart stroke.

Mr M A, age 25 was introduced to Cocaine at his best friend’s birthday party. He inhaled 3-4 lines of cocaine along with consuming alcohol, he defined his experience; feeling a sudden rush of energy, high alertness, becoming extremely talkative and active, he enjoyed this sudden rush, which he experienced because of cocaine and termed it as the best night of his life. Soon he started doing cocaine every week and he loved it as he could drink more alcohol after taking cocaine. He couldn’t sleep at night and felt extremely alert, even while in bed. Then he started taking cocaine every day, inhaling 20-25 lines worth over Rs 5,000. Later in a few months started encountering auditory hallucinations and became extremely paranoid in social situations, where he thought people are staring at him unnecessarily and spying on his movements. He used cocaine excessively and in order to sleep he started taking sleeping pills. His condition became extremely serious and upon seeing his condition, his friend got him to the clinic, upon examination it was found out that he had developed psychosis.