JUST THE FACTS WHAT

IS
COCAINE?
AN EDUCATIONAL FACT SHEET FROM
THE FLORIDA ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE ASSOCIATION

Cocaine is a powerful central nervous sys- OTHER WAYS OF USING COCAINE

tem stimulant that comes from the South Ameri-
The most dangerous form of smokable cocaine
can coca bush. The cocaine (cocaine hydrochlo-
is coca paste made by using gasoline or sulfuric acid
ride) most commonly used in the U.S. is a white
to extract a smokable paste. The paste is dried and
crystalline powder extracted from coca leaves.
smoked in a pipe or crushed into a cigarette.
The cocaine bought on the street is a mixture of
pure cocaine and other substances such as talc, Cocaine may be used with other drugs to pro-
flour, laxatives, sugar, local anesthetics and other duce a variety of effects. “Speedballing” is the com-
stimulants or powders that are added to stretch bination of cocaine and heroin in a syringe for in-
the supply and increase the seller’s profit. jection. “Spaceballing” is the sprinkling of liquid
Users buy powdered cocaine in grams (1/ PCP (Phencyclidine) on crack cocaine before smok-
28 of an ounce) or in fractions of a gram called ing. “Champagne” is the combination of cocaine and
“quarters” or “eighths.” Often, cocaine is snorted marijuana.
through the nose. Razor blades are used to crush
any large rocks or particles of cocaine and to
form “lines” that make snorting easier. Some SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
users inject cocaine into a muscle or vein; others When cocaine is snorted, the effects begin
convert it into a smokable form called freebase. within a few minutes, peak in 15 to 20 minutes and
Freebase is street cocaine that is converted disappear after a few hours. Low doses produce a
to a pure base by removing the hydrochloride short period of euphoria and feelings of increased
salt and many of the “cutting” agents. The end energy, alertness, self-esteem and sensory aware-
product, freebase, is not water soluble — the ness. While artificially depleting the body’s energy
only way to get it into the system is to smoke it. supply, cocaine reduces the perceived need for food
and sleep and can cause impulsive behavior and
mood changes.
WHAT IS CRACK? Smoking freebase produces a two- to five-
minute intense high. Because larger amounts get to
Crack is a light brown or beige pellet of
the brain quickly, smoking also increases the risks
ready-to-smoke freebase cocaine. It is formed
of using the drug. Risks include confusion, anxiety,
when powdered cocaine is melted in a glass tube
slurred speech and psychological problems.
with water. When the liquid cools, it is mixed
with baking soda and cold water and cut into Smoking crack produces an intense and rapid
small pieces, which then harden. Since it enters euphoria commonly known as a flash high. Cocaine
the system directly through the lungs, smokable molecules reach the brain in less than 10 seconds.
cocaine reaches the brain faster than when co- The resulting three- to five-minute high is followed
caine is snorted, and causes a more intense re- by an unpleasant crash. The user feels irritable and
action. agitated, and has an intense craving for more co-
caine caused by the high concentration of the drug
According to the 1997 National Household
in the bloodstream. The initial high is never reached
Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 1.5 million
again, and subsequent lows get lower. This cycle
Americans were current users of cocaine. This
reinforces the craving.
represents 0.7 percent of the population age 12
and older. The number did not change signifi- Injecting cocaine produces an effect within 30
cantly from 1996 (1.75 million). The present level seconds that peaks in five minutes and lasts about a
of cocaine users is down from a peak of 5.7 mil- half hour. Users who inject run the risk of contract-
lion (3.0 percent of the population) in 1985. ing hepatitis, AIDS, and other infections due to the
Household Survey data do not present the com- sharing or use of contaminated needles.
plete picture, as many subpopulations of hard
core addicts continue in their frequency of abuse, LONG-TERM EFFECTS
although the number of occasional cocaine abus- Cocaine and crack constrict the heart’s blood
ers has declined dramatically. vessels, making it work harder and faster. In some
users, this may trigger chest pain or a heart attack. Cocaine creating the cycle of use. Generally, the higher a person gets
can interfere with the signals controlling the heart’s pump- on cocaine, the worse the effects of the crash. Whether or not
ing action, causing it to beat so irregularly it may stop. Co- an individual experiences a crash depends on the individual
caine, in all forms, has been associated with sudden heart at- and the amount of cocaine used. Withdrawal following pro-
tacks in people under 30, some of whom were using the drug longed use of cocaine can cause irritability, nausea, agitation,
for the first time. sleep disorders, severe depression, muscle aches and an in-
Cocaine and crack can cause brain seizure, a disturbance tense craving for the drug.
in the brain’s electrical signals, some of which regulate the
heart and muscles controlling breathing. Studies show that
over time, the brain appears to become more and more sensi- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COCAINE USE
tive to cocaine. As a result, the threshold at which seizures ❑ Dilated pupils
occur is lowered. Repeated use of the drug without experi-
encing problems does not guarantee that seizures will not ❑ Dry mouth and nose, bad breath, frequent lip licking
occur. The next dose — used in the same amount and the same ❑ Excessive activity — difficulty in sitting still
way — can produce a seizure that may cause the heart to quit
❑ Talkative but conversation lacks continuity
beating or the muscles that control breathing to stop work-
ing. Some users have suffered strokes after using cocaine. ❑ Runny nose, cold or chronic sinus/nasal problems
❑ Sudden drop in grades or work performance
Other effects of cocaine and crack use include: ❑ Frequently in trouble or accident prone
❑ Suicidal tendencies ❑ Use or possession of paraphernalia
❑ Dramatic mood swings
❑ Chronic nose bleeds, runny nose or sore throat TREATMENT AND RECOVERY
❑ Loss of friends and former values
The long-lasting craving for cocaine makes addiction
❑ Miscarriage/birth defects hard to treat without assistance. The first step in treatment is
❑ Weight loss, resulting from a loss of appetite detoxification, to rid the body of the drug. Detoxification is
sometimes followed by medication, such as antidepressants,
❑ Chronic headaches to control the craving and treat the depression that occurs
❑ Respiratory ailments after cocaine or crack is withdrawn. A treatment program can
❑ Addiction help the recovering user find other alternatives to curb the
craving. Often this help is offered through a combination of
❑ Death individual, group and family counseling in addition to other
techniques aimed at changing behavior.
ADDICTION, TOLERANCE AND
The key to successful treatment is restructuring the
WITHDRAWAL addict’s daily life. The cocaine-addicted client has several in-
The obsessive drug-seeking behavior of cocaine and ternal and external “triggers” that, if not avoided, can rekindle
crack users is due to the drug’s overwhelming influence on the hunger for cocaine. Internal triggers include boredom,
the “reward center” in the brain, which is associated with an stress and the need for rewards. External triggers include
individual’s drive for food, water and sex. having extra money, familiar music, paraphernalia, and past
Cocaine use triggers the release of dopamine, a chemi- relationships — anything that reminds one of life with co-
cal that transmits feelings of pleasure and well-being, in the caine.
brain. The brain requires more and more dopamine to be re- The goal of recovery programs is to improve self-im-
leased to satisfy its needs, which in turn requires greater age and promote healthy living without drugs. Many recov-
amounts of cocaine to be used. An individual becomes more ering individuals find strength and support from attending
tolerant of the effects and has to use greater amounts to Cocaine Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. To
achieve the same high. Repeated compulsive use of cocaine achieve recovery, the cocaine abuser must begin anew and
may lead to highs that produce no pleasurable feelings. develop a lifestyle of healthy attitudes and activities.
Violent, erratic or paranoid behavior, called “cocaine
psychosis” can accompany use of these drugs, but may ap-
pear more rapidly in crack smokers. Affected users become
anxious, believe they have superhuman powers, or become
suspicious and paranoid, to the point that they believe the
are in danger and react in bizarre or violent ways. Hallucina-
tions are also common. Users may hear or see things that do
not exist, or experience “coke bugs” — a sensation of imagi-
nary insects crawling over the skin.
A cocaine high is often followed by a crash lasting 30 to Funds for this document are provided by the Substance
60 minutes or longer and leaving the user feeling tired and Abuse Program Office, Florida Department of Children
irritable. Cocaine use provides relief from these symptoms, & Families, contract #MH650

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE FLORIDA ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE ASSOCIATION RESOURCE CENTER
1030 EAST LAFAYETTE STREET, SUITE 100, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301 TEL: (850) 878-2196

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