Crack Cocaine Research Paper

"Cocaine and crack are among the most addictive substances known to modern science, and they have already ruined the lives of millions of Americans" (Morganthau and Miller, 208). Cocaine and crack are both dangerous, harmful drugs. Though pleasurable effects can be obtained from these drugs, the use of crack and cocaine cannot be worth the actual consequences that are inflicted on mind and body. The bad effects of these drugs, by far outweigh the good. Because crack and cocaine are so closely related, it is important to have a firm understanding of both drugs.

Crack cocaine has been popular since the 1970s and mid 1980s. Crack cocaine is not a new drug; this drug is obtained from coca plant which grows mainly in South America. For many years, the native South American Indians chewed its leaves to develop strength and increased energy. By the 1800s, the cocaine was secluded from its leaves and used as a medicinal drug. By the late 1800s, it was used as an anesthetic and to avert surgical hemorrhage. The next century, people recognized crack cocaine an addictive narcotic and its non-medical use of the drug was ended by the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914 (“How crack cocaine works?”).

For short-term use, cocaine can provide extreme happiness, enhanced sensitivity to sound and touch or mental alertness. People takes cocaine as it can provide energy on their work but a long-term use of cocaine may lead to malnourishment, irritability, restlessness, paranoia and auditory hallucination (NIDA, 2016; Roncero, C., et al., 2013). Also, cocaine abuse may have other complications such as nosebleed because of snorting, difficulties in swallowing and easily infected by HIV or hepatitis C through needle injection and the misjudgment on having unsafe sex (NIDA, 2016). On the other hand, long-term use of cocaine may lead to addiction and a stronger dosage will be taken when they have any withdrawal symptoms. For instance, symptoms of depression, fatigue and increased appetite. Nowadays, still no medicines were approved for treating the addiction on cocaine and thus the treatment of cocaine addiction is

The effects of ethanol on humans starts when the alcohol enters the bloodstream, and the more alcohol that enters the bloodstream, there’s a higher risk for effects. Some of the effects include, “reduced inhibitions, slurred speech, motor impairment, confusion, memory problems, concentration problems, coma, breathing problems, and even death. Additionally, alcohol can cause car crashes and accidents, risky behavior, violent behavior, and suicide or homicide.” Alcohol can also take effect on the brain, heart (cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stoke, HBP), liver (alcoholic hepatitis), pancreas, can cause cancer, and can cause damage to one’s immune system.

NEW YORK (WENY) - It's estimated there are more two million people addicted to cocaine in the United States. Cornell University's medical college is working to help those people kick the habit by creating a anti-cocaine vaccination.

Unadulterated cocaine is separated from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca shrub discovered for the most part in South America(Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia). The coca leaf, the utilization of which goes back to no less than 3000 BC, has for some time been used for its capacity to help vitality, mitigate exhaustion, and reduce hunger. Coca leaves have additionally been utilized as a part of teas and at one time were joined in drinks, for example, Coca Cola. As cocaine's prominence expanded in the 1880s and 1890s, reports of habit developed, and the potential damage from the medication was soon perceived. Subsequently, the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 was gone to forbid the importation of cocaine and coca leaves, except for pharmaceutical employments.

Cocaine is a drug made from the leaves of a coca plant that is native to South America- most commonly Colombia. While Cocaine can be legally used for medical purposes such as anesthesia, it is often found as an illegal drug on the streets. On the streets, cocaine can be found as a crystal-white powder. Street dealers will often mix cornstarch, talcum powder, flour, and other drugs or stimulants such as amphetamine with the cocaine in order to make greater profits. It is common for cocaine to be called other names on streets such as: blow, coke, crack, rock, or snow.

Cocaine which is also known as coke is a powerful restorative mostly used as a recreational drug. Some humans usually snort it, inhale it or even inject it into their veins. Whatever method is used of taking it in, cocaine immediately enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain. In the brain, cocaine obstructs with the chemical messengers neurotransmitters that nerves use to interact with each other. The resulting chemical increase between nerves causes the human to feel high. Feeling high is described as feeling restlessness, paranoid, etc. Cocaine can narrow blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes or even heart attacks. Cocaine can react to the brain by causing the human to have seizures and can lead to violent behavior. The brain

Cocaine induces issues in the central nervous system that can quickly transform into a life threatening addiction. Cocaine is a highly addictive, dangerous, and illegal stimulant drug. Once cocaine penetrates the blood brain barrier, it clogs up dopamine receptors. Consequently, dopamine will bond and overstimulate the receptors of nearby cells. Cocaine affects many parts of the brain such as the hippocampus, amygdala, the frontal lobe, the nucleus accumbens, and the ventral tegmental area. As a result, the user remembers the pleasures brought by cocaine. Affected nucleus accumbens cause the user to want to repeat that sensation again. Additionally, one of the frontal lobe’s purpose is to rejects activities that have too many negative consequences,

For my research paper I chose the drug Cocaine as my research topic. "Cocaine delivers an intensity of pleasure - and despair - beyond the bounds of normal human experience. Probably very few people aspire to be drug addicts. But it happens, every day. Why? What is so good about a drug that can potentially destroy a person 's body? How does it work? What are its effects on the brain? Why is it so hard to quit? Cocaine (C17H21NO4) comes from the leaf of an Erythroxylon coca bush. It is a drug that affects the central nervous system. It causes feelings of euphoria, pleasure, increased energy and alertness. People under the influence of cocaine often do not feel the need for food or sleep. They also feel energetic and may talk a lot. However, depending on factors such as environment, dosage, and the manner in which the drug is taken, cocaine can have adverse effects such as violent, erratic behavior, dizziness, paranoia, insomnia, convulsions, and heart failure to name a few. Long- term effects of cocaine include, but are not limited to strokes, heart attacks, seizures, loss of memory, and decrease in learning capability (1). People may not always know the exact consequences of the drug they are taking; however, chances are that they do know that the drug is unhealthy for them. Schools across the country educate about the dangers of drug use and abuse through programs like D.A.R.E., television stations show anti-drug advertisements as a public service, and even city buses

The effects of alcohol on the body is very dangerous it can cause many problems. Brain damage is the number one problem that alcohol causes. It kills brain cells causing lower reaction times, memory loss, and can even cause you to have blackouts (Passing out at random times). Drinking alcohol is the 2nd biggest cause of cancer (Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer). Drinking alcohol can cause many issues with your organs such as heart issues, lung issues, stomach issues, etc…. Alcohol also weakens your body’s ability to absorb calcium making your bones weaker. It also causes many people to weight gain. Drinking alcohol is a cause of domestic abuse (When somebody abuses people in their home) which is putting more than just yourself in danger

From liver disease to poisoning, alcohol can destroy lives and hurt people. Emotionally, alcohol can cause and/or worsen depression, cause addiction or alcoholism, and can force people out of your lives. Since alcohol is a depressant, it can cause a person to feel worse and even make them have suicidal thoughts or actions. Addiction can cause the alcohol to control you and make you spend more money on it to continue feeling the sensation of drinking. Physically, it can cause liver poisoning, kidney failure and stroke.

Alcohol is a drug classified as a depressant, ethanol alcohol is found only in beverages such as beer, wine, liquor, etc. The effect depends on the amount of alcohol a person consumes, when a person consumes more than what they are supposed to them can experience nausea, loss of balance, dizziness, blackout, inability to drive or to think wisely, they lose control of themselves and are not aware of the danger they may be in. After the person is no longer intoxicated the effects they experience is a hangover, and feelings of sadness or guilty. Those with alcoholism problems become physical and emotional dependence on alcohol and experience problems with speech, health problems like depression, cancer, or liver damage. Alcohol in general can affect a person’s life in many ways, it can affect not only the person who consumes it but their family, friends and the community they live in.

Brain – Brain damage, tremors, dementia and nerve damage. Alcohol is a depressant drug and effects your co-ordination, self-control, judgment and reaction time.

Alcohol interferes with brain’s connection pathway which can affect the brain’s works and looks. These interruptions can cause in the person’s change of mood and behavior. The presence of alcohol may trigger the person from doing things that he/she doesn't normally do, and may also alter a person's sense of equilibrium.