Cocaine

What It Does
Cocaine may be injected, inhaled (snorted), or smoked and may leave the user feeling restless, nervous, anxious, and irritable. Continued use of cocaine leads to an inability to achieve the "high" that first-time users report. The addictive properties of cocaine are unpredictable and lead to different levels of dependency in individual users.

Physically, cocaine affects the central nervous system and blocks the reabsorption of the chemical dopamine, which is associated with pleasure. Cocaine users have dilated pupils and increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Immediate effects include reduced mental function and fatigue and increased hyperactivity. The long term cocaine users report depression, paranoia, nasal damage (in those who snort), and cocaine use can result in cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Infofax - Crack and Cocaine

Arizona Statistics
For Arizona citizens under 15, cocaine type drugs accounted for four deaths from 1985-1995. A total of nine deaths for older youth (15-19 years) were attributed to cocaine type drugs during the same time period.

Straight talk about cocaine
"I've been in the hospital wishing to die, killed my liver for my drugs, and lived through those endless nights. I've lived in hell for three years because of my addiction. Snorted thousands of dollars away. Why? Because my best friend told me it would help."

"The only thing that stopped us are our kids.. We were lucky we still had them. Cocaine feeds you with false hopes that life is so good. Once it has brain washed you, you have no hopes."

Other Web Resources

• SIPE - Web Resources
• Cocaine Anonymous
• Facts About Cocaine