Cocaine: History, Effects, and Dangers
Cocaine is a very strong drug that can make people feel very awake and happy. For a long time, people in South America have chewed coca leaves because they give energy. These leaves come from a plant called Erythroxylon coca. A long time ago, people figured out how to take the strong part of the plant, called cocaine hydrochloride. This happened more than 100 years ago. In the early 1900s, many medicines had purified cocaine in them. Even the first Coca-Cola drinks had it! Before doctors had other pain medicines, they used cocaine to help with pain during surgery. But now we know that cocaine can be very addictive and can change how the brain works if used a lot.
Today, cocaine is a Schedule II drug. This means it can be very addictive, but doctors can still use it for some real medical reasons, like numbing areas during some surgeries on the eyes, ears, or throat. People who sell cocaine often mix it with other things like cornstarch, talcum powder, flour, or baking soda to make more money. They might also add other drugs like procaine or amphetamine. Some people even mix cocaine with heroin.
There are two main types of cocaine that people use. One type is a powder called hydrochloride salt, and people can snort or inject it. The other type is called freebase, which is made by mixing cocaine with things like baking soda and then heating it. This type can be smoked.
Even though some people think cocaine is a fancy drug and use it in places like Wall Street or fashion shows, it is very harmful. It can cause serious heart and brain problems. People who use cocaine a lot can find it very hard to stop because they become addicted both in their mind and body.
Using cocaine over and over can lead to cocaine addiction and other serious health problems. In 2014, about 913,000 people in the United States were found to have a problem with cocaine. Also, in 2011, cocaine was involved in over 505,224 visits to the emergency room because of drug problems. This means that out of all the drug-related emergency visits, about 40 percent involved cocaine.
Cocaine can seem glamorous, but it is dangerous and harmful. It is important to know the risks and avoid this drug.
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