Cocaine and its Effects

Cocaine is obtained by extracting coke from cocoa bush extensively found in Columbia, which produces 90-100% pure cocaine. Cocaine when ingested acts as a stimulant to the nervous system, which acts like an anesthetic to the body and numbs the part of body when applied to it. The initial feeling when cocaine is ingested is one of euphoria and elation which gives a rush to the person involved making him feel extremely ecstatic, energetic and powerful. All these feelings of power which the person is undergoing are not real, and these feelings are induced by cocaine due to which the brain is packed with dopamine which acts as a neurotransmitter sending neurons to the brain. This feeling of ecstasy lasts for a very short time, a few minutes or less than an hour, after this the person will feel very low and extremely depressed. These feelings of initial ecstasy a person undergoes are accompanied with an increased heart rate, high blood pressure, sleeplessness, dry mouth and a loss of appetite.

Prolonged and excessive use of cocaine causes behavior changes in a person like the person will experience palpitations, greater agitation, irritation, hallucinations, loss of weight and symptoms of hyper mannerism. Long term usage of cocaine may cause cancer, lung damage, respiratory problems, asthma and bronchitis. Snorting on cocaine through the nose damages the throat, larynx and the surrounding tissues. Long term cocaine users may also experience a sensation of crawling on the skin, which might make them to scratch their skin resulting in excessive bleeding and cause of lesions. When cocaine users are under extreme stress they experience all the above behavioral problems, which are a result of the changes in brain functioning due to stimulation caused by using cocaine. Users become addicted to cocaine which affect their brain and senses by giving them the initial rush and pleasurable feelings.