Cocaine comes from the coca plant mostly grown in South America. When snorted by nose, cocaine provides an initial euphoric state of heightened awareness which dissipates rapidly leaving the user wanting another hit very soon after the previous one but the effect gets less each time.
Neurons, or nerve cells, release a pleasure signalling chemical called dopamine which interacts with cocaine. Dopamine levels and levels of a protein called VMAT2 are much lower in cocaine users and especially low in those who are depressed. Therefore, the specific neurons cocaine interacts with are adversely disturbed by the drug’s effects.
Pleasurable feelings or sensations are triggered by the release of dopamine in the brain which helps to drive humans to eat, feel emotions and reproduce and is also the reason that a drug high is experienced. The dopamine system is involved in the urge to repeat pleasurable experiences, which explains addicts’ cravings.
The first time someone takes cocaine, it blocks the process which sends dopamine back to its home cells after it has triggered the pleasurable sensation. The chemical then builds up in the junction between the cells, sending the pleasure signals over and over again, creating the “high” cocaine users feel.
Dangers of cocaine
Cocaine can cause users to have delusions of grandeur and narcissistic tendencies and can make them over talkative. It can cause binge-drinking of alcohol as it subdues the effect and makes the user thirsty, but it takes away the appetite for food. Long-term use can cause nutrient deficiencies.
Repeated cocaine use damages and even kills, the very brain cells that trigger the “high” users yearn for by actually destroying key cells in the brain’s pleasure centre leading to increased use to try to obtain this illusive high.
Paranoia and depression can be the result when the user stops taking cocaine.
The long-term effects of cocaine use could also explain users’ decreased motivation, stunted emotions and difficulty with stopping use of the drug leading to weight gain and apathy.
It can cause nose bleeds and irreversibly rot the delicate tissues within the nasal passages and the gums and cause the heart to increase in size leading to heart attacks.
It can crystallise and remain in the lungs and lead to chronic pulmonary disorder and respiratory problems like asthma.
Sharing snorting straws has been linked to the contraction of hepatitis and other contagious blood borne infections and viruses like Covid-19.
Cocaine is always cut with substances that resemble the powder like appearance such as baby laxative, glucose and even harmful cleaning products so that the cocaine dealers can make a larger profit. This can take place a few times with each dealer that the drug passes through before the cocaine is purchased by the end user.
This can lead to a lethal concoction which, over time, can severely damage the body and even lead to Parkinson’s disease due to the damage done to nerves and brain cells.
Smoking or injecting cocaine, which is far stronger, has far worse ill effects and is highly addictive.
Related subjects
- Addictions
- Gum disease
- Medication dangers
- Neurological disorders
- Nerve damage
- Paranoia
- Parkinson’s disease