Drug Intoxication And Its Effect On People

One can feel the effects of cocaine almost immediately after use, with these effects lasting only a few minutes or hours. The duration of cocaine 's effects depends upon how it is administered. The faster the drug is absorbed, the more intense the high, but also the shorter the duration. The high from snorting is relatively slow to arrive but it may last 15 to 30 minutes. In contrast, the effects from smoking are more immediate but may last only 5 to 10 minutes. “In the brain, cocaine interferes with the chemical messengers -- neurotransmitters -- that nerves use to communicate with each other. Cocaine blocks norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed. The resulting

The short term physiological effects of cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Large amounts intensify the user’s high, but may also lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior. The short term effects on the brain are tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, paranoia. Some users of cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety

First of all this research paper will examine the history of cocaine, answer exactly who used it, effects of the drug and its addictive nature. People choose to write about cocaine so that others can clearly see and understand its historical origins and dangerous properties. Those who experiment with drugs should become aware of their dangerous effects and take caution. The more people that become knowledgeable about cocaine, the more they can protect themselves from seriously endangering themselves. Cocaine users that are seriously dependent on the drug can seek treatment and rehabilitate. Most cocaine users do not realize they have a problem until it becomes too late. Much like the alcoholic, a cocaine dependent’s body

The purpose of this research paper is to inform my audience of three primary sections based on biological aspect of the addictive substance cocaine, and its addictive properties. This will include the primary effects on the brain and other organs in the human body. The second section will confer, clinical issues along with medical treatment, future directions of treatment. The third section biological aspects of the addictive substance from a biblical perspective will be discussed. Some areas of interest include freedom and caution for Christian counselor’s based on the addictive substance used.

As a coach, I had a player, who was very polite and worked hard in practice. She was very timid around other teammates. She would stop in to talk to me and never had friends that I could see her relate to. Trying to fit in desperately, she was happy to be included in the “social” activities in college. She got pregnant and her boy friend and her were arrested for conspiracy to deliver cocaine and both sentenced to prison. This course states cocaine can cause an initial rush of pleasure that makes you alert, talkative and confident. With prolonged exposure to meth and cocaine, it can destroy up to 50% of dopamine – producing neurons in certain parts of the brain. This can lead to irreversible symptons of Parkinson’s disease. (Cocaine handout) After several letters from her in prison, she thanked me for being a good listener. I know her family closed their eyes thinking it’s not an addiction, but a social activity that they can quit at any time. This course explains how a higher level of dopamine on a regular basis is needed just to keep you feeling normal. Cocaine can make people feel paranoid, angry and hostile even when they are not high. Prolonged use causes sleep deprivation and loss of appetite. A person can become psychotic and experience hallucinations. It increases the risk that the user will experience a heart attack, stroke, or respiratory failure which can result in sudden death. (Foundation for a Drug-Free

The effects of crack cocaine are felt shortly after a person uses it. There are both physical and psychological effects that a person may experience. Dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, temperature and heart rate and constricted blood vessels are some of the physical effects. Some of

It can cause respitory failure, stroke and heart failure. People who continue to use cocaine may show symptoms similar to schizophrenia, it can cause severe mood swings, reduce libido, weight loss and insomnia. It is estimated that 1.3 million people in the U.S. use cocaine every month (Virtual Mass Spectrometry Laboratory 2003).

The Stages of Change by Prochaska and DiClemente includes five stages. Based on the activity of the drug education curriculum. In the precontemplation stage the individual is aware of the curriculum and know the date to attend but do not plan on attending at all. In the contemplation stage, the individual is aware of the curriculum and does a self-reevaluation. In the preparation stage, the individual knows that the underage drinking needs to stop so they attempt at not associating themselves with their peers within 30 days. In the action stage, the individual attends the bi-weekly drug education class. In the maintenance stage, the individual keeps up with the program continually for a long period of time.

When cocaine is used an electrical signal in the presynaptic nerve cell release neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell. Once the neurotransmitters are bound to the receptors a release of a new electrical signal occurs in the postsynaptic cell. The neurotransmitters are gradually removed from the receptors and brought back into the presynaptic cell through neurotransmitter specific reuptake pumps on the lining of the presynaptic cell. Cocaine affects the levels of dopamine, serotonin and Norephedrine by blocking the reuptake pumps.This results in excess levels of the neurotransmitters to be in the synaptic cleft. These high levels of neurotransmitters continue to bind to receptors which releases more electrical signals to the postsynaptic neuron. Over time this hyperactivity of the neuron causes the postsynaptic cell to reduce the number of receptors on it. Once the hyperactivity stops in the postsynaptic cell normal cell function resumes. However with fewer receptor cells the user feels a lessened sensation of the neurotransmitters. The physiological effects of cocaine can be attributed to the chemical process it disrupts in the nerve cells. Loss of appetite, disturbed sleep patterns, nausea, anxiety, paranoia and depression are attributed to altered serotonin levels. Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased body temperature, contracted

When the user starts to come down from the high things can take a turn for the worst. Addicts, and or users can become very angry and irritable. The feeling of high from cocaine ending leaves someone to feel very uncomfortable. Anyone who feels irritable or uncomfortable is prone to become loud, and violent with their surroundings’. The demand for more cocaine will increase dramatically. If cocaine users do not get more cocaine, things can and most likely turn for the worst. No matter if one is sober or under the influence no one wants to be angry. It’s human nature to be happy, however the use of cocaine comes between finding a happiness without substance. The only way for an addicts to be has happy as they were before is to continue to put drugs into their body. Users want to “recapture the initial high” (Morton). The only way to get the initial high is to feed the body more

There are two common effects that are used today. Those two effects are short-term effect and long-term effect. Some short-term effects are dilated pupils, nausea, hyper stimulation, and depression. Other short-term effects are panic and psychosis, increased rate of breathing, and contracted blood vessels. Long-term effects are permanent damage to blood vessels of the heart and the brain, liver, kidney, and lung damage. Other long-term effects are weight loss, tooth decay, sexual problems, reproductive damage (men and women), and infertility. The most disastrous victims of cocaine are babies. Babies that are born to mothers who use the drug throughout their pregnancy can have effects as well. Some babies that are not addicted suffer from

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug that has become increasingly prevalent due to its rewarding effects. The rewarding effects of cocaine are largely mediated by its actions in blocking brain dopamine transmitters to increase extracellular levels of the neurotransmitter in the brain’s reward circuits (Hancock & McKim, 2012). Cocaine is administered through the nose, where it is absorbed through the nasal tissues, or intravenously into the bloodstream. Once cocaine has been administered into the body, like Amphetamines, it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system causing an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. The effect of cocaine on mood and performance is what creates a strong dependence among users. In low doses, it produces euphoria, exhilaration, feelings of well-being, and an increased interest in sex. As the doses increase, the feelings are replaced by anxiety, hyperactivity, sleep deprivation, and paranoia (Hancock & McKim, 2012).

The drug that this article discusses is cocaine. Cocaine is a very strong agonistic stimulant that is often used as a recreational drug. The second most frequently used illegal drug, cocaine is commonly administered by intravenous injection, snorting and inhalation. Some of the symptoms of the physiological toxicity that may come from consuming cocaine include a fast heart rate, sweating, and large pupils, as well as very high blood pressure or body temperature when consuming high doses. These effects usually begin within seconds of consumption and usually last between five minutes and ninety minutes. The symptoms of the behavioral toxicity often disillusion from reality, mood swings, an intense feeling of bliss, or anxiety. Withdrawals may result in dysphoria, physical aches and pains, depression, cravings and anxiety. The neurotransmitter that is affected by cocaine is dopamine ("How Cocaine affects the Brain").

As aforementioned just some of the physical effects of cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increase in one’s temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure (Cocaine, 2015). Some may also experience tremors, vertigo, and muscle twitches (Cocaine, 2015). Some of the long term effects of this irritability, mood disturbances, and restlessness, and ultimately cardiac arrest meaning death (Cocaine, 2015).

For starters, cocaine physically changes the structure of the nerve cells. After prolonged exposure to cocaine, the cells begin to grow and extend on their respective dendrites (Nestler, 2005). This may sound like a positive reaction to cocaine but it is far from that. The increase in number of dendrites “theoretically will collect a greater volume of nerve cells” which will give the amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal cortex more control over the nucleus accumbens, also known as the reward center in the brain (Kreek, Levran, Reed, Schlussman, Zhou & Butellman, 2012). This physical change can cause the user to recall drug-associate memories, as mentioned before. These alterations unfortunately leave the user with an altered limbic system – causing potential behavioral problems in the future. Cocaine also aids in more than unfavorable physical risks, which include spiked blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature, increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, seizures or respiratory failure. Cocaine has very unpleasant effects when it comes to the user’s heart. After cocaine inhalation, “cocaine is rapidly absorbed through the respiratory tract within seconds to minutes” (Keller, 2003). Not only does cocaine consumption affect the neurotransmitter dopamine, but it also affects the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. The natural presynaptic uptake of norepinephrine is blocked after cocaine is used which increases catecholamine