This document summarizes information about cocaine. It discusses that cocaine comes from the coca plant, can be taken in various forms including powder and crack, and through various routes such as intranasal and intravenous. It also outlines the physiological effects of cocaine like increased heart rate and the potential health risks including convulsions, heart attacks, and strokes. Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are discussed. Statistics are presented on lifetime cocaine and crack use among different age groups in the United States.

1. Jamie Roop
Frostburg State University

2.  Comes from the coca plant
 Stimulant
 Various routes
 Intranasal, inhalation, intravenous (IV)
 Various forms
 Powder, freebase and crack
Erythoxylum coca
(Maisto, Galizio, and Connors, 2011)
Powder cocaine
Crack

3.  Onset
 10-15minutes with oral and intranasal use
 30 seconds with IV use
 <30 seconds with inhalation (crack/freebase)
 Duration
 20 to 80 minutes
 Excretion
 Can be detected in urine for 2-3 days after use
(Maisto, Galizio, and Connors, 2011)

4.  National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2013
20
15
10
5
0
12th graders 18 - 25 26 or older
Cocaine (Lifetime)
Crack(Lifetime)
(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2013)

5.  Physiologic
 Sympathomimetic:
 Increased HR, BP, RR, sweating. Changes in blood flow.
 Other
 Decreased appetite, Insomnia, Impotence
 Behavioral
 Moderate doses
 Elevated mood, increased talkativeness alertness, and
arousal
 High doses
 Stimulant psychosis
 Compulsive behaviors (rocking, self-caressing, “fiddling
with things”) and formication (sensation of bugs crawling)
 Paranoid delusions and hallucinations
 Over dose death
(Maisto, Galizio, and Connors, 2011)

6.  Convulsions  Respiratory collapse
 Coronary artery spasm  Myocardial
infarction (MI)
 Stroke
(Maisto, Galizio, and Connors, 2011)
RIP gravestone

7.  Tolerance
 Acute
 Subsequent doses requiring larger and larger dosages
to produce same effect
 Only lasts about 24hours
 Dependence
 Withdrawal
 Not life-threatening
(Maisto, Galizio, and Connors, 2011)

8.  Signs and symptoms
 Initial crash
 Exhaustion, anxiety, agitation, and powerful cravings
 Last several days
 Next several weeks
 Ongoing cravings, inability to feel pleasure, and
depression
(Maisto, Galizio, and Connors, 2011)

9.  Dunham, K. (n.d.). Cocaine [Image]. Retrieved from
http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/help-overcoming-cocaine-
addiction
 Edley, Keith (n.d.). “Erythroxylum coca.” [Image].
Retrieved from http://entheology.com/plants/
erthroxylum-coca-coca-bush/
 Maisto, S. A., Galizio, M., & Connors, G. J. (2011). Drug use and
abuse (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage
Learning.
 National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2013). Cocaine. Retrieved
from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/cocaine
 Ridley, G. (2012). Crack [Image]. Retrieved from
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/10/
flint_woman_sentenced_on_crack.html
 Tyler. (n.d.). RIP gravestone [Image]. Retrieved from http://
manofdepravity.com/2013/05/end-rip/rip-gravestone/