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I'll do a short medical thread over the weekend https://twitter.com/sindivanzyl/status/947971872653791233
I'll do a short medical thread over the weekend https://twitter.com/sindivanzyl/status/947971872653791233
What is #cocaine ?
• potent stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant which is native to South America - mostly grown in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru
Nicknames: coke, blow, snow, powder
• potent stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant which is native to South America - mostly grown in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru
Nicknames: coke, blow, snow, powder
What does #cocaine look like?
• fine, white powder
• snorted, rubbed on gums, dissolved and injected into the body
• fine, white powder
• snorted, rubbed on gums, dissolved and injected into the body
What does #cocaine look like?
• rocks known as crack cocaine
• made by "cooking" cocaine powder with baking powder
• heated up and smoked
• very potent
• rocks known as crack cocaine
• made by "cooking" cocaine powder with baking powder
• heated up and smoked
• very potent
What does #cocaine look like?
• freebase coke
• cocaine powder dissolved in water + base product + solvent
• very potent
• declined in use over the years
• freebase coke
• cocaine powder dissolved in water + base product + solvent
• very potent
• declined in use over the years
How does #cocaine work?
• #dopamine is one of four brain chemicals that are responsible for our happiness
• #dopamine helps to regulate movement, attention, learning, and emotional responses
• #dopamine is one of four brain chemicals that are responsible for our happiness
• #dopamine helps to regulate movement, attention, learning, and emotional responses
How does #cocaine work?
• #dopamine enables us to see rewards
• #dopamine motivates us to take action in achieving happiness
Cocaine works by INCREASING the levels of dopamine in the brain
Cocaine FLOODS your brain with dopamine
So you're happy happy happy
• #dopamine enables us to see rewards
• #dopamine motivates us to take action in achieving happiness
Cocaine works by INCREASING the levels of dopamine in the brain
Cocaine FLOODS your brain with dopamine
So you're happy happy happy
What is the problem with the #cocaine happy?
• it is short-lived
• eventually you need stronger and more frequent doses to achieve the same high
• this leads to addiction and sadly sometimes overdose
• it is short-lived
• eventually you need stronger and more frequent doses to achieve the same high
• this leads to addiction and sadly sometimes overdose
What are the short-term effects of #cocaine on the body?
• extreme happiness
• lots of energy
• mental alertness
• you do everything quicker
HOWEVER the effects are short-lived hence you need more cocaine to "maintain" the effects ----> ADDICTION
• extreme happiness
• lots of energy
• mental alertness
• you do everything quicker
HOWEVER the effects are short-lived hence you need more cocaine to "maintain" the effects ----> ADDICTION
What are the other effects of #cocaine on the body?
• depression as you come down from the #dopamine high
• loss of appetite leading to weight loss
• disturbed sleeping patterns
• irritability
• anxiety
• paranoia
• psychosis
• tactile hallucinations
• depression as you come down from the #dopamine high
• loss of appetite leading to weight loss
• disturbed sleeping patterns
• irritability
• anxiety
• paranoia
• psychosis
• tactile hallucinations
#Cocaine also does the following:
• increases your heart rate
• raises your blood pressure
• raises your body temperature
• contracts your blood vessels
• increases your breathing rate
• reduces your decision-making ability
• increases your heart rate
• raises your blood pressure
• raises your body temperature
• contracts your blood vessels
• increases your breathing rate
• reduces your decision-making ability
#Cocaine use places your life in danger because of the risk of overdose
Why?
Drug dealers "cut" cocaine to make a larger batch
Cutting = adding anything that comes in a white powder form e.g. laundry detergent
You take more cocaine to achieve the dopamine high ---> overdose
Why?
Drug dealers "cut" cocaine to make a larger batch
Cutting = adding anything that comes in a white powder form e.g. laundry detergent
You take more cocaine to achieve the dopamine high ---> overdose
Some dealers cut #cocaine with other stimulants
Again, your life is in danger because of the risk of overdose
Again, your life is in danger because of the risk of overdose
What do #cocaine users look like?
Like me and you
Many of the signs and symptoms of cocaine use can be hidden well and missed by others
Who doesn't want to be on call with an energetic doctor? Who doesn't want to work with an enthusiastic banker?
Like me and you
Many of the signs and symptoms of cocaine use can be hidden well and missed by others
Who doesn't want to be on call with an energetic doctor? Who doesn't want to work with an enthusiastic banker?
What about "functional" #cocaine use?
Unless your #dopamine neurotransmitters are special and different from everyone else's, you are going to walk the walk to addiction
Unless your #dopamine neurotransmitters are special and different from everyone else's, you are going to walk the walk to addiction
How do you get help for #cocaine addiction?
I refer patients to Houghton House http://houghtonhouse.co.za
I refer patients to Houghton House http://houghtonhouse.co.za
