


Other effects of cocaine use can lead to loss of sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and an overall irritation of the nasal septum, resulting in a chronically inflamed, runny nose. Increased possibility of risky behaviors that may lead to sexually transmitted diseases (HIV and hepatitis by sharing needles) Increased energy and alertness (hyperstimulation).Increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.Short-term effects of cocaine may include:.No matter the method of use, the residual effects can last for one to two hours. If cocaine is smoked, the high can last approximately five to 10 minutes. The immediate and intense cocaine high lasts about 15 to 30 minutes if the drug is snorted. Coca leaves have also been used in teas and were incorporated in beverages such as Coca-Cola®.Īlways be on the lookout for the general signs of drug addiction like job loss, excuses to borrow money, stories about whereabouts not adding up, and aggressive responses to confrontation. In the 1880s, the drug was isolated and used in eye, nose, and throat surgeries as an anesthetic to constrict blood vessels and limit bleeding. Historically, chewing the coca leaf was the primary mode of cocaine ingestion. Pure cocaine is extracted from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca bush found mostly in South America. The powdered form of cocaine is either inhaled through the nose (snorted), where it is absorbed through the nasal tissue or dissolved in water and injected into the bloodstream. Cocaine causes the brain to be flooded with a rapid release of dopamine, a hormone involved in mood and thinking processes. This results in an increased sense of alertness and physical activity. It is a potent stimulant that makes the signals between the brain and body move faster. Street names for cocaine include basa, base, blow, coke, crack, and toot. Cocaine is a stimulant made from the leaves of the coca plant.
