What is Cocaine and how does it work? What are the dangers of snorting cocaine? Cocaine is an illegal drug, which is very strong. It comes in many forms, however it is most often snorted as a powder. Since Cocaine is usually only available as a street drug there is no real way of knowing what might be in the batch that a user buys. A batch of Cocaine can easily be contaminated with other drugs or toxic substances.
How is the body affected by snorting Cocaine?
The way Cocaine affects the brain is by acting as a stimulant as well as increasing levels of dopamine. This causes feelings of euphoria and excitement, but additionally causes restlessness and paranoia. Cocaine also affects the central nervous system and spinal cord.
How long does Cocaine stay in the body? That depends on how a user has taken it. The half life for Cocaine is approximately 1 hour, however, if a user has taken the drug through IV or snorted it, that causes an intense surge of the drug in the body.
Cocaine can be detected in urine up to 1 – 2 days after use, and in hair up to 90 days after use.
Snorting Cocaine vs Orally Taking Cocaine
When a user snorts cocaine it causes large amounts of the drug to enter the bloodstream instantly through the nose. This is very dangerous and can lead to heart or lung problems which could be fatal.
In the United States, Cocaine is an illegal drug. It is only used medically as a topical anesthetic, and not used as an oral medication. In Latin America users have been known to brew the coca leaf into tea, or to crush it between their teeth to release tiny amounts of Cocaine into the body, however it is illegal to possess coca leaves in the United States.
What are the Side Effects of snorting Cocaine?
When Cocaine is taken in small amounts, it can cause excitement or restlessness. When it is taken in larger amounts, Cocaine can cause severe side effects, such as:
- Increased heart rate
- Higher blood pressure
- Constricted blood vessels
- Increased body temperature
- Paranoia or psychotic episodes
- Malnourishment
- Overdose or death
Other serious side effects are impaired ability which can cause accidents. A user’s nasal passages may be harmed over time. If different users share the same snorting instruments they can also spread disease.
Of course the most serious risk is that of becoming addicted to snorting Cocaine. A user can become addicted to Cocaine within weeks of taking it repeatedly.
If you need help with questions about cocaine, or information on how to seek treatment, Hired Power is here for you.
