Home Wisdom teeth What consequences await a drug addict with long-term use of cocaine? Cocaine withdrawal: cocaine withdrawal.

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What consequences await a drug addict with long-term use of cocaine? Cocaine withdrawal: cocaine withdrawal.

Extracted from coca leaves. The plant is common in countries South America, mainly in Bolivia and Peru. In the 19th century, a pure alkaloid, cocaine, was isolated from coca leaves. It turned out that the substance has a narcotic effect. Because of this, cocaine soon spread throughout the world.

From the history of cocaine addiction

Chewing coccus leaves as a stimulant was historically common among the natives of South America. It is noteworthy that the leaves of the plant themselves contain pure cocaine alkaloid in relatively small quantities. The gradual absorption of the alkaloid into the blood during chewing of the leaves and its rapid destruction by the liver prevents the development of a pronounced narcotic effect. Therefore, chewing coccus leaves has never been an acute medical or social problem in Latin America.

The history of the spread of cocaine in Europe dates back to the second half of the 19th century, when a German chemist synthesized a pure alkaloid from coca leaves and gave it the name “cocaine.” Thanks to its analgesic and stimulating effects on the nervous system, the substance has become actively used in medicine. However, it was soon discovered that cocaine was not at all harmless, causing addiction as well as various painful effects. People began to use cocaine not for medical reasons, but for the purpose of “relaxing.” So cocaine took over the whole world.

This type of drug addiction is most common in the South and North America due to the proximity of coca-growing countries. In the CIS countries, cocaine abuse is much less common. This is explained by the high cost of the drug, which means that not every addict can try this substance. As a rule, “golden youth” suffer from cocaine addiction, who have access and money to this kind of prohibited substances.

Varieties of cocaine

Cocaine is classified as a psychostimulant drug. Clinical manifestations cocaine addiction depend not least on the form of the drug, as well as the method of its administration. The most common form is cocaine hydrochloride. It is a white powder that looks like snow. Cocaine hydrochloride is consumed by snorting through the nose. Moreover, the narcotic substance is quickly absorbed and penetrates into the blood. Very rarely, cocaine hydrochloride is administered intravenously. With this method of administration, the effect of the drug is insignificant.

The first intermediate product of processing coca leaves in the process of obtaining cocaine hydrochloride is coca paste. It contains smaller amounts of cocaine, as well as other alkaloids. Through certain manipulations, an alkaloid, benzoylmethylenegonine, is extracted from cocaine. This drug is called "crack", which is consumed by smoking.

Most dangerous form is speedball It's a mixture of crack and heroin. The danger of using this drug lies in the cross-reaction between the opiate drug and the psychostimulant - cocaine. This dangerous mixture leads to severe disorders, in particular in the functioning of the cardiac system.

When inhaling cocaine, the narcotic effect occurs after five to ten minutes and reaches its peak after half an hour, over the next half hour the symptoms gradually decrease. When smoking crack or injecting cocaine, signs of intoxication appear within the first seconds, reaching a maximum peak after five minutes.

Cocaine addiction is characterized by so-called cocaine episodes, when the patient inhales new portions of cocaine through the nose every half hour to maintain a feeling of euphoria. Typically, a cocaine episode lasts about 12 hours, but can last for several days. Such a “binge” leads to the depletion of neurotransmitters. Therefore, the mood becomes very changeable.

With continuous use of cocaine, the euphoric effect of the drug is completely lost, that is, it is not euphoria that develops, but. At the end of the cocaine episode, the patient falls into a sleep that can last several days. After waking up, patients are often tormented by suicidal thoughts.

Signs of cocaine use

Doctors conventionally divided the effects that occur when using cocaine into central and peripheral. Central effects are those phenomena that occur as a result of the effect of a drug on the nervous system. After using cocaine, a person feels a surge of energy, a feeling of bliss, and euphoria. When drug addicts describe this state, they talk about an uplift in mood, as if they can now do anything. The person becomes talkative and hyperactive. There is also an increase in sexual desire. These are all so-called central effects.

Peripheral effects are due to the effect of the drug on various organs. TO peripheral effects include:

Dry mouth;
Excessive sweating;
Pupil dilation;
Cardiopalmus;

It is noteworthy that after the effects of cocaine stop, the mood does not return to normal. On the contrary, after euphoria, the mood worsens, anxiety, irritability and even complete apathy appear.

With severe cocaine intoxication, manic-like mental disorders develop. The person is impulsive and excited, does not give account of his actions. This condition often leads to criminal acts.

When using large doses of cocaine, euphoria is accompanied by anxiety and fear of impending death.. Such phenomena as muscle twitching also occur.

Consequences of cocaine use

Cocaine use is fraught with development. Psychosis begins, as a rule, with the emergence of ideas of persecution, and hallucinations soon follow. The patient becomes aggressive, behaves inappropriately, destroys surrounding objects, and runs away somewhere. If cocaine delirium develops, there is a high probability of developing sudden death from or respiratory failure.

Chronic cocaine use inevitably affects the patient's physical condition. Cocaine addiction leads to the following consequences:

Long-term use of cocaine leads to mental disorders. The drug addict's mood is stable

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Drugs are one of the most important scourges of humanity. The number of registered drug users alone is about 250 million people, of whom more than 200 thousand die every year, young people, due to overdose and its complications. The most dangerous drug is cocaine, which very quickly causes addiction and overdose, and is widespread and accessible.

The use of any drugs causes irreparable harm to your health and poses a danger to others! If you or your loved ones suffer from drug addiction, immediately seek qualified medical help in your region.

Symptoms of an overdose (overdose) of cocaine

Signs of a cocaine overdose:

Nervous excitement;
Dry mouth and severe thirst occur;
Increased irritability;
Tremors in the body, tremor of the limbs;
Sweat profusely;
The patient experiences a feeling of cold, he is “cowardly.”

The effect of cocaine on the body is also expressed in an increase in human body temperature. Confusion and thoughtless movements develop, which can lead to injury.

Increasing tremors are replaced by muscle twitching, and then convulsions with loss of consciousness.

From the blood circulation side it is noted:

Increased blood pressure;
Arrhythmia often develops - interruptions in the heart, a feeling that it is “popping out”;
Tachycardia (increased heart rate);
Due to spasm of the coronary arteries, an attack of angina pectoris may develop - pressing pain in the chest.

Against this background, quite extensive heart attacks occur with the development of acute heart failure and death.

First aid to the victim

Providing first aid in case of a drug overdose plays a huge role; it allows, to a certain extent, to reduce the effect of cocaine on the human body and prevent the development of a serious outcome.

You need to be ready to carry out artificial respiration and closed heart massage if the patient has lost consciousness, stopped breathing, and the pulse is low carotid arteries not palpable.

What to do in case of cocaine overdose:

Provide complete rest to the patient: exclude bright light, noise, conversations, temperature influences, lay comfortably;
Ensure influx fresh air : unfasten the collar, belt, open the window, balcony, if there is pharmaceutical oxygen, let it breathe through damp gauze. The head should be laid on its side to avoid tongue retraction and asphyxia in case of vomiting;
Reduce body temperature: apply a cloth dampened cold water, to the forehead, install a fan, if possible. Antipyretic drugs should not be given, they will have no effect and may cause harm;
Call an ambulance.

This can save the patient's life before the ambulance arrives.

How long does cocaine leave the human body?

Cocaine is one of the fastest-leaving drugs in the body. At laboratory research In patients, it is discovered that cocaine remains in the blood for a maximum of 2 days from the moment of last use.

In urine analysis, its remains can be detected up to 3-4 days. The drug can remain in saliva for up to 5-6 days, in the hair structure for up to 3 months, and in the nail plates for up to 6 months.

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This is important when monitoring the treatment of patients with cocaine addiction; it should be more frequent. Typically, 2 visits per week are scheduled with a urine test. The detection of a narcotic substance indicates that the patient was taking it again, violating treatment regimen. How long does it take to remove cocaine?

The timing of elimination also depends on the condition of the liver and kidneys. In persons with hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver failure, cocaine is eliminated longer. The cause of the delay may also be kidney disease with functional failure.

When is medical help needed?

Some people believe that if “you’ve had enough” and the “coming off” from cocaine (coke) was easy, then medical care no need. This is a deep misconception, because the effect of a drug never leaves its mark on the body.

In any case, you need to see a doctor to undergo a course of treatment to completely cleanse the body, restore all functions and prevent complications.

Complex necessary treatment includes:

Detoxification, removal of cocaine and its residues;
Normalization state nervous system(sedatives, anticonvulsants);
Recovery cardiac activity, normalization of blood pressure;
Elimination hypoxia - oxygen therapy, in severe cases it is carried out artificial ventilation lungs.

These are just the main points of medical care, but it also includes a very important stage - treatment of cocaine addiction. This is done by drug treatment services with individual approach to every patient.

Those who sniff “coke” may also need treatment from an ENT doctor; they develop atrophy of the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx, and damage blood vessels.

Nosebleeds, a feeling of nasal congestion, secondary sinus damage and the development of sinusitis are common.

Recovery from an overdose

After inpatient treatment for a cocaine overdose, when the threat to life has passed, the problem of a threat to health remains. This means that a period is required for full recovery violations that occurred in organs. The main condition for this is to stop taking the drug, and this is an even more difficult problem.

Therefore, the best option after a drug overdose is hospitalization in a specialized drug treatment center, where long-term comprehensive rehabilitation treatment is carried out: medication, physiotherapy, psychotherapy.

Inpatient treatment has benefits in that the patient is constantly monitored and the use of cocaine is completely excluded. A person addicted to drugs cannot rely on self-control.

After graduation rehabilitation treatment and return to daily life you need to change it yourself: change your social circle, activities, pastime, and so on. In a word, remove from life all factors that would even in the slightest degree provoke a return to drugs.

Complications arising from the use of cocaine (crack, coke)

It is the complications from cocaine use that cause serious health problems and fatal outcome. They can develop both due to the use of large doses, and when moderate consumption for a long time.

The heaviest - acute complications developing during an overdose, they are the main cause of death.

Complications after an overdose:

Myocardial infarction;
Stroke (acute cerebrovascular accident);
Acute liver failure;
Acute renal failure;
Acute psychosis with aggression and harm to oneself and others (suicide, trauma, murder).

If the patient was able to be “pulled out” of a serious condition and completed a course of treatment, this does not mean that the cocaine “adventures” will pass without consequences. They develop gradually and, as a rule, accompany the entire life.

Consequences of taking cocaine:

Sleep disorder;
Psychological disorders (irritability, rudeness, quarrelsomeness, impatience);
Decreased memory;
Decreased thinking ability;
Increased fatigue, lethargy;
Sexual function disorders, decreased fertility in women, miscarriages.

This is the price of a deceptive “high”, for which you will have to pay throughout your life, and often with your life itself.

Is it possible to die from an overdose?

There is a myth about a safe, “toy” dose of cocaine, and this is a deep misconception. Even a small dose of cocaine can become an “overdose” in some cases, and can cause complications leading to death. It occurs as a result of severe vasospasm, which leads to acute ischemia heart, brain, resulting in myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. This is the most common reason death from overdose.

In case of overdose, the cause of death is often acute psychosis when a patient commits suicide or receives a serious injury incompatible with life. In general, statistics show very disappointing mortality figures; they range from 11 to 25% in different countries and tend to increase annually. The saddest thing is that most of those who die from drugs are young people aged 16 to 35 years.

If you have an unhealthy liver or kidneys, cocaine can cause acute liver failure, acute renal failure which often lead to death. For amateurs inhalation method Exceeding the dose can lead to pulmonary edema, which is also life-threatening and often fatal.

Is cocaine addictive?

Conducted statistical studies over last years It was found that 5% of the population used cocaine in one form or another at least once. Basically, these are young people under 40 years old. It was also found that on average 20% of them quickly develop cocaine addiction and the need for regular use of the drug.

This happens against the will of a person, especially against the background of a weak psyche, low moral qualities, lack of certain activities and interests. Basically, addiction is a problem for difficult teenagers with fragile psyches, and in them it develops faster: during the first year of use, and in adults only after 2-3 years.

The basis for the formation of addiction is the rapid adaptation of the brain to the effects of cocaine. and the development of sensations strictly opposite to those caused by the drug. This involuntarily creates an imperative to use again, but in a larger dose, and it grows in geometric progression until sad consequences arise.

Getting rid of cocaine addiction is quite difficult and this solution is not always successful. And the longer a patient uses cocaine, the harder it is to get rid of the addiction. Therefore, the best option is not to start, not even to try out of pure curiosity, since there is no guarantee that you will not end up in cocaine captivity.

Drug withdrawal syndrome

A person who stops taking cocaine, like any other drug, develops abstinence or withdrawal syndrome, in everyday life it is called “withdrawal.” This condition is not a pleasant one, and not everyone can cope with it on their own. Many, in good impulses to “quit” drugs, having experienced all the “delights” of abstinence, quickly give up and take up the same again.

Cocaine withdrawal syndrome goes through several phases. “Withdrawal” begins at the very beginning, it lasts 5-6 days and appears at the beginning increased nervousness and excitement, insomnia, which on the 3-4th day are replaced by a depressed, depressed state, lethargy, and drowsiness.

If this period passes without incident, health generally returns to normal., but a new phase begins - loss of interest in life. Everything seems uninteresting and boring to a person, friends and relatives are boring, family members are annoyed. More and more often, the fun of cocaine comes to mind, and the desire to repeat it grows. This phase lasts a maximum of 3 months, and everything returns to normal.

“Okhodnyak” at home will not give results, and sometimes it can be very difficult and become a health hazard. Those who decide to quit using drugs should consult a doctor. Under cover" drug treatment Cocaine withdrawal symptoms will be virtually unnoticeable.

Cocaine with alcohol

Cocaine and alcohol each pose a health threat on their own, but when combined, this “tandem” becomes many times more dangerous. Studies of cocaine and alcohol use have shown that they easily combine to form coca-ethylene. This substance has an even stronger effect than cocaine, and in the future, when drinking alcohol, there is a strong desire to definitely take a dose of cocaine.

Mixing is also deadly because you lose control of the dose you drink and take, and an alcohol overdose easily occurs.

There is an opinion that cocaine should be added to alcohol in order not to get drunk. In fact, it turns out the opposite: cocaine masks the manifestations of intoxication, and when it is removed from the body, the person turns out to be very drunk.

Coca-ethylene is an extremely toxic substance for the heart and liver, and it is poorly excreted from the body. Therefore, if no disaster happened during the first mixing, then with repeated such experiments there is a high probability of cardiac arrest, acute liver failure and a disastrous outcome.

Both alcohol and cocaine are birds of a feather: they ruin your health, destroy your personality, and not only should you not mix them, but generally avoid using them even in small doses.

History of the drug

For thousands of years, the ancient Incas of South America chewed the leaves of the evergreen coca bush to increase tone, strength and energy. They considered this plant a gift from the gods. With the discovery of America, Europeans became interested in coca leaves.

Only in the middle of the 19th century did French chemists first analyze erythroxylum (coca) leaves and discover a substance that had a stimulating and analgesic effect.

Effect of cocaine on the body

There is no system or organ that is not subject to the harmful effects of cocaine.

The main target of cocaine's effects is the central nervous system – the brain.

Effect on the brain

Cocaine molecules quickly penetrate the blood, and with it into the brain tissue, becoming involved in biochemical processes: they block neurotransmitters - substances that make connections between nerve cells and transmit impulses (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine).

As a result, the regulatory influence of the cerebral cortex on various brain centers decreases(sensitive, motor, pleasure center, blood circulation, breathing and others). There is a temporary “disinhibition” and activation of these centers, which affects behavior.

A person becomes too active, cheerful, noisy, feels a surge of energy, euphoria and a thirst for “adventure”. Depending on the dose and type of nervous system, this excitement can manifest itself in a different way: increased irritability, anxiety, aggression. On examination, dilated pupils and inability to concentrate are noted.

This state lasts from 15 minutes to 2-3 hours, depending on the method of cocaine administration: after smoking crack or injections - up to 30 minutes, after inhaling or rubbing - up to 2 hours. Cocaine is quickly eliminated from the body, and with it the “relaxation” and “fun” disappear, they are replaced by lethargy, sad mood, depression, and the need for a new dose arises.

On the heart and blood vessels

How does cocaine affect the heart? Cocaine excites the driver (part of the heart muscle) of the heart rhythm, heartbeats become more frequent, and arrhythmia may occur. The arteries undergo spasm, including the coronary arteries of the heart. This leads to increased blood pressure, myocardial ischemia, and a high probability of developing heart attack and stroke.

Effects on the lungs

Cocaine is harmful when inhaled, inhaled, or smoked; this has a detrimental effect on the condition of the bronchi, causing them to narrow and obstruct their patency. This can lead to pneumonia, atelectasis (collapse) of the lung, and possible development of asthma.

Effect on the digestive organs

All cocaine passes through the liver and is neutralized there. The harm of horse meat is that it causes toxic damage liver and dysfunction. Vasospasm gastrointestinal tract leads to the development of gastritis, duodenitis, colitis, peptic ulcer.

Genitourinary system

Cocaine also causes harm genitourinary system. The breakdown products of cocaine pass through the kidneys; in high concentrations they cause toxic damage to the kidney tissue. Men suffer prostate, testicular function decreases. A short-term increase in sexual potency is quickly replaced by its decrease. Women's libido decreases hormonal function and the ability to conceive.

What dose of a narcotic substance causes an overdose?

Typically, the starting dose of cocaine in any form is between 15 and 60 mg. With each subsequent use of the drug, sensitivity to it weakens nerve cells. To achieve the desired effect from cocaine, more and more of it is required each time.

The addicted person automatically loses control over the dose.

Overdose leads to severe health problems and is the leading cause of death from cocaine.

The most dangerous in terms of dose control is intravenous administration"coke" or "speedball" solution. It is believed that a cocaine overdose occurs when the dose reaches 500 mg, in these cases the mortality rate is 50%, and when it reaches 700 mg, all 100% of addicts die.

The same doses are determined for “crack” intended for smoking and administration by inhalation. Oral (internal) use or rubbing into the gums is less dangerous in terms of overdose.

A single dose of 700-800 mg is life-threatening, and a lethal dose of cocaine is 1.2 g.

The determination of the dose of cocaine is very arbitrary; it is based only on practical experience obtained from the study of patients or the dead. Cocaine is produced illegally, using various technologies, very often contains various impurities, and it is not possible to determine how much of it will be safe.

Today, cocaine is one of the most common and dangerous drugs. The use of this substance leads to serious addiction, degradation, and also destroys all functions and systems of the human body. A death from a heart attack as a result of an “overdose” of a drug or a suicide attempt is what cocaine smells like.

How does cocaine work? How to recognize a drug addict using this substance, and what are the health consequences of cocaine use? We will talk about all this in detail below.

Cocaine is a fast-acting drug, but the duration of action of cocaine is short

The drug cocaine has vegetable origin. It is obtained from the leaves of the coccus plant, whose scientific name is Erythroxylum. Coccus grows in the tropical forests of southern America. The plant is a powerful alkaloid and, penetrating into the body, has a powerful effect on human mental activity.

The aborigines who inhabited the territory of South America used erythroxylum back in the 3rd century AD. e. The leaves of the plant were chewed by men going on military campaigns and messengers who had to cover long distances; cocca gave them stamina and strength and dulled the feeling of hunger. Servants of the sacred cult used the leaves for rituals, and also brewed decoctions to lift the spirits of the people.

But despite all this, the use of erythroxylum was not widespread. The widespread use of cocca as a narcotic substance arose thanks to the Spaniards, who captured the territory of what is now Peru. Slave owners encouraged slaves working on plantations with leaves of the plant. They had complete control over the cultivation and sale of cocci. By the end of the sixteenth century, the drug trade brought in enormous amounts of money. At least eighty percent of the people inhabiting Peru were involved in the drug trade.

The plant was brought to Europe by the traveler and explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The leaves were used as a narcotic until the nineteenth century. At the same time, they managed to obtain a pure substance from the leaves, which was called cocaine.

Initially, cocaine was widely used in medical purposes. A powder that was applied externally was used as a local anesthetic, but other substances soon appeared that did not have such terrifying consequences. The substance was used orally to improve mood, increase vigor and reduce fatigue.

Greater popularity narcotic acquired thanks to psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. He himself was a cocaine addict and recommended it to his patients and acquaintances. With the help of cocaine, he tried to cure depression, nervous and mental disorders, as well as problems with potency. Thus, by the end of the nineteenth century, this substance was used quite widely.

It is worth mentioning that the now popular drink Coca-Cola contained cocaine until 1906, hence its name.

Cocaine stimulates cells in the central nervous system and cardiovascular system

Several decades later, reports of recorded cases of death due to cocaine use and overdose began to appear. Scientific documents have appeared confirming the occurrence of addiction, personality degradation and harm to the body. In nineteen twenty-two, this drug was officially included in the list of prohibited drugs.

The next wave of popularity came in 1970. During this time, cocaine use became a sign of high status. Stars and public figures openly promoted drug use, creating a myth of a luxurious life with their behavior.

Today, about seventy percent of all cocaine produced is consumed in North and South America. This is typical because the plantations with the plant are in close proximity. About 750 tons of cocaine are consumed worldwide each year. The drug has also become quite popular in Russia. Over the past 5 years, the turnover and consumption of the substance has increased at least 10 times.

Cocaine is an elite drug that only the upper strata of the population can afford, but in reality everything is different. Dealers sell the first doses at a low price until the person becomes addicted, then the cost of the product increases many times over.

Drug effect

After the first use of cocaine, a person feels intense pleasure, euphoria, he has energy and a surge of strength. It begins to seem to him that he has new, previously unknown abilities. But the properties of the drug are such that in order to experience the same sensations, the dose will have to be increased.

Cocaine has a high tolerance and stops being so enjoyable very quickly.

What does an addict experience?

When using a substance, an addict experiences the following symptoms:

Euphoria. After consuming the dose, the addict experiences a surge of positive emotions, his mood improves significantly, and he laughs a lot. A person becomes sociable and open. A cocaine addict, under the influence of a substance, may reveal details from his personal life that it would be reasonable to keep secret.
Brain activity. Under the influence of a drug, it seems to a person that his mental abilities have significantly increased, his memory has improved, any task can be solved in a matter of moments, and superpowers have appeared. But after the effects of cocaine wear off, all activity disappears without a trace.
A surge of strength and energy. After the next dose, a cocaine addict feels an incredible surge of strength, his need for sleep disappears, and his physical capabilities seem inexhaustible. From the outside it looks different. The user loses coordination in space, loses balance, and falls. Attempts to do anything are unsuccessful.
Determination. The cocaine addict becomes extremely self-confident and all his actions are correct. They do not accept criticism from others. But in a state of intoxication, drug addicts cannot finish what they started, otherwise actions and actions, supplemented by delusions of grandeur, could lead to extremely unpleasant consequences.

What's Really Happening

The consequences of cocaine are much worse; they cause enormous damage to the health of the user. Let's consider the effect of cocaine on the body of a drug addict:

The vessels begin to actively contract.
Body temperature rises, pulse quickens, heartbeat and breathing.
The gag reflexes are blocked.
As the dosage increases, convulsions and tremors in the limbs are observed.
Overdose is characterized by respiratory depression, which can be fatal.
Long-term use leads to changes in the structures of the brain; seizures similar to epilepsy may occur.
Loss of appetite occurs, as a result the addict rapidly loses weight, the body becomes exhausted, and a lack of vitamins and essential elements begins.
Regular use of the substance leads to psychosis, depression, persecution mania, visual and auditory hallucinations, paranoia develops, and the addict loses motivation and interest in life. The result of all this is a suicide attempt.
Inhaling cocaine leads to damage to the nasal mucosa, causing ulcers and bleeding.
The combination of the substance and alcohol can lead to cardiac arrest.

When the substance is inhaled, signs of cocaine use appear after just a few minutes and last for thirty minutes, in rare cases the duration can reach a couple of hours. The duration of symptoms depends on the quality of the substance and the length of time the addict has been addicted to. Over time, the addict develops a cocaine addiction, doses increase, and the duration of the “high” decreases.

Regular use of cocaine can cause the addict to lose a sense of reality

Signs of use

A cocaine addict can be identified by external signs. Addicts change their behavior appearance becomes untidy, they are overly self-confident, etc.

External symptoms

The following signs may indicate that a person is addicted to cocaine:

dilated pupils;
pale skin;
hyperhidrosis;
increased heart rate and faster breathing;
chills;
gastrointestinal disorders;
increase in body temperature;
persistent viral and infectious diseases;
constant runny nose;
tremor of the upper and lower extremities;
hyperactivity;
wandering gaze;
frequent nosebleeds.

Long-term use leads to the fact that the addict develops convulsions and fits, he rapidly loses weight, and his appearance becomes sloppy. The whites of the eyes are often red due to constant lack of sleep and insomnia. A cocaine addict feels as if insects are crawling on him and biting him, which causes him to scratch areas of his skin until it bleeds.

Psychological symptoms

Taking drugs has a significant impact on the behavior of the addicted person. The following signs are especially dangerous:

Unreasonable laughter, elevated mood, feeling of happiness and euphoria.
A person believes that everything is allowed to him, he is narcissistic, proud, and talks a lot.
There is a sharp change in mood: carefree laughter can be replaced by attacks of aggression.
The addict may talk to non-existent objects or hear things that do not exist.
Appetite almost completely disappears, chronic insomnia appears.
After the effect of cocaine wears off, the person becomes irritable and lethargic.
Problems appear in financial sector, a person can borrow money under various pretexts, and subsequently begins to sell things from home.
The addict becomes secretive and lies a lot. When trying to find out something from him, he may break into a scream or avoid the conversation in every possible way.

Cocaine addicts need first aid narcologist. Competent rehabilitation can give you a chance for a full and healthy life.

The effect of cocaine causes side effects such as hemoptysis, brochospasm, itching, fever, chest pain, lung pain

Drug withdrawal

If a drug addict decides to stop taking a drug, he begins to suffer from “withdrawal” or, more simply, “withdrawal”. Physical symptoms of withdrawal are: nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, fever, tachycardia and painful sensations in the muscles of the body. But the main torment for a drug addict is caused by psychological factors.

Psychological suffering is expressed in depression, depression, lethargy, the desire to isolate yourself from everyone, to be left alone with yourself. A person may try to find the next dose when this is not possible; the addict is seriously thinking about suicide. Most cocaine addicts die during suicide attempts, during the period of drug withdrawal. Only a competent psychonarcologist can relieve withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine overdose

Despite the opinion of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who assured that the fatal dose of cocaine is so high that it is not advisable to consider this issue, modern doctors and scientists do not question the harm of cocaine. During the research, it was found that the lethal dose of the pure substance is about one gram. And for severe cocaine poisoning, sometimes half a gram of powder is enough, it all depends on individual characteristics body and duration of use. You can tell that a drug addict has overdosed on a substance by the following symptoms:

The skin first turns pale, then cyanosis (cyanosis) appears.
The body may be shaken by small tremors, convulsions and seizures, as in epilepsy.
Consciousness becomes confused, fainting may occur, and the person is unable to answer even the simplest questions.
The mucous membranes dry out, the addict develops severe thirst and dehydration.
Body temperature rises up to 41 degrees.
Chills or fever appear, all parts of the body are covered in cold sweat.

In the event of a drug overdose, the first thing that happens to the body is a sharp contraction of blood vessels, the heart muscle undergoes changes, and coronary spasm appears, which is characterized by acute pain near chest. Pressure surges are accompanied by ruptures of blood vessels in the body, which causes internal bleeding. Ischemia and stroke often occur in addicts.

If you notice at least one of the above signs, you should immediately call an ambulance. Only emergency treatment can save the life of a drug addict. After all, an overdose of cocaine is very dangerous and often leads to the death of the addicted person.

Incredible consumption growth cocaine in all sectors of society began in the 1960s. He attracted attention when the drug played main role in the Hollywood blockbuster Easy Rider. It became a super popular drug and there was an explosion in demand, causing an increase in supplies from South America. International supply chains were formed and the names of drug cartels became common knowledge. The biggest drug lord of them all, Pablo Escobar, was one of the richest men in the world, earning millions of dollars every day.

Since Escobar's time, the cocaine business has expanded its product range. Now it is cocaine for any budget. This stuff costs £40 per gram. You can easily see the difference because it is powdery, while coke which one is worth? 80 grams, it's crystalline, you can even see a little sparkle. You just chop it up. This good material, you can taste the difference. It's cheap stuff and makes your nose hurt a little. This coke doesn't hurt your nose at all, it goes on nice and smooth.

Why is cocaine harmful?

Inhaling too much of any type of coke can damage your nose. The mucous membrane inside the nostrils is affected, causing the blood vessels to shrink and clot, depriving the surrounding tissue of blood and oxygen supply. Eventually, the tissue weakens and dies. This can cause a perforation to form in the nose. Surgery is often required to treat these injuries. Consultant surgeon Sandeep Paun is a leading specialist in nasal reconstruction. As a result of regular use cocaine, his patient developed a hole in his nose. He wished to remain anonymous. Today we are going to perform surgery to repair a perforation in your nasal septum. When was the last time you did this? I do it regularly last time six months ago. OK. There is no guarantee that we will be able to completely close the perforation. After consumption cocaine, the operation to close the perforation of the septum is quite difficult

The destructive power of cocaine

I only found out about the hole when I went to the doctor and he pulled blood clots out of my nose that were covering the hole, which looked really scary. And it was all his fault cocaine, drug. When you look at Daniella Westbrook, as soon as you see her, you will understand what happened to her, her nose has actually collapsed and the worst thing is that it can happen to you. During the operation, the patient's nose will be cut and divided into two parts. The picture is very illustrative. We'll just look into this gentleman's nose now. We move in through the nostrils, here internal view. We can see this hole on the front wall. In fact, this is a relatively small hole for a patient who is abusing cocaine It should be much bigger. Often these holes progress well beyond the size we see here. Knife please. Sometimes when you get the strip done, you will experience a very strong, unbearable burning sensation from the very beginning of your nose to the back of your throat, very painful. The next day, you wake up with blood clots and you're actually blowing bits of your nose out.

Harm from drug use

For chronic abuse cocaine, the perforation gets bigger and bigger, and the cartilage gets weaker and weaker because it doesn't have enough support. The top of the nose begins to deteriorate and one may eventually develop a boxer's appearance. Scissors please. I have had patients whose entire nasal septum. They had one nasal cavity, and everything just fell inside. I smelled coke every day. You don't worry when you do it. But then, the nose hurts terribly when nose goes blood you regret doing this.. So, we see inside the nose, the mucous membrane, on the one hand, you can see a hole in the membrane, at first cocaine creates a hole in the membrane, not in the cartilage, but then it eats away the cartilage and ultimately As a result, it forms a through hole.

About coke

Cocaine often mixed with all types of contaminants, including soda, glucose and, in the worst case, even talc, which can lead to intense inflammatory reaction. This inflammation can cause tissue in the nose to die even faster. Ironically, Mr. Pown uses cocaine to stop the patient's bleeding. Patients don't inhale it beforehand, we give them a small amount in liquid form. I'm just cutting out a small piece of cartilage from the back of the nasal septum, which we're then going to insert into the front. A little bit of cartilage will close the hole. So you can see here that the shell was completely closed where the hole was. If we look from the other side, there is no hole there now either. I carry out quite a lot of nose surgery in London. There's a lot of money floating around here. About once every few weeks, I see a patient who has problems related to their use. cocaine.

According to the Ministry of Health, in Russia “only” 58 people are addicted to cocaine - a hundredth of the number of registered drug addicts. And in society, “coke” is sometimes perceived as something frivolous, a kind of “fun for the elite.” However, this "frivolous" drug has the same effects on the brain as Alzheimer's disease. What are the harms of cocaine and how can you find out whether a loved one uses it or not?

Text: Galina Diomidova

What is cocaine today

Cocaine is a drug that comes in the form of a white powder or small crystals (aka crack). Most often, cocaine is inhaled through the nose, but hardcore drug addicts dissolve the powder and inject it through a vein into the blood. Cocaine is one of the most dangerous drugs, as it acts directly on the brain receptors and very quickly causes an addictive effect. It is because of this that it is necessary to constantly increase the frequency of administration and dosage. Cocaine use leads to death from respiratory failure, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage and heart attack.

Voted the best bass player of all time John Entwistle from the legendary group The Who, died of a heart attack caused by cocaine... Famous German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder died of a cocaine overdose when he was not yet 40 years old.... Singer Whitney Houston, suffering from heart failure, accidentally drowned in the bathtub in 2012, as pathologists later established...

But this is already the finale. And in the interval between the first dose and the sad outcome there is a time of suffering for the addict’s loved ones and his own ordeals.

In slang, cocaine is called: coke, coconut, Aunt Nora, ball, frost, refined sugar, coke, si, Charlie, coca, dust, loose, plague, sniffer, paradise, sneeze, sniff, snow, fun, white.

Cocaine and teenagers

The drug trade brings enormous profits. According to statistics from the State Drug Control Service, Russians spend about 10 billion dollars annually on the purchase of cocaine and other psychostimulants. Therefore, we can assume that there are many more cocaine addicts than are registered with the Ministry of Health.

Teenagers are the most fertile audience for the distribution of forbidden powder. The desire to “become cool”, “to be no worse than others”, “to try what it’s like” - these are the main reasons that encourage children to take up drugs. But teenagers also have internal problems of growth, their own sorrows and sorrows, their own problems that in their opinion are insoluble... And drug dealers are already right there. They will “help” and “lift your spirits” and “turn your life into an endless party.”

According to experts from Drug Free City, the most vulnerable to drug traffickers are:

1. Boys 10-16 years old, whose parents divorced and their mother has a new man.

2. Girls who are in love with drug addicts or drug dealers, who get them hooked on drugs.

Why do people take drugs

To keep up with others

To relax and disconnect

To cope with boredom

To look more mature

As a protest

To try

People think that drugs will alleviate, or even solve, all problems. But over time, the drug itself becomes a problem, and a much more serious one.

What should your family and friends be wary of?

Lie. To get money for a dose, a drug addict is forced to lie and get out all the time, piling up mountains of the most fantastic lies. Life forces him to be a good psychologist, and he knows that the bolder the lie and the more naive the facial expression, the greater the chance that they will believe him and give him money.

Circle of friends. The drug addict makes new friends who experience chronic lack of money. Things start disappearing from the house.

What does a new drug addict experience?

1. Euphoria, he has no apparent reason mood improves dramatically. He becomes overly sociable and talkative. Talkativeness leads to the fact that a person voluntarily tells others about things that in his right mind he would prefer to keep silent about.

2.A surge of energy. A drug addict who is high has the feeling that he is about to fly away. I don't feel like sleeping at all. Physical capabilities seem limitless to him. However, experiments have shown that under the influence of cocaine, coordination of movements is sharply reduced. Hence falls and other life-threatening troubles.

3.Promotion mental activity. It seems to a person that all his abilities have been revealed, his memory has improved, and his ability to make decisions has sharpened. When the intoxication wears off, it turns out that the supposedly acquired knowledge has disappeared somewhere, and in general the person has done a lot of stupid things.

4.Excessive self-confidence. A weak-willed person thinks that everything he does is right. Fortunately, work started while under the influence of drugs is never completed. And thank God, because it is rarely reasonable. Excessive self-confidence in in this case is similar to delirium of one’s own grandeur and does not allow a critical attitude towards one’s own actions.

5.Strengthening sensory perception. The world is full of colors, sounds, smells. Like any psychostimulant, cocaine increases skin sensitivity. Therefore, a drug addict very often experiences skin hallucinations - goosebumps and “worms crawling under the skin.” At some stage, under the influence of the drug, a person may scratch himself until he bleeds in order to get rid of this “scratching and tickling.” The same happens with the other senses. At first, a person sees something that is not what it is, mistaking, for example, a toothbrush for a knife, or a stranger for a close relative. And then it comes to hallucinations, when knives and killers seem everywhere

6. Excitability and imbalance. Having taken coke, the drug addict is in an elated, blissful state, which can instantly give way to irritation and aggression. Drug addicts themselves say that it is better not to touch a cocaine addict who is “high.” He can give a completely inadequate aggressive reaction.

7. The need to repeat the experience of intoxication. First one dose, then another, then another and another... But it is important to understand that a person can get the full range of pleasure only when using cocaine for the first time. The desire to repeat it leads to an increase in the dose and frequency of taking the drug. This is one of the main mechanisms of mental dependence.

Sign of cocaine addiction

It is possible that using cocaine once or twice will not lead to addiction. Some consumers even claim that you can use “coke” all your life and not be addicted. However, according to narcologists, addiction begins much earlier than the stage when the cocaine addict begins to skip work and, in order to earn money for a dose, sell things from home and steal. When cocaine begins to occupy the main place in a person’s thoughts, when he builds all his plans (for the evening or for vacation) around the drug, this is the main sign of addiction.

How dangerous is cocaine?

Cocaine and other drugs are essentially poisons. The effect of a drug is determined by its quantity. A tiny dose accelerates the processes occurring in the body and stimulates them. A slightly larger dose slows down and calms down. A little more - and the dose can kill.

But there is another problem. Cocaine directly affects the mind, distorting the perception of the world around us. As a result, human actions become inadequate, irrational, meaningless and even destructive.

As it turned out, the structure of the brain of drug addicts addicted to cocaine differs from the brain of ordinary people, in particular, in the reduced size of the cerebellar amygdala. This "miniature" influences their ability to analyze possible consequences of your actions. By the way, scientists also found similar deviations in people suffering from manic depression and Alzheimer's disease.

Consequences of cocaine use

Loss of appetite

Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, temperature

Narrowing blood vessels

Dilated pupils

Restless sleep

Nausea

Overexcitement

Strange, erratic, sometimes dangerous behavior

Hallucinations, overexcitement, irritability

Tactile hallucinations (worms crawling under the skin)

Euphoria (extremely cheerful attitude towards the world around you)

Painful anxiety, suspicion, fear

Depression

Strong need for a new dose of drug

Panic, psychosis

An overdose, even a single one, can lead to convulsions, respiratory arrest, and unexpected death.

Side effects and long-term consequences

Irreversible damage to the blood vessels of the heart and brain