cocaine

cocaine

“Cocaine is like really evil coffee.”Courtney Love

• Definition• Physical mechanism• Effects

Crystalline tropane alkaloid

• leaves of coca plant: 0.1 – 0.9% cocaine

• purified paste: mashed and soaked leaves, 60-80% cocaine hydrochloride

Crack: form of cocaine that can be smoked• heated with baking powder and water

Physical Mechanism

prevents removal of noradrenaline* from receptors on the post-synaptic membrane

*neurotransmitter in central nervous system

Physical Mechanism

• re-absorption of dopamine is slowed down• accumulation of dopamine in the synaptic cleft

Effects• MOOD• Hyperstimulation • Reduced fatigue• Mental clarity• Intense pleasure

• Short-lived euphoria• Restlessness• Irritability• Anxiety• prolonging effect by increased dose• highly addictive

EffectsBEHAVIOR• Compulsive and repetitive

patterns of behavior • Psychosis (extreme mental

derangement)• los

SOCIAL• Alienation• Addicts will often lie, steal,

cheat and commit crimes to obtain cocaine.