How do you know a cocaine addict:
Explain cocaine addiction
Cocaine is one of the most well-known and harmful illicit drugs. Although cocaine use is associated with witchcraft and the wealthy, cocaine use is still debilitating and can be fatal. This substance can lead to addiction that can destroy even the most apparently successful life. Currently several thousand people in the UK suffer from cocaine addiction at great cost to themselves, loved ones and society at large.
Understanding cocaine addiction
Addictions are essentially a disorder of the brain’s reward centers. Repeated exposure over time to rewarding stimuli and behavior can see the parts and functions of the brain associated with feeling rewarded to adapt to that exposure. For example, the motive could be consuming cocaine and experiencing its effects. Thus, further involvement in this rewarding behavior is driven by mechanisms such as the release of dopamine (associated with feelings of pleasure and reward) and other neurochemicals.
Repeated abuse of cocaine over a period of time creates rewarding sensations, including the physical and psychological pleasure of taking the drug. A person who enjoys these sensations may yearn to repeat them, and be motivated to take more cocaine in order to repeat that experience. As reward centers continue to adapt to cocaine use, a person may become more dependent on cocaine use in order to experience the pleasurable sensations associated with it. This would also expel negative feelings and emotions caused by abstaining from cocaine, often withdrawal symptoms. Reward centers restrict the release of dopamine and other related chemicals in the absence of addictive behavior.
Despite the effects it has on the human brain, unlike some other abused substances, cocaine is not considered to be a physically addictive substance. The dependence that can result in cocaine use is primarily a psychological phenomenon, and thus the withdrawal symptoms associated with cocaine use are primarily psychological in nature. However, this should not cause anyone to underestimate the extent of cocaine addiction: psychological dependence from prolonged cocaine use can be very powerful and life-threatening.
Explanation of cocaine
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant derived from the coca plant, which is mostly used for entertainment (although it has some medicinal uses, mainly related to its narcotic qualities). Commonly supplied as a fine white powder, although it is also available in the smokeable “rock” form known as crack cocaine, and sometimes in solution, cocaine can be found all over the world despite its prohibited status, thanks to the huge profit margins associated with it. Donates. Although cocaine production is still concentrated in the heart of Central and South America, coca plants are now grown in various other parts of the world, while cocaine trafficking and consumption is a huge international challenge causing great instability in many regions.
The stimulant effects of the coca leaf have been known in Latin America for at least 1,000 years, but the alkaloid cocaine did not successfully self-isolate until 1855. Shortly thereafter, cocaine’s analgesic and psychoactive effects began to be discovered, and the drug began rapidly establishing itself across the world. Western medicine and entertainment. This was helped in particular by its inclusion in products such as Mariani wine and the original recipe for Coca-Cola. Before 1879, cocaine was used as a treatment for morphine addiction, and a few years later it was introduced as a local anesthetic. Later, cocaine was used as a nutritional drug, as a stimulant for soldiers and explorers, and as a tool in psychiatry (with Sigmund Freud playing a major role in this regard).
Explanation of cocaine
Cocaine abuse was recognized as a vice in the late Victorian era (as evidenced by its appearance in Sherlock Holmes novels). Over the course of the 20th century, cocaine has grown to prominence as a highly desirable recreational substance associated with high living. However, this glamorous reputation belied its impact on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society, particularly after the emergence of a potent form of smokeable cocaine, known as crack, in the 1980s. In modern times, cocaine use has reached epidemic levels, with between 14 And 21 million people use drugs each year worldwide, creating a market worth between $100 billion and $500 billion. Up to 3% of the population of the developed world has used cocaine at some point.
Use of the drug directly leads to more than 4,000 deaths annually, while deaths indirectly related to cocaine, including homicides and accidents, are easily many times that number. Long-term cocaine use can have a variety of very serious repercussions. on the user’s physical and mental health, and can lead to a disabling addiction with permanently detrimental consequences for life prospects. Nevertheless, cocaine has managed to retain its place as the most desirable and most desirable illegal substance, and its frequent appearances in films, television and other media ensure that it continues to be associated with a certain lifestyle that many users still covet.
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Formula cocaine, brands and street names
Cocaine has the chemical formula C17H21NO4 and the chemical equivalent of benzoylmethylecgonine. Although the vast majority of cocaine is of illicit origin, it is sometimes used medicinally in some jurisdictions, and is supplied under brand names including Neurocaine. [2]
Cocaine is provided under a wide variety of street names, including but not limited to:
Coke
NS
Charlie
walking powder
nose candy
dust
Devil’s dust
powder
The snow
talc
Inflation
shocked
bazooka
nasal bag
nose powder
Sniff
gak
deluxe
trumpet
Sniff
Shnozel
happy powder
Speed
snow White
Mama C
white lady
charming
devil’s crust
Come on
yayo
beak
Cuts
flake
broke down
Stone
Sugar
candies
Legal status (Egypt)
In Egypt, cocaine is considered one of the most dangerous and harmful illegal substances to be abused and as a result it is classified as a Class I controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Law of 1971. The maximum penalty for cocaine possession is seven years in prison and an unlimited fine, while The guilty could face life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
How do you know a cocaine addict?
Powder cocaine is often not smelt (sniffed), although it can be applied to the gums to be absorbed into the bloodstream, as well as made into a solution for intravenous injection. Some users also use cocaine rectally and/or vaginally.
While powdered cocaine can be smoked, the effects are usually less pronounced than if consumed by other means. However, cocaine can be converted relatively easily into crack cocaine, which is usually smoked through a tube.
pharmacological effects of cocaine
The primary actions of cocaine in the brain are related to its effect on neurotransmitters. Importantly, cocaine blocks dopamine transporter proteins in the central nervous system, preventing dopamine re-uptake and thus causing an increase in dopamine in the synaptic cleft. Cocaine also affects certain serotonin receptors, although exactly how this occurs is not yet fully understood. The substance is also known to block sodium channels in the nervous system, thus blocking the transmission of information related to pain and thus acting as a local anesthetic.
Risk factors for cocaine addiction
What exactly causes addiction in one person, while another individual in very similar circumstances may not develop the condition, is not fully understood, although environmental and genetic factors are known to play a role.
However, several risk factors have been identified as contributing to the potential for developing cocaine addiction, including:
A family history of drug abuse and addiction
Also a family history of mental health disorders
A personal history of mental health problems
Previous experiences with abusive substances
Previous history of addiction to other substances
Attachment to a peer group in which drug abuse, especially cocaine abuse, is prevalent
Work in high-risk occupations including medicine, financial services and the entertainment industry
Relatively high level of disposable income
Show narcissistic personality traits
Education level above average
Frequent travel or family links with locations where cocaine is produced or trafficked
Be between 16 and 30 years old
being a female
Experiencing trauma and/or difficult life situations
Suffering from childhood abuse
Engaging in sex work
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How dangerous is cocaine?
The dangers of cocaine are manifold. It is clear that cocaine use can lead to serious physical and psychological damage, including death from overdose, dependence and addiction. Regular cocaine use, and in particular addiction, can have very serious financial, occupational, and reputational repercussions. It can lead to the dissolution of important relationships and the permanent reduction of life conditions, with other consequences for the user’s well-being. Also, lowering the inhibitions caused by cocaine use can lead to engaging in risky behavior, including unprotected sex that may lead to life-threatening diseases including HIV/AIDS (which can also result from drug use by injection route).
The criminal nature of cocaine, and the huge profits that can be obtained from the sale of the drug, mean that violence is often associated with the abuse of cocaine and its supply. Meanwhile, criminal penalties associated with cocaine can have lasting life-altering consequences for anyone caught possessing or supplying it.
Dangers associated with a cocaine overdose
A cocaine overdose can be fatal, with death resulting from any of many causes including heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, and seizure. Organ failure can result from an excessively high body temperature. Individuals who overdose on cocaine can develop permanent physical damage and weakness even in non-fatal cases.
Symptoms of cocaine withdrawal from the body
- Arrhythmia
very high blood pressure
very anxious
confusion
nausea
shivering
muscle spasms
irregular breathing
psychosis
loss of engine control
UnconsciousnessIf you notice these symptoms in anyone known to abuse cocaine, it is essential that you contact emergency services as soon as possible.
Signs and symptoms of cocaine abuse (How do you know a cocaine addict)
It can be very difficult to identify cocaine use and abuse, even in someone very close to you, because the stigma associated with drug use and the illegal nature of cocaine means that users often go to great lengths to conceal their cocaine consumption. However, some notable symptoms of cocaine abuse may include:
Rough and exaggerated behavior
Obsessive arrogance and excessive self-confidence
Changes in pupil size
Runny nose and smell
White powder around the nostrils
nosebleeds
Mood Swings
Burns on the fingers or lips (from smoking cocaine) or scaling and bruising on the veins (from injections)
Engaging in risky behavior
Loss of interest in activities that were previously important
Changing sleeping and eating patterns
Changes in sex drive and sexual interests
Lack of care for appearance and hygiene
financial difficulties
Possession of paraphernalia related to cocaine use, including rolled papers, small spoons, small mirrors (particularly marked by white residue), razors, plastic bags, and highly sensitive scales
Increased secret, deceptive or deceptive behavior
Changes in peer group and vocabulary
Weight loss
Increase the pace of socializing and attending parties
fatigue
depression
Low optimism about the future
carelessness
Aggression may include violence
Paranoia
illusions
psychosis
Manifestation of withdrawal symptoms
Anxiety when thinking about long periods away from home, especially including traveling abroad
The easiest way to find out a cocaine user (How to know a cocaine addict)
Cocaine use is usually a hidden activity, although it may be relatively overt in some circles and environments. You may not be able to recognize it in any particular individual. Look for sudden and obvious changes in habits and appearance, frequent disappearances (eg, in the bathroom) during social events, exaggerated behavior and speech, nasal-like symptoms (particularly cold, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes), frequent mood swings and new and possibly suspicious peers. [5]
Be aware that not all signs of cocaine use may actually have this cause. There may be other reasons for the anxiety causing the behavior. Most importantly, if you suspect that someone you know is taking cocaine, don’t confront them: Contact an addiction professional about your suspicions, and always prioritize your own safety and the safety of everyone around you.Get confidential help now
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Trying cocaine for the first time (How do you know a cocaine addict)
Also, each individual experience of drug use is unique, and there may be an endless variety of settings and occasions in which someone may try cocaine for the first time. Usually, the cocaine experience can be accompanied by great excitement and fear. There is some mystery associated with the drug. Its reputation is such that many people consider it, at least at first, to be a “special” substance and a great treat or luxury. Individuals who have no prior experience with other stimulants, are already drunk on other substances, and who use cocaine for the first time are significantly more likely to experience unpleasant and/or dangerous effects. Likewise, they are more likely to suffer potential loss of motor control and reduced inhibitions.
Why is cocaine addictive?
The effects of consuming it can be very pleasurable, and can prompt the person who has used cocaine to repeat the experience, perhaps very soon thereafter. Also, the after effects of cocaine consumption can include a lack of dopamine, which in turn can lead to further involvement in cocaine abuse. Therefore, frequent and regular cocaine intake can quickly affect the reward centers of the brain, leading to the rapid onset of psychological dependence.
Partly because of cocaine’s somewhat luscious reputation, some people working in certain circles, or active in some professional environments, may feel social pressure to continue using cocaine even if they are not particularly enthusiastic about its effects. Meanwhile, in some high-pressure work environments, cocaine use and abuse is prevalent due to the drug’s stimulant properties. This allows for extended alertness, productivity, and claims to increase focus. The appetite suppressant qualities of cocaine also make it a sought-after drug among individuals for whom losing weight or maintaining a low weight is a priority.
Teenage cocaine addiction
Cocaine is not usually seen as a major problem among teens in part because its relatively high cost often puts it beyond the reach of the average teen’s disposable income. However, the tempting allure of cocaine is not felt less strongly by young people or peers, especially given the glamor of cocaine in music facing young people and other media. An unfortunate number of teenagers in the UK succumb to cocaine addiction each year, usually requiring specialist treatment in dedicated facilities.
Signs that your teen is using cocaine (How do you know a cocaine addict)
How to identify a cocaine addict Many of the signs of teenage cocaine use are the same or similar for people of all ages, including the presence of subtle and deceptive behavior. Other signs include altered sleeping and eating patterns, bonding with new and potentially problematic peers, worsening fatigue, problems at school including poor academic performance, isolation and social withdrawal, asking for money regularly, engaging in criminal activity, mood swings, and insufficiency. Also attention to appearance and cleanliness, changes in vocabulary, changes in taste for media and especially music, unexplained disappearances, frequent late nights, and more.
Some signs that your teen may be using cocaine specifically include nostrils and/or nostrils that are covered in white debris, possessing paraphernalia associated with cocaine use including rolled papers, mirrors, and razors, as well as unexplained financial shortages. So you may also notice frequent intoxication by looking for exaggerated behaviours, mood swings, excessive self-confidence, gossip, outbursts of aggression and possibly violence. If they express an inability to concentrate for more than short periods, it could be a sign of cocaine abuse among other things.
If you suspect your team may be abusing cocaine, when it’s tempting to want to take action right away, don’t rush to confront them. Also, doing so may do more harm than good. Instead, contact an addiction specialist with whom you can discuss your concerns and who can advise you regarding your best course of action.
