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How Cocaine Affects The Human Body

By: Chris Channing The coca plant, native to South America, can be prepared in a way that produces a powerful central nervous stimulant and topical anesthetic known as cocaine. The most popular methods of using cocaine are inhaling it into the nose (insufflating) and injecting it into the bloodstream. Another form of cocaine, called crack or freebase, is smoked. This creates a far more powerful high that only lasts a short while.

Effects of Cocaine in the Short Term

As a powerful central nervous system stimulant, cocaine has a profound effect on the way the brain functions. Often used as a party drug, cocaine causes sensations of joy and euphoria. Adding to its party drug persona is cocaine's ability to eliminate fatigue and keep people awake, allowing them to stay up longer and dance longer. Not unlike amphetamines, a select few use cocaine while working to help them stay up, concentrate longer, and get more accomplished in the same amount of time.

After large amounts of cocaine have been consumed, an individual's behavior may change in many different ways. People on cocaine, particularly high doses, are often irritable and irrational. Hallucinations can occur, as well as intense feelings of paranoia. These factors all lead to aggressive, violent, and antisocial behaviors. In addition to its adverse psychological effects, cocaine takes quite the toll on the human body, particularly the circulatory system. As cocaine is introduced to the body, pupils begin to dilate and perspiration may take place. A loss of appetite and decreased desire to sleep takes place. Heart rate increases, as well as blood pressure. When coupled with the rigorous physical activity that often goes hand in hand with cocaine usage, the risk of stroke, heart attack, and seizures increases. People who are sensitive to stimulants or have risk of any of these things happening should not under any circumstances use cocaine.

Compared to opiate withdrawal, withdrawal from cocaine is not nearly as dangerous to the user, although it is in no way a walk in the park. Cessation of cocaine abuse can lead to paranoid thoughts, loss of sexual drive, suicidal tendencies, and an overall sense of apathy. These symptoms are enough to tempt users to use cocaine just to get rid of them, and this self-medication often leads to a cycle of abuse, addiction, and eventually a dependency on the drug.

Cocaine's Long-Term Effects

The long-term risks of using cocaine are basically more serious versions of the short-term effects. Extreme restlessness and anxiety lead to a barrage of paranoid thoughts and violent mood changes. Insomnia is also common among regular cocaine users, as cocaine prevents the user from being able to sleep. This inability to fall asleep, combined with the other effects of cocaine can lead to dangerous weight loss while on the drug. When using cocaine by snorting it into the nose, health problems associated with insufflation can occur.

All in all, cocaine is a dangerous drug, the risks of which are downplayed by its reputation as a feel-good party drug. In reality, cocaine can not only cause death after one usage, but the psychological effects it imposes on addicts can lead to a violent lifestyle full of paranoid delusions.