What is cocaine?
Cocaine is an illegal, highly addictive drug made from the leaves of the South American coca bush. It is a central nervous system stimulant, which causes high levels of dopamine to be released. Dopamine is a brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward.
Cocaine is a white powder with a bitter, numbing taste. It is typically snorted through the nose, but it can also be:
- injected
- rubbed into the gums
- added to food and drinks
It comes in 3 main forms: cocaine hydrochloride, freebase and crack. Cocaine hydrochloride is a white powder usually mixed or 'cut' with other substances. Freebase is a white powder and crack cocaine is generally found in the form of larger crystals. Freebase and crack are usually smoked.
Cocaine is also known as:
- C
- coke
- crack
- nose candy
- snow
- white lady
- toot
- Charlie
- blow
- white dust
- stardust
What are the effects of taking cocaine and crack?
People who use cocaine or crack get a rush, making them feel:
Other physical and psychological effects may include:
- feeling excited and energetic
- feeling upset
- feeling numb
- having a higher sex drive
- taking risks
- moving more quickly than usual
- a loss of appetite
Some side effects of taking cocaine or crack include:
- headaches
- dizziness
- chest pain
- large pupils
- high temperature
- feeling restless
- finding it hard to concentrate
- losing motivation
- losing interest in sex
The effects start a few minutes after taking cocaine and may last from a few minutes to a few hours.
Cocaine and crack can affect people differently based on:
- how much they take
- how strong it is
- their size, height and weight
- whether they are used to taking it
- whether they take other drugs at the same time
What can go wrong with using cocaine and crack?
After taking cocaine or crack, a user may:
- take risks
- feel anxious or agitated
- ignore pain
- display unpredictable or violent behaviour
When coming down from cocaine or crack, you may experience:
- irritability
- paranoia
- mood swings
- exhaustion
- feeling uncomfortable
You can also overdose on cocaine or crack if you have too much, or if you have used a strong batch, or extra strong ‘rocks’ in the case of crack. Sometimes cocaine and crack is mixed with other substances, so a user may not know how much they are taking.
A person who has overdosed may:
- be very panicked, agitated or paranoid
- hallucinate
- have muscle twitches
- feel nauseous (feel sick)
- vomit (be sick)
- have a high temperature
An overdose can cause:
- seizures
- a stroke
- a cardiac arrest (where your heart stops beating — this is a medical emergency)
These can lead to a coma and death.
If you think someone has overdosed on cocaine or crack, call 999 or 112 for an ambulance.
Ambulance personnel don't have to call the police.
Can cocaine cause long-term problems?
People who use cocaine and crack regularly can experience:
They are at higher risk of:
Snorting cocaine and smoking crack can also damage the lining of your nose, increasing your risk of nose bleeds and nose infections.
Cocaine and crack can harm your baby if you use it while you are pregnant.
Some long-term users may develop psychosis, which makes them:
- paranoid
- experience hallucinations or unusual thoughts
- behave out of character
These effects usually disappear when you stop using cocaine or crack.
Long-term users are at risk of social and financial problems. Cocaine and crack use has also been linked to criminal behaviour.
What if I use other drugs or alcohol together with cocaine or crack?
You should not take cocaine or crack with other drugs, including:
If you take other drugs to help you cope with the side effects of cocaine or crack, you may become dependent on several drugs at once. Mixing drugs also makes people more likely to overdose.
Can I become dependent on cocaine or crack?
In time, some users become tolerant to cocaine and crack. This means that they need to take larger and larger doses to get the same effect. Doing this puts them at higher risk of effects and overdose.
Cocaine and crack are highly addictive, and users crave the same experience over and over again. People addicted to cocaine and crack may spend a lot of time thinking about the drug and trying to get it. This can impact their:
People can also be dependent on cocaine and crack. They may find it difficult to stop using cocaine or control how much they use. This is often due to withdrawal symptoms.
People withdrawing from cocaine can:
- have cravings
- feel angry or upset
- have nausea and vomiting
- shake
- feel tired and weak
- feel anxious
- feel hungry
- have disturbed sleep
- have muscle pain
- have depression and suicidal thoughts
These symptoms usually disappear quite quickly, but intermittent cravings for cocaine can last for months.
How can I stop using cocaine or crack?
Getting off cocaine and crack can be difficult. However, help is at hand through the South East Cocaine Addiction Support service (SECAS). By booking an appointment through this website, our expert drugs workers and addiction counsellors can help you understand and manage withdrawal symptoms, and advise you on treatment options, such as:
- counselling
- participation in support groups
- referral to another specialist service if required
