Overview
Cocaine produces a sense of euphoria by causing the brain to release higher than normal amounts of some chemicals.
There are two forms of cocaine:
- Hydrochloride salt (coke)
- Crack cocaine or freebase
Hydrochloride salt is usually in a powdered form with a texture similar to baby powder.
Appearance
Though commonly white in appearance, cocaine can range in color from a clear white to and off-white, and sometimes yellowish color.
Common paraphernalia associated with cocaine use includes small baggies, straws or other tubes, pipes, mirrors, spoons, razor blades, and lighters.
Symptoms and Behavior
- Short Term Effects
- Long Term Effects
- Medical complications
- Relationships (Family/Friends/etc.)
Overdose
Cocaine overdose occurs when a person takes enough of the drug for it to reach toxic levels in their system. Overdose toxicity dan depend largely on the individual user and their specific susceptibility to the toxins. Drug may also vary greatly because, in its street form, cocaine is often mixed or “cut” with other materials in order to increase profits for dealers.
Common physical overdose symptoms include:
- Elevated heart rate
- Chest pain
- Rise in body temperature
- Tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
Psychological symptoms may include:
- Panic
- Delirium
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
Withdrawal
When cocaine use is stopped or when a binge ends, a crash follows almost right away. During the crash, the user often has a strong craving for more cocaine. Other symptoms include fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, and sometimes agitation or extreme suspicion or paranoia.
Cocaine withdrawal often has no visible physical symptoms.
In cases of acute cocaine withdrawal, symptoms often resolve after about 7-10 days. It is important to note that due to the relatively short half-life of cocaine, withdrawal symptoms can begin as soon as 90 minutes after the last dose in individuals with significant dependence.
Although there are no known FDA-approved medications that specifically treat cocaine withdrawal, there are some promising medications including buprenorphine and naltrexone may offer assistance for people in cocaine withdrawal.