QandAs: Tech

What Is Cocaine?

Answer:
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that is abused.

It falls under the classification of a stimulant, and it is considered to be a Schedule II substance. The commonly used form of cocaine is a white powder that is created from the leaves of the Erythroxylon Coca plant.

The most common method of using this drug is by snorting, or sniffing the white powder into the nasal passages. It can also be injected, rubbed on the gums, or be ingested orally. Some users will also smoke this drug.

Cocaine is a very strong stimulant causes excess amounts of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is primarily associated with the brain’s pleasure or reward system. The intense high will usually last for 15 to 30 minutes from snorting. The short term effects of this drug are the following: constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; stress on the heart and circulatory system; increased energy and alertness; hyperstimulation; euphoria; decreased appetite; impotence; restlessness and insomnia; irritability; anxiety and paranoia; and increased tendency for risky behaviors.

Long term use of this drug can lead to the following problems: headaches; convulsions and seizures; heart disease and heart attack; stroke; lung damage and disease; irritability and mood disturbances; auditory and tactile hallucinations; sexual dysfunction; reproductive damage and infertility; and sudden death.