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If you would like alternatives to Cocaine follow here
Cocaine
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain, and is an equally powerful reinforcing psycho-stimulant. The drug Cocaine induces a sense of exhilaration in the user primarily by blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the midbrain. Cocaine is not a new drug, in fact, cocaine is one of the oldest known drugs. The pure chemical, cocaine hydro-chloride, has been an abused substance for more than l00 years, and coca found in leaves of the South American Shrub Erythroxylon coca is the source of cocaine, which has been ingested for thousands of years. In the early 1900s, cocaine became the main stimulant drug used in most of the tonics/elixirs that were developed to treat a wide variety of ailments.
A Brief History of This DrugIn Pre-Columbian times, the coca leaf was officially reserved for Inca royalty. Natives used coca for mystical, religious, social, nutritional and medicinal purposes. In those days, cocaine was exploited to ward off fatigue and hunger, enhance endurance, and to promote a benign sense of well-being. Coca was initially banned by the Spanish. In 1551 the Bishop of Cuzco outlawed coca use on pain of death because it was “an evil agent of the Devil”. The noted 16th century orthodox Catholic artist Don Diego De Robles declared that “coca is a plant that the devil invented for the total destruction of the natives.” But the invaders discovered that without the Incan “gift of the gods”, the natives could barely work the fields – or mine gold. So it came to be cultivated even by the Catholic Church. Coca leaves were distributed three or four times a day to the workers during brief rest-breaks. Soon after, returning Spanish conquistadores introduced coca to Europe. Even Shakespeare may have smoked it – and inhaled. The coca plant is perishable and travels poorly, yet coca was touted as “an elixir of life”. In 1814, an editorial in Gentleman’s Magazine urged researchers to begin experimentation so that coca could be used as “a substitute for food so that people could live a month, now and then without eating…” The active ingredient of the coca plant was first isolated in the West by the German chemist, Friedrich Gaedcke in 1885; he named it “Erythroxyline”. Albert Niemann described an improved purification process for his Phd; he named the product “cocaine”, and until this date, the name cocaine stuck. Sigmund Freud, an early enthusiast, described cocaine as a magical drug and to Sherlock Holmes, cocaine was “so transcendentally stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment”. Robert Louis Stepenson wrote “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” during a six-day cocaine-binge. Intrepid polar adventurer, Ernest Shackleton, explored Antarctica propelled by tablets of Forced March. Doctors dispensed cocaine as an antidote to morphine addiction, and it was soon sold over- the- counter. Cocaine was widely used in tonics, toothache cures and patent medicines; in coca cigarettes which was supposedly guaranteed to lift depression and in chocolate cocaine tablets. In 1886 Coca cola was introduced as a “valuable brain-tonic and cure for all nervous afflictions”. It was promoted as a temperance drink. Until 1903, a typical serving contained around 60mg of cocaine. Sold today, the drink still contains an extract of coca-leaves. The Coca-Cola Company imports eight tons from South America each year. Nowadays the leaves are used only for flavoring, since the drug has been removed. However, individuals were looking for something more potent. Old-fashioned cocaine hydrochloride wasn’t good enough! They were not satisfied with the enhanced mood, sexual interest, self-confidence, conversational prowess and intensified consciousness to be derived from just snorting cocaine and because administering cocaine intravenously, was typically shunned upon and not acceptable, a smoke-able form was developed, and soon cocaine use began to be misused and abused. Cocaine Abuse is RampantCocaine abuse has a long history and is rooted into the drug culture in the U.S. Cocaine is an intense euphoric drug with strong addictive potential. With the increase in purity, the advent of the free-base form of the cocaine (“crack”), and its easy availability on the street, cocaine continues to burden both the law enforcement and health care systems in America. The powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine may be injected; swallowed; applied to oral, vaginal, or even rectal mucous membranes; or mixed with liquor. However it is most commonly used by snorting or sniffing. With snorting, the ritual is to place a line of coke about 0.3 cm wide by 2.5 cm long, on a smooth surface. Then the finely divided powder is then snorted (inhaled quickly) into a nostril through a plastic or glass straw or a rolled currency bill. This is then repeated through the other nostril. Cocaine is not generally taken by mouth for recreational purposes. This is dangerous. Toxic reactions, including death, have occurred in people who swallow cocaine to avoid police detection or border authorities. The crystalline white powder can be dissolved in water and used intravenously (“slammed”). In this form, cocaine has a high melting point, so it cannot be smoked and is the most widely used form of the drug. Freebasing involves the conversion of cocaine hydrochloride into cocaine sulfate that is “free” of the additives and nearly 100% pure. It is not water soluble and has a low melting point, so it can be smoked. However, an individual runs the risk of being burned by the conversion process, because a highly volatile solvent, such as ether, is being used. Crack is cocaine that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. This form of cocaine comes in a rock crystal that can be heated and its vapors smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound heard when it is heated. This is the most common form of use in the streets, and names for this drug are, Coke, Crack, Flake, The Lady, Blow, Nose Candy, Snowball, Tornado, and perico. I am sure there are many more names out there, but these however, are the more recognizable names. This is a Very Addictive DrugThe cocaine dependent individual prefers this drug to all other activities and will use cocaine until the user or the supply is exhausted. These persons will exhibit bazaar behavior entirely different from their previous lifestyle. Cocaine-driven individuals will compel themselves to perform unusual acts compared with their former standards of conduct. For example, a cocaine user may lie, steal, cheat, sell their bodies, their possessions and even sell their child to obtain more cocaine. There are many stories of professionals, such as lawyers, physicians, bankers and athletes with daily cocaine habits costing hundreds to thousands of dollars, with binges in the $20,000 -$50,000 range. The result may be loss of job and profession, loss of family, bankruptcy and even death. Unfortunately, this does not curtail many individuals from using cocaine and the problem still exists rampantly. Individuals taking cocaine are looking for that feel-good experience, that euphoric experience like nothing else can produce, that state of calmness and sensual delight. Sadly, what is not understood is that this is only a temporary fix and can only lead to problematic experiences down the road. More sadly, field reports are identifying new groups of users of cocaine: teenagers smoking crack with marijuana in some cities, Hispanic Crack users in Texas, middle-class suburban users of cocaine hydrochloride, and female crack users in their 30s having no prior drug use history. Illegal Drug Poses Stiff PenaltiesBe advised, cocaine is an illegal drug in all states in the U.S. and in most countries, and possession and use can lead to strict penalties, including, imprisonment. There are many alternatives to this illegal drug, so do your homework, be smart, and make an informed decision as what alternative is best for you.
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