Psychological Effects Of Cocaine Use

Cocaine, a narcotic drug that took the entire world by storm in the 1980’s, has continued to find it’s way into countries all over the world. The drug is a highly addictive stimulant that is extracted from the leaves of the Erythroxylon coca bush, which is indigenous to the Andean highlands of South America. It comes in two main forms, powder and crystalline, also known as “crack” (“Cocaine Use and Its Effects”). Although the short term effects of cocaine seem somewhat harmless, the long term effects are devastating and have ruined the lives of many users. The short and long term effects of cocaine can be seen on Ishmael Beah, and his companions in the novel A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah.

What is Cocaine? Cocaine is the most powerful stimulant of natural origin. It is taken from the leaves of the coca plant which is native to the Andean highlands of South America. It is a potent brain stimulant and one of the most addictive drugs. In ancient times, South American natives used coca for religious and medicinal purposes. The natives took advantage of cocaine’s stimulant properties to fight fatigue and hunger or to enhance endurance.

"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.

Cocaine originated from South America, from coca leaves. Originally, the coca leaves were chewed by workers to decrease fatigue, improve endurance and have a greater resistance to the cold. This was to benefit the workers so they could work longer hours and be more productive. In 1855 the active ingredient in cocaine was isolated from the leaves, and in 1880 it was used as a local anesthetic (Nunes,2006). It was also used in coca cola. In 1855, coca cola was a soda beverage that contained sixty milligrams of cocaine for every eight ounces of the beverage. The idea behind this was to give people energy and a sense of well being (Nunes, 2006). By the late 1880s Sigmund Freud was using cocaine regularly and was even recommending it to others.

One of the most detrimental and addictive narcotics in the world today is cocaine. Cocaine dates back as early as 3000 BC. Ancient Incas used the coca leaves to counter the effects of living in thin mountain air. Native Peruvians in the 1500’s chewed the plant strictly for religious ceremonies. Andean Indians are believed to chew the leaves of the coca plant to increase their energy for work while decreasing their hunger and pain. It wasn’t until 1859 when a German chemist Albert Niemann successfully extracted the narcotic from the coca leaf. In the 1880’s, it was freely prescribed by physicians for “maladies as exhaustion, depression, and morphine addiction and was available in many patent medicines” (“Cocaine”), until users and doctors began to realize its dangers and side effects. While it was not fully understood at the time, cocaine has many devastating and lasting effects on the user.

Cocaine usage is not as popular today as it was back in the 1900s but it continues to be abused as it was then. The drug has become addictive to those that used the drug intravenously, and free base (smoking crack). It has been said that individuals who try cocaine by inhaling, injecting, snorting would become addicted by using it for the first time. The individuals try to capture the pleasure or that high he/she first got when using the drug, the psychological effects of cocaine, addiction and dependence reports “only about 10 to 15% of those who initially try cocaine intranasally become abusers” (Gawin, 1991, p.1584).

Cocaine also known as crack cocaine is a stimulant drug, a stimulant raises one’s heart rate, attention and awareness and breathing. Stimulants were used to treat respiratory issues but is now prescribed for individuals with ADHD. In the 1800’s is when cocaine began to be seen as an addicting substance due it’s mood-altering effects on one’s brain. Cocaine can be inhaled through a pipe, when in powder form it can be snorted, and some individuals inject the drug into their bloodstream through intermuscular or intravenously. Individuals that use cocaine repeatedly use the drug within a short time span between each time used so that the euphoric high stays longer. The effects that cocaine has on the central nervous system is so

Cocaine originated from coca leaves grown in South America. People in South America tried the coca leaves. Due to the energy boost it gave them they had a feeling that there were drugs in the leaves. They then tested their theory. The test was putting the leaves in a special liquid and letting them dry out. They turned out to be right when they saw a powdery substance. This is how cocaine was first made. It now continues to be made with higher technology. The way they make it now is that they shrivel out the leaf like before. Then they compact the powder together to make cocaine. After the powder is made they refine it even more to make crack cocaine. Cocaine itself is very addicting. Crack cocaine is an even more addicting drug.

Cocaine has been shown to be the most common, most potent stimulant out there. It was found in the leaves of the erythroxylon coca plant in the Andean highlands, and it was used for many centuries as a relaxant and energizing tea by natives. It was used in surgeries to numb the nose, throat or eyes. It was useful in these areas because it constricted blood vessels and helped stop blood flow as well as acted as an anesthetic (Virtual Mass Spectrometry Laboratory 2003). Today cocaine is still used in hospitals for the same reason. Cocaine was also thought to be used to treat depression, alcoholism, and addiction to morphine. It was sold in pharmacies in Canada until around 1911. It made a return in the 1960s. Cocaine is illegal and is sold

This article focuses on examining how the brain effects cocaine dependent individuals and treatment. The first section primarily focuses on providing a biopsychosocial description of cocaine addiction or dependence based on recent research findings. This description includes a discussion on the evolution of cocaine dependence to become a major public health issue. This is followed by an evaluation of the social impact of the problem. The analysis is carried out on the premise on why cocaine dependence and

Coca is one of the oldest, most potent and dangerous stimulants of natural origin. It was first extracted from its leaves and isolated into cocaine in 1859. The drug rapidly became popular. But it took over 20 yrs. before it was popular in the medical community. Then, in 1886, coca leaves were an added ingredient Coca-Cola. Sigmund Freud, who used the drug himself, was the 1st person to promote cocaine as a tonic to cure depression and sexual impotence calling it a “magical” substance. He promoted the drug to friends, one of whom ended up suffering from paranoid hallucinations from it. He also had a patient die from a high dose that he had prescribed. In1905 snorting cocaine became

Some people call Cocain a street drug. Cocaine can get very addictive . Some doctors

In 1914 the Harrison Narcotic Act was enacted which restricted the usage of coca and by the 1930’s, consumption stood at an all-time low. Surprisingly the advent of another drug, amphetamine almost eradicated demand for cocaine, however similarly created a demand for other stimulants. During this period cocaine had been used primarily by what professionals touted as deviants and those who lived on the outskirts of society. In the 1960’s the cost of the white powder remained high therefore only a few were using it and other drug abuse was on the rise such as hallucinogens, barbiturates and amphetamines as a result little was being done around the addictive properties of cocaine. In the 1970’s cocaine abuse began to rise again and it was believed at the time that it was a relatively nonthreatening drug that was used recreationally. During that time the expense of the drug kept it as a drug that only a few could afford to partake in regularly. Prices came down as availability went up and afterward there occurred

The drug Cocaine alters chemical levels in the brain which can lead the user to have the ‘feel good’ factor.

A few nicknames for crack is Coke, Snow, flake, blow Cocaine will cause stomach pain headaches that make you shake go up or pass out cocaine will make you not want to eat cooking also raises blood pressure make your heart beat faster you could you could have a heart attack or stroke Some people might get the HIV virus or hepatitis if they use used needles they may forget this because of the drug high