Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system by speeding up the messages sent between the body and the brain. It reduces appetite, increases energy and provides a euphoric sense of wellbeing.
Historically, cocaine was used as a painkiller in dentistry and for surgical operations on eyes and throats. Leaves of the coca bush have long been chewed and brewed into teas by indigenous people in South America as a stimulant and to suppress appetite.
Cocaine commonly comes in the form of a white odorless powder called cocaine hydrochloride (HCI) that has a bitter numbing taste. Various chemicals are used to develop different types of cocaine, and each is used differently.
Slang
Coke, C, Charlie, Snow, Crack, Rock, Freebase, Nose candy, Dust, Toot, White lady
Short term effects
Cocaine’s effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours depending on the dosage, purity and how it was taken. Common initial signs are an intense sense of euphoria, hyperactivity, restlessness and increased blood pressure and heart rate.
The initial rush commonly wears off fast and is usually followed by feelings of discomfort, depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Side effects include twitching, paranoia and impotence which usually increases with frequent use.
The immediate craving to use more cocaine is strong, because euphoric effects often subside within an hour of the last dosage. Binge use is usually followed by a ‘crash’, or the onset of restlessness and anxiety, with increasing exhaustion until sleep is achieved.
Cocaine causes body temperature to rise and hyperthermia (overheating) can occur. This may cause muscle cell destruction and ultimately result in kidney failure.
Long-term effects
Long-term or excessive use has many physical and psychological health consequences, such as:
Tolerance develops after excessive use over long periods, so users require larger doses to achieve desired effects. This increases the likelihood of harm to health.
Smoking cocaine long-term can result in chest pains, lung trauma, shortness of breath, sore throat, and aching flu like symptoms.
Snorting breaks down the cartilage in the nostrils and can cause it eventually to disappear.
Long term injection use can cause blocked blood vessels, collapsed veins, tetanus, abscesses, and damage to the lungs, heart, liver and brain.
Dependence and addiction
The high from cocaine can be intensely rewarding but the experience is very short lived, producing an intense craving which can develop quickly into an addiction. Tolerance can develop very quickly, meaning the user must take more cocaine to achieve the same effect.
Heavy, frequent or long-term users can sometimes experience “cocaine psychosis”. Symptoms include aggression, severe paranoia, and hallucinations. These symptoms usually stop in the days after cocaine use stops, but some users need treatment for the psychosis.
Withdrawal symptoms occur when a dependent user decides to stop use or significantly cuts down the amount they are using. Cocaine withdrawal commonly occurs in three phases:
1. Crash: occurs immediately after the person stops using cocaine and especially after a cocaine binge session. Symptoms include:
2. Withdrawal: depending on history of use, this can last up to 10 weeks. Symptoms include:
3. Extinction: Even after withdrawal symptoms have ceased, sporadic cravings for cocaine may surface months or years after the user has ceased using cocaine.
Overdose
Because cocaine is highly addictive with short lived effects, users sometimes go on binge sessions resulting in overdose. Overdoses can lead to rapid heartbeat, raised blood pressure, heart attack, seizures, kidney failure, stroke and repeated convulsions. Death may result.
Cocaine is illegal in New Zealand and is classified as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This means it attracts the highest penalties.
Manufacturing, importing, supply or dealing cocaine can result in life in jail. Conspiracy to manufacture, import or supply can attract up to 14 years imprisonment. Possession of cocaine can attract up to 6 months imprisonment and/or a $1000 fine.
Cocaine is not used extensively in New Zealand and has rarely been the focus of media attention or the cause of a significant number of hospital admissions.
According to the latest Drug Use in New Zealand Survey 2007/2008 published in 2009:
The Drug Foundation’s message is clear: no drug use is the safest drug use. However, we know there will be occasions when people ignore warnings and use drugs in a dangerous manner. To help keep communities safe we therefore provide information about proven methods of drug harm reduction.
Because cocaine is highly addictive, and the initial euphoria wears off quickly, it is important users do not feed their cravings by repeating cocaine use (bingeing) to achieve the desired effect. Possessing large amounts of cocaine at one time should be avoided as this can encourage bingeing.
Studies show that shared straws (used for sniffing or ‘snorting’) can cause the spread of blood borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis so utensils used for snorting cocaine or other drugs should never be shared.
Some people use cocaine intravenously. This seriously increases the risk of infectious diseases – such as hepatitis and HIV – and skin infections. Always use clean needles obtained from a needle exchange service to minimise these risks. www.needle.co.nz.
Never share needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.
Unsanitary injecting environments also increase the risk of contracting infections. It is important that ones hands and the site of injection is clean. This will help reduce the risk of infection.
If you feel you or anyone you know needs help, there are a number of treatment organisations you can contact in strict confidence.
DrugHelp is a uniquely New Zealand website for people looking for help with their own or someone else’s drug use. DrugHelp shares the stories, experiences, insight and hope of people who have been there – people who have abused drugs and found a way through. www.drughelp.org.nz
The Alcohol Drug Helpline (0800 787 797) provides free and confidential support for any person concerned about their own or another person's alcohol or drug use. When you call you will talk to an experienced counsellor who is there to listen. You can trust the helpline to provide you with confidential and non-judgemental help when you need it.
The helpline is open from 10am-10pm, every day.
What to do in a crisis
If someone overdoses, becomes unwell, or has a bad reaction to cocaine or any other drug, do not hesitate to get emergency medical assistance. A quick response could save their life:
A list of relevant links to further information and resources about cocaine:
www.druginfo.adf.org.au/druginfo/drugs/drugfacts/cocaine_info.html Australian Drug Foundation’s Drug Info Clearinghouse cocaine factsheet.
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/drug-use-in-nz-key-results-of-the-0708-nzadus Drug Use in New Zealand: Key results of the 2007/08 New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey.
www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/cocaine European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s cocaine factsheet providing information in the chemistry and pharmacology of cocaine.
www.drughelp.org.nz Uniquely New Zealand website that helps people who are using drugs, and their loved ones, find solutions to the problems drug use has caused.