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drug guide
COCAINE/CRACK
         
         
         
         
 
 
What is cocaine?

Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine is a major stimulant of the central nervous system. This is the drug that created the greatest psychological dependence.

 
 
Consumption form : 

Cocaine:

They Cocaine is mostly absorbed nasally (sniff).

Sniff is the most popular way of use.

Intravenous injection (rarely).

Inhalation (free-basing).

Application over the mucosa (rarely).

Sometimes injected cocaine is mixed with heroine; this cocktail is called "speed-ball".

 

Crack:

Smoked, the user inhales the smoke after heating it (this operation causes cracking ups, origin of its name).

Intravenous injection.

 
 
What are the effects?
Category : Stimulants
Caractéristics : The coca tree supplies the raw material (300 kg of dried leaves gives about 1 kg of cocaine).
 Chemical obtained cocaine gives to crack effects faster and more dangerous.
 

General order effects:

  Euphoric sensation accompanied by a sensation of physical and intellectual power.
  Stimulation phase followed by a period of depression.
  Delay in the appearance of fatigue and reduction of food and dream needs.
  Dependence.
 
More serious effects:
  An overexcitement state can go up to hallucinations and delirium, accompanied by tremors and muscular shivering.
  Perforation of the nasal septum, in those who take it nasally.
  Death by convulsions, hypothermia, cardiac failure, etc.. Caused by an overdose.
  At long term, appearance of syndromes of schizophrenia and/or paranoia.
 
Crack effects:
The form of crack consumption causes more intense effects than with cocaine : the product arrives faster to the brain but its effects are shorter.
The characteristic crack " flash " gives an intense immediate euphoric sensation. It lasts between five and fifteen minutes.

Risks
The descent, extremely brutal, is accompanied by a strong need to retake it IMMEDIATELY. Crack causes a physical exhaustion and can carry cardiac problems. It can also be the origin of violent behaviour, attributed to the effects over the brain and the band phenomenon that comes with the traffic.



Dependence: Cocaine is a psychotropic, produces one of the strongest psychological dependences. Its easiness to fight depression, fatigue and low self-esteem increases its capacity to answer to the needs of people with depressive tendency. For many users is very difficult to stop.

Dependence can be developed in a very short period of time. When there are signs of tolerance (need of bigger quantities to obtain the very same effect) or detoxification, or compulsive behaviour related to obtainment or use, there is dependence. Dependence usually carries, in especial, financial problems, negligence of work or parenthood responsibilities and physical and mental disorders. These last ones (pursuit thought, aggressive behaviour, anxiety, depression and lost of weight) are common in chronic use cases.

Crack causes a very strong mental dependence established in few days. Relapse tendencies last several months, even years. In case of crack overdose, epileptic convulsions (in a non epileptic person) are possible.
 
 
Legislation :
Cocaine as crack are illegal products.

 

     



 
 
 
 
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Parents Contre la Drogue (C) - Serge LEBIGOT