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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& #39;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& #39;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& #39;t want to be on call with an energetic doctor? Who doesn& #39;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& #39;t want to be on call with an energetic doctor? Who doesn& #39;t want to work with an enthusiastic banker?
What about "functional" #cocaine use?
Unless your #dopamine neurotransmitters are special and different from everyone else& #39;s, you are going to walk the walk to addiction
Unless your #dopamine neurotransmitters are special and different from everyone else& #39;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"> http://houghtonhouse.co.za
I refer patients to Houghton House http://houghtonhouse.co.za"> http://houghtonhouse.co.za
Another good resource is #SANCA
They have centres around the country https://www.sancanational.info/ ">https://www.sancanational.info/">...
They have centres around the country https://www.sancanational.info/ ">https://www.sancanational.info/">...
