HEALTH
Faze Online
Crack
Cocaine
Crack
is a solid form of the drug cocaine.
Active Agent
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant alkaloid extracted from the
Coca bush of South America. The leaves of the coca bush have
been used by the indigenous people of Peru and Bolivia since
before recorded European history. Pure cocaine was first extracted
from the Erythroxylon coca bush in the mid nineteenth century
and became popular in tonics and elixirs thereafter. Cocaine
was the initial stimulant in Coca-Cola before a switch to caffeine
was made. Today cocaine is a Schedule II drug with legitimate
medical uses as a local anesthetic for surgeries of the eye
and sinuses.
There
are two typical chemical forms of the drug: the hydrochloride
salt (powdered cocaine) and the "freebase" (crack).
Cocaine hydrochloride is water soluble and may be used intranasally
(snorting) or by intravenous injection. Freebase cocaine (crack)
may be smoked.
Effects
Euphoria, increased level of activity, and increases in blood
pressure are typical effects of cocaine. It was cocaine's stimulant
effect that was the reason for it's prior use in elixirs. Cocaine
use is associated with activation of primary pleasure centers
in the brain as well as increased dopamine buildup in some of
these same areas. These effects probably lead to the very high
addiction potential of cocaine.
Side effects include hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding into the brain),
headache, nasal septal erosion, heart attack and cerebral vasculitis
(which can cause strokes and brain damage). Chronic overuse
can result in irritability and psychosis.
Addiction Potential
Physical - High. Psychological - High.
Method of Use
Cocaine-snorting, Intravenous, Crack-smoking.
Cons
Lots of physical side effects. Highly addictive. Expensive.
Sharing IV needles spreads AIDS. Addicts will do anything to
get more.
