Cocaine

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Term Paper Title	Cocaine
# of Words	877
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.51

Cocaine

Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca
plant. It is a potent brain stimulant and one of the most
powerfully addictive drugs.

Cocaine is distributed on the street in two main forms:
cocaine hydrochloride is a white crystalline powder that
can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected; and
"crack" is cocaine hydrochloride that has been
processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda) and water into a freebase cocaine. These chips,
chunks, or rocks can be smoked.

Cocaine may be used occasionally, daily, or in a variety
of compulsive, repeated-use "binges". Regardless of
how it is used, cocaine is highly addictive. Crack cocaine
and injected cocaine reach the brain quickly and bring an
intense and immediate high. Snorted cocaine produces a
high more slowly.

Cocaine can produce a surge in energy, a feeling of
intense pleasure, and increased confidence. The effects
of powder cocaine last about 20 minutes, while the
effects of "crack" last about 12 minutes. Heavy use of
cocaine may produce hallucinations, paranoia,
aggression, insomnia, and depression.

Cocaine's effects are short lived, and once the drug
leaves the brain, the user experiences a "coke crash" that
includes depression, irritability, and fatigue.

Many people ask is cocaine addictive?

Yes. Cocaine can take over your life and cause you to
lose interest in everything else. Studies in monkeys have
shown that animals will work very hard (press a bar over
10,000 times) for a single injection of cocaine, choose
cocaine over food and water, and take cocaine even
when this behavior is punished. Animals must have their
access to cocaine limited in order not to take toxic or
even lethal doses. People addicted to cocaine behave
similarly. They will go to great lengths to get cocaine and
continue to take it even when it hurts their school or job
performance and their relationships with loved ones.

Do users develop a tolerance to crack or cocaine?

Yes. Users may find they need more and more of the
drug to get high.

What are the effects of cocaine use?

Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system. It acts on
the "pleasure centers" of the brain, producing
heightened pleasure and increased confidence. Other
immediate effects include dilated pupils and elevated
blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body
temperature. The pleasurable effects of powder cocaine
last about 20 minutes. Occasional use can cause a stuffy
or runny nose, and chron...

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