Cocaine is a drug and prepared from the leaves of specific plants. Actually, Cocaine is not only a drug but also acts as a stimulant for the human body. This is why; it is considered one of the most used stimulants in the entire world.
The plants from which cocaine is made found in South America at a very huge quantity. This is purchased and sold under different names like Coke. It is a very strong stimulant that’s why its action period is very short and quick.
Cocaine as medicine
Cocaine is one of those drugs which action on the human mind is very quick and directly. It directly acts on the Central brain and releases some chemicals to provide the relief to the mind. The main actions include the diversion of thoughts from the real world. This is very important for the depressed condition of mind.
Due to this beneficial feature, 70% of doctors recommend the medicines made from cocaine to overcome the depressing conditions and get comfortness. It also provides a sense of joy and happiness to the human mind that is very useful to reduce the effect of shock. This stimulant enhances the human sense of happiness.
Moreover, it is using a diversion drug at a very large scale. It means it is using as the experimental drug for harmonizing different medicines. This is the most attractive feature for all the people related to different field of life.
In the market, it is available in two main forms, one is powder form and the second one is crystal form. Its physical status looks is same as white fine powder or like crystal powder. Most of the people are using this drug in their dance parties and clubs. The reason behind its usage like this is its quick action and antidepressant properties.
Most of the people use it by mixing with other opioids that are a family of pro-drugs. They use it with the fentanyl especially that is very dangerous to the human body. It may also harm the body if used for a long period.
How is Cocaine Used?
The different ways of cocaine use are oral, intranasal, intravenous, and inhalation. The slang terms for these routes are, respectively, “chewing,” “snorting,” “mainlining,” “injecting,” and “smoking” (including freebase and crack cocaine). Snorting is the way or process of inhaling cocaine powder through the nostrils, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal tissues. Injecting discharges the drug directly into the bloodstream, and increase the intensity of its effects. The inhalation of cocaine vapor or smoke into the lungs is processed by smoking method, where absorption into the bloodstream is rapid same as injection. The drug can be rubbed onto mucous tissues as well. Some people combine cocaine powder or crack with heroin in a “speedball.”
How Does Cocaine Produce its Effects?
A large amount of research has been proved that the cocaine production has its pleasurable effects, and the main reasons it is so addictive. There are specific regions in the brain which have been discovered by Scientists, when stimulated, produce feelings of pleasure.The most effected region by cocaine in the brain is ventral tegmental area (VTA). The Nerve cells which are originating in the VTA are frurther extend to the region of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens, one of the brain’s key pleasure centers. In studies using animals, for example, all types of pleasurable stimuli, such as food, water, sex, and many drugs of abuse, cause increased activity in the nucleus accumbens.
Researchers have discovered that, when a joyable event is occurring, it is accompanied by a huge increase in the amounts of dopamine released in the nucleus accumbens by neurons originating in the VTA. In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse (the small gap between two neurons), where it binds with specialized proteins (called dopamine receptors) on the neighboring neuron, thereby sending a signal to that neuron. Drugs of abuse are capable to interfere with this communication process. For example, scientists have discovered that cocaine blocks the removal of dopamine from the synapse, resulting in an accumulation of dopamine. This buildup of dopamine causes continuous stimulation of receiving neurons, probably resulting in the euphoria commonly reported by cocaine abusers.
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