Despite being glamorised by celebrities, the side effects of cocaine use can often be deadly.

Cocaine is a well-known party drug often associated with the elite stratum of society — celebrities, fashion models, even politicians and CEOs. But despite cocaine’s high price tag and celebrity media hype, its use extends throughout society and the effects of cocaine are not so glamorous.

What Is Cocaine?

There is a misleading notion that because cocaine is derived from the coca plant grown mostly in South America, it is, therefore, “natural” and less harmful than other street drugs such as methamphetamine and ecstasy. But cocaine is far from natural or harmless. Different chemical processes are used to create the two main types of the drug: powdered and crack cocaine.

Powdered Cocaine

Powdered cocaine, or cocaine hydrochloride, is a water soluble form of cocaine. On the street, powdered cocaine is known as “coke” or “blow”. It is often diluted with cornstarch, talcum powder, or combined with other drugs like the local anaesthetic procaine. In most cases, the powder is snorted, but some will mix it with water and inject it. Both forms of use pose serious health risks, including addiction.

Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine is made through a chemical process of mixing the drug with baking soda to create a rock form that is then smoked. Crack cocaine is also extremely addictive and dangerous.

Short-Term Effects Of Cocaine

The immediate effects of cocaine are often described as euphoric, especially when first used. The short-term effects last between a few minutes and a few hours and include the following:

• Feelings of euphoria or elevated mood

• Increased mental alertness especially to sensations of sight, sound, and touch

• Increased energy

• Sense of superiority

Along with the ‘high’ that these feelings create, other immediate effects of cocaine on the mind and body include:

• Irritability

• Paranoia

• Anxiety/restlessness

• Increased heart rate

• Increased blood pressure

• Constricted blood vessels

• Dilated pupils

Tolerance develops quickly and users often need more and more of the drug to feel any effects of cocaine at all. Even short-term use can cause severe negative health consequences and death.

Part two of this article talks about cocaine’s long-term psychological and physical effects.

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