Cocaine Abuse In America

Over nine percent of Americans admit to abusing drugs, such as

marijuana, psychotherapeutics, hallucinogens, and cocaine

(www.drugabuse.gov). Drugs have been a great constituent in American

society since the first English colony of America was founded in 1606.

Now drugs play an enormous role in the nation’s economy. People also

started to abuse drugs for the effect of the substances caused on the brain

(www.schmoop.com/drugs-america/). A very popular drug in America is

cocaine, a drug that is widely used for its producing of euphoric feelings,

loquaciousness, and vivacity. Cocaine is a very powerful drug that has

an extensive and interesting history.

Cocaine is usually a white powdered substance. It can also be

found in

The price range varies depending on the

quality of the drug the user is purchasing. There are several street names

used for cocaine. There are more commonly known names such as coke

and sniff. There are also names like Aunt Nora and Toot. Cocaine is

used to get an intense high. It can be smoked, snorted, or injected.

Injection or smoking it causes almost immediate effects. It also causes a

rush of energy and I feeling of motivation to do certain things. Cocaine

was first used about three thousand years before the birth of Christ. It

was chewed by the Incas in the form of cocoa leaves. The Peruvian

natives chewed cocoa leaves during religious ceremonies. In recent

years, Peru became the country that produces the most cocaine by

passing up Columbia.

Cocaine causes a brief, exhilarating high, and when finished, the

user feels quite the contrary. They become jittery, on edge, and long for

the next dose of “blow”. It causes increased heart rate and often causes

convulsions and spasms. The user most likely will experience paranoia,

anxiety, hostility, and anger. The effects of using cocaine are very

repercussive. There can be permanent damage to the blood vessels of

Placental abruption can be

incited as well, causing bleeding which may be fatal to the baby and

mother. Because cocaine Is so highly addictive, a full recovery is very

hard to accomplish; however full recovery is possible.

The chemical formula for cocaine is: C17H21NO4. Cocaine

affects the brain in several different ways. Cocaine increases levels of

dopamine in the brain, preventing it from being recycled naturally. This

also causes dopamine to be built up in the synapse, disrupting brain

communication. With long term use, the brain’s reward system is

damaged along with other brain functions which can lead to addiction,

depression, tiredness, empathy, and minor hallucinations.

As of today, no FDA- approved treatments are readily available for

cocaine. There are; however, some treatments such as vigabatrin,

modafinil, tiagabine, disulfiram, and topiramate that help improve the

condition of the addict’s well being. Interventions are also an effective

way of treating cocaine addicts.

Cocaine is and has been one of the most popular drugs in the