Dear Alice,
Normally one is introduced to coke by friends. The person snorts it and realizes that he has never felt this good in his life. He is on top of the world. Energy, euphoria and...
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Alice,
My friend recently smoked some pot laced with cocaine. First of all, is this possible? Whatever the case may be, he seems to be infatuated with the idea of trying straight coke. I've heard that trying coke for the first time is quite dangerous, true? Also, what are the effects of the high? And how detrimental is coke in general?
Sincerely, Concerned Friend
Dear Concerned Friend,
Kudos to you for trying to dig up accurate information for your friend. Cocaine is a stimulant drug and a naturally occurring anesthetic. Most of the effects of coke, however, occur when the drug interrupts the neurotransmitter balance in the central nervous system. The initial effects of this interruption are pleasant — increased confidence, a willingness to work, greater motivation, increased libido, and a euphoric rush or high. At the same time, coke raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, causes rapid breathing, tenses muscles, and causes the jitters (although many don't notice because they're feeling so alert and euphoric). Over time, and with regular use, people may get paranoid, anxious and confused, and sometimes experience hallucinations. Insomnia, agitation, and depression can also result from frequent cocaine use.
Cocaine is extracted from the coca plant, which grows on the mountain slopes of the Andes in South America, in certain parts of the Amazon rainforest, and on the island of Java in Indonesia. Native cultures have used coca leaves, in chewed and brewed forms, for thousands of years for social and religious occasions. In 1860, cocaine was isolated from all the other chemicals in the coca leaf, and a pure form of cocaine was extracted. Cocaine is much more potent when injected or snorted than when chewing the leaf. Injecting and snorting cocaine results in an intense rush in as little as thirty seconds, while drinking it results in a milder, yet longer lasting, stimulation thirty to forty-five minutes after ingestion. Both these methods of using cocaine popularized the drug in the United States at the turn of the century.
The physical effects of coke are the same as any other stimulant drug — except that the rush from the very first use is possibly much more intense. The problems with cocaine come from doing too much, its mixture with other drugs, and the crash after binge use. The latter arrives when the initial feelings of well-being and confidence, the sense of omnipotence, and the satisfied feelings disappear as suddenly as the rush appeared, leaving the user with the desire to have more. Usually, after a night, or a few nights, of snorting coke, the user crashes — sleeping all day long, trying to put energy back into the body — and decides never to do the drug again. Anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks later, the person wants to do it again, searching for that good feeling from the last time.
Cocaine use can easily slide into abuse — and yes, abuse can begin shortly after one's first cocaine experience. The brain's pleasure centers that cocaine short-circuits makes its use a mighty hard habit to kick — despite the side effects of chronic nasal irritation, nosebleeds, paranoia, and bank account depletion.
Regarding the question of mixing or combining drug, yes it is both possible and known to happen. Some users will mix drugs in an effort to enhance effects, while others will try mixing opposite effect drugs to prevent going too far. Either way, mixing or combining illegal drugs has potential dangers. You might note that mixing legal drugs (like prescription and over the counter items) also can result in negative outcomes and thus labels mention consulting with a health care provider before taking a new medication when already using other items. There have also been some adverse outcomes associated with using drugs like cocaine while on prescriptive drugs.
If you and/or your friend want more information on cocaine, Columbia students can speak with a substance abuse specialist at National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information. They have information on cocaine including, "The Epidemiology of Cocaine Use and Abuse" and "Use and Consequences of Cocaine."
Again, good for you for looking out for your friend… we should all be so lucky to have someone like you in our lives!
February 17, 2006
Dear Alice,
Normally one is introduced to coke by friends. The person snorts it and realizes that he has never felt this good in his life. He is on top of the world. Energy, euphoria and confidence. He goes to the bar/party thinking he is boss. He will talk to anyone about anything. (Forward one month) He has established some connections so now he doesn't need to be with the original providers to score. He feels that a party is nothing without coke. He also likes the "shady" factor. He is acquainted with some of the dealers who others see as dangerous and mysterious. He doesn't quite understand why he feels so down the next day. More than just a physical hangover he feels depressed. (Forward 2 months). He is now making "coke" friends. These are people with whom he shares an artificial connection. With these friends he can freely ingest the drug and engage in rambling, meaningless conversations until the sun comes up the next day. He is beginning to notice that his bank account is shrinking at a rate faster than ever before. Oh well, no big deal. That is why there is VISA. Put all purchases on the card and save the liquid cash for the coke. I wish I had a tidy ending but the story is not over. My drug friends and I all started out this way but our paths diverged. One is in jail. A few are succesful in business. 2 are doctors. I am in law school and have yet to shake the habit. It has had a detrimental effect on my grades and ability to find a job. But damn it feels good!