Substance Abuse Disorders Video Analysis

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 long term effects of cocaine are very extreme. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty controlling the urge to use the drug and the perspective might change leaving the consumption of the drug as primordial. Cocaine’s stimulant and addictive effects are due primarily as a result of its ability to stop the reabsorption of dopamine by nerve

"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.

The short term effects of the crack includes: higher breathing rate, elevated blood pressure, soaring heart rate, compressed blood vessels, lack of appetite, dilated pupils, extreme euphoria for both casual and heavy users. The long term effects are the following: depression, violent, fearful performances, hallucinations, bad temper, psychosis, heart attack/stroke, sterility (for both men and women), brain convulsion, respiratory malfunction and even death for heavy users! Since crack cocaine is exceedingly addictive, addicts can easily build up tolerance and become addicted in a short time by smoking it constantly. There are many ways to take crack cocaine. Users can smoke through a hand pipe or a water pipe, snort, infuse through vein, or they can combine crack with marijuana, heroin etc (University Of Maryland). While taking crack, users face plenty of risks like: coughing, respiratory bleeding, out of breath, paranoia, lung trauma and many more (“Crack cocaine facts”). Dealers shipped crack cocaine from the Bahamas and the Caribbean to Miami, where the dealers would sell it for lower incomes (“A Complete History of Crack Cocaine”). Anyone can be addicted to crack cocaine – from adults to teens. Crack cocaine is most rampant in urban regions but addicts from rural areas can also be seen. Crack is highly addictive because a user trying for the first time becomes addicted to it and he uses it many times throughout the day. A single dosage is inexpensive but a crack

When America came through the 1980’s heroin and cocaine were being used very often, and then other drugs started to come about like Ecstasy and crack (newsnarconon, 2009). Crack was the alternative to cocaine because it was cheaper to buy, but it was also highly addictive (newsnarconon, 2009). Crack became so popular because it could be smoked instead of snorted, and when it was smoked, it would absorb more quickly across the blood brain barrier, in about six seconds (newsnarconon, 2009). Crack then became a huge because of how cheap it was and that is when “crack babies” we being born, which were babies who were

Dr. Jeffery Rosecan, director of the Cocaine Abuse Treatment Program at Colombia-Presbyterian Medical Center often describes crack addicts, often called “crack-heads” as follows, “They first start to suffer personality changes especially paranoia, then their lives start to fall apart, along with their relationships and they move into a life of emotional extremes, crime, illness, and possibly death.”

On September 10, 1986, Mr. Jordan was sentenced to life for second-degree murder. At the time Mr. Jordan was a highly functional drug addict, with a job as a janitor at Temple University Hospital and another with his brother at a construction company. He had been introduced to cocaine at the age of nineteen at a friend’s house. He was a daily cocaine user for four to five years. He struggled financially to make ends meet while also supporting his girlfriend’s drug habit. The day of the crime he had been drinking alcohol and freebasing cocaine for approximately fifteen hours. Free-basing cocaine is known to cause adverse health consequences including toxic psychological reactions like dysphoria, agitation, and irritability (Tashkin et al). In addition, according to a Report on Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy by the United States Sentencing Commission, free-basing cocaine has one of the most rapid increases in physiological responses in comparison to other consumption methods and leads to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, increased body temperature, and symptoms similar to hypertension. The psychotropic effects of cocaine include a reduction of social inhibitions ("Cocaine, Its Forms, Methods of Use, and Pharmacology"), which in Mr. Jordan’s case may have included a heightening of propensity to violence. To make matters worse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “cocaine abuse coupled with use of

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the three main learning objectives in chapters 5-10, brought out by David Sheff author of “Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy”. The objectives are: (1) Discuss use becomes abuse and abuse becomes addiction, (2) Discuss the disease of addiction and, (3) Discuss Detoxification It is not unique when a person attends a party and gets introduced to a drug, they may try it for many reasons, relaxation, to fit in, or just to be sociable. Some who try a drug as the author states, will use once, some moderately and then occasionally. However, others will begin to increase use not realizing what is happening to their minds, bodies or lives. This is called recreational drug use, which

In quite a few lower-class communities, phrases like “your mom is a crack head,” or “shut up crack baby” are said jokingly to make fun of someone during what we call a “rip session.” Although said as a joke, some are very offended by the comments. Why? because for some, crack addiction hits too close to home for comfort. Seeing how easy it is obtained in lower class and poverty stricken neighborhoods, many find themselves falling victim to the powerful substance, crack cocaine. Low sociable economic systems are just one of the many factors that can lead to the use, and addiction of crack cocaine, others include movies, music, peer pressure, alcohol and cigarette ads. In this report I will discuss

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).

According, to Claus and Kindleberger (2002). A with substance abuse problem needs to be assessed and apply appropriate strategies. Ricky cocaine addiction has put a strained on his relationship with his family because, they do not know his is using drugs, and his addiction has also put him in a lot of trouble with the law. He also says when he is around his friend they influence him to use drugs. Ricky also stated that his learning social skill has never been what it should have been growing up. He had a hard time learning the information in school, which is while it took him so long to graduate. Social Skill is the "lack of knowledge, as opposed to intentional deviance "(Walsh, 2009). This deficit is found in children between the age 7 and 10. After, reviewed the case files from his prior records and notes from our sessions. I have come up with this assessment cocaine is the major issue that he is facing. Therefore, if he gets this under control then he can deal with the other issues that he is dealing with. I also assess that this drug problem is taking a major total on his body. Because, it is harming his body, which could cause major concern in the long run. People who use cocaine is 5 times more likely to suffer a drug related stroke. In my finding it was also relieved that after, using crack he goes into a stage of withdrawing. In which he doesn 't communicate with anyone and he sleeps all the time. I have determined since this is the major force

Crack has an effect on the part of the brain that is known as the rewards center. It is the part that makes us happy. Normally how this works is the brain will release dopamine, a feel good chemical neurotransmitter, in response to potential rewards that are coming its way. It will then be recycled back into the same cell that released it. The signal between nerve cells shuts off, then the cycle is then repeated. When someone puts crack cocaine into their body, the cocaine gets sent up to the brain through the bloodstream. It then will attach itself to the dopamine, preventing the dopamine from recycling. This causes it all to build up between the nerve cells and be released all at once, resulting in the powerful rushed high feeling people get. This lasts anywhere between 5 minutes to a half hour. After using it one time, people can become addicted. However, with each use the pleasurable feelings fade away, making people want a bigger dosage, which could lead to a negative

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

Because physicians believed that cocaine was a cure for heart disease, they promoted its use, and a major soft drink company Coca Cola used this drug substance in their soft drinks (Blachford, Krapp). It was not until more research was concluded and publicized that the real effects of cocaine were made public. It was determined that cocaine stimulates the central nervous system which increased the heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature (Blachford, Krapp). Cocaine in the natural coca leaf state is not, whatsoever, addictive nor does this drug create a euphoric reaction in the user, but when chemically altered, the drug is addictive (Blachford, Krapp). In the process of using cocaine, the dopamine and serotonin receptors are disrupted. These specific receptors affect one’s mood, memory, and appetite (O’Sullivan). Also bupropion is a prescribed medication that people use as a mimic for cocaine (Koshy). Bupropion goes by the name of “poor man’s cocaine” because of the inexpensive price of $2.50 per pill and the cocaine-like high the user receives (Koshy). Again Postman’s argument proves itself true with the history that surrounds cocaine use: people were unaware of the side effects of cocaine use due to lack of knowledge about the drug. Referring to Brave New World, soma causes the people to “[embark] for lunar eternity” just as cocaine stimulates the

Crack is the most addictive form of cocaine and it spread rapidly throughout the 80’s in New York City. Crack is four times as strong and purified by a process called freebasing. It is sold in solid chunks, two or three chunks in a vial and sold for twenty dollars ready to be smoked. Crack was becoming so popular that it widespread from New York to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. The drug was so powerful that it emptied the money from your pockets, it made people sell the watch off their wrist and the clothes off their back. A chunk of crack cocaine took about five minutes to smoke and gave a high of about ten minutes, and left people craving for more. The rich and the poor were addicted and it wasn’t only one race using it. It was whites, blacks,