• May cause death due to heart failure
• May inflict
  • convulsions
  • breathing problems
  • paranoia
  • violence
• Also known as crack, coke, dust, C, snow, flake, blow, rock, candy, lady
• Appears as chunky white crystallized powder or rock crystals – may be disguised as salt
• Distinguishing marks of a user include:
  • Scars from scratching at imaginary bugs crawling under the skin
  • runny nose due to snorting
  • bleeding from the nose due to snorting
• Accompanying paraphernalia includes aluminum foil, plastic baggies, paper packets, small vials, razor blades, straws, rolled up paper money, mirrors
• Common poly-drug combinations include speedballing with heroin and lacing marijuana cigarettes

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that is derived from the leaves of the coca plant. It is among the most psychologically and physically addictive of all drugs. Hydrochloride salt and “freebase” are the two chemical forms of cocaine. Hydrochloride salt is powdered and taken intravenously or intranasally, while freebase is smokeable.

Cocaine produces feelings of euphoria and invigoration. Users who have behavior disorders may find the drug produces more anxiety, violent tendencies and leads to more compulsive behavior. Once the drug wears off, users frequently experience fatigue, depression and confusion. In extreme cases, users may become suicidal.

Cocaine use affects the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and gastrointestinal systems. When the drug enters the bloodstream, it constricts vessels, causes the heart to beat rapidly, increases body temperature and dilates pupils. Cocaine interferes with the electrical signals the brain sends to the heart and lungs to keep them working properly and can cause seizures, heart failure and death. This rapid and often irregular heart rhythm can result in sudden cardiac arrest, even with the first use of cocaine.

Repeated snorting of cocaine causes an irritated, chronic runny nose and its chemicals may deteriorate the nasal septal tissues resulting in perforation of the cartilage of the nose. The major affects of prolonged abuse are behavioral, psychological, and social dysfunction as well as weight loss, hallucinations, psychosis and death.

Cocaine is a Schedule II controlled substance that has high potential for abuse, but may be prescribed by a physician for limited medical purposes.

What cocaine does to your:

• Brain—affects the nerve cells that control body movement, awareness, judgment, motivation and pleasure. Cocaine blocks the normal flow of dopamine to the brain, causing it to function abnormally.
• Heart— Constricts blood vessels, increases heart rate and increases blood pressure, which may result in death from cardiac arrest.
• Liver— When cocaine and alcohol are combined, the liver manufactures a third substance, cocaethylene, which intensifies cocaine's euphoric effects and possibly increases the risk of sudden death.
• Lungs—Prolonged cocaine snorting may result in ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose and can damage the nasal septum enough that it collapses. It causes severe chest pains with lung trauma and bleeding, and smoking cocaine may also cause lesions in lungs and respiratory paralysis.