Cocaine: The Super Drug
This paper will be describing the history, celebrity use, effects, and research of the drug, Cocaine. The scientific name of the street drug is cocaine hydrochloride, because there is a salt molecule bound to the cocaine alkaline molecule. Most cocaine that is purchased on the street is hardly pure, and can vary as much as 15% to 90% actual cocaine. Those who sell these illegal drugs use the practice of cutting the pure substance with sugars and even powdered milk. Everyday 5000 Americans try cocaine for their 1st time every day. Also known as "White Gold," cocaine is five times more valuable than normal gold. The process to leach out the cocaine alkaloid from the coca leaves is long and drawn out. With a solution of sulfuric acid, kerosene, ammonia, and various other solvents, the leaves are soaked till they give up the drug. To get this potent drug across the border of the United States, it is concealed in shoes, dolls, flashlight batteries, against records, and pressed into clay bowls that are 75% or more of cocaine.There are few drugs of abuse that have received as much public attention as cocaine. But cocaine is by no means a new drug. Cocaine has been used in the New World since before the Spanish Conquest; indeed, it ha
When taking cocaine, some of the effects are; an increase of heart rate, elevation of blood pressure, and dilation of the pupils. Chronic users can lead to skin abscesses, weight loss, and damage to the nervous system. Death from even a small dose can occur, and is usually caused by seizures or heart attacks. There are many ways to get the effects of cocaine. In South America, it is ingested, where the leaves are chewed. In the U.S. cocaine is snorted through the nose where it is absorbed through the mucus membrane into the bloodstream. In about 3 - 5 minutes it takes effect, and lasts for 20 to 40 minutes. It is also "mainlined" by injecting intravenously. Since it is water soluble, a mixture of it and cocaine can be injected, and in approximately 30 seconds it takes effect. It will last for 10 minutes and it has been described as giving a rush that is almost orgasmic in nature. Freebasing is also used in the United States, where the cocaine substance is mixed with ether (which is rather volatile), which separates the salt molecule from the cocaine alkaloid. A newer form of cocaine is called "Crack," also known as "Chasing the Dragon." By mixing baking soda with street cocaine, a smoke-able form is made. The name derives from the sound that the substance makes when it is ready. 2. Johanson, Chris-Ellyn, Ph. D. (?) Cocaine: A New Epidemic, Publishing Information Not Available. Laboratory experiments have provided much data to support and predict the extent and debilitating effects of cocaine use among humans. Cocaine is a strong reinforcer under a variety of conditions. Animals, including people, will go to great lengths to get cocaine, will choose it over almost all other reinforcers including food, and will continue to take the drug even when such behavior is punished. These results help to explain the loss of control that many cocaine users exhibit.
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Approximate Word count = 2237
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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