Cocaine: Understanding Its Effects

Immediate effects

Because it is a stimulant, cocaine has some of the same effects as adrenaline. These include fast heartbeat and fast breathing, as well as raised body temperature and blood pressure. Users feel a rush of energy and well-being. They can start to rely on this feeling to help them cope with life. But the high wears off very fast. It can happen in less than an hour with powdered cocaine. It happens in about 10 minutes for crack cocaine. The user will then feel upset and sad. They will want more cocaine. Sometimes this intense rush makes users very hyper and paranoid.

Effects of chronic use

People who use cocaine often get dependent on it. Their behavior changes. They get preoccupied with cocaine, often neglecting family, friends, jobs, school, and other activities. The drug can interrupt sleep, which can cause mood swings and irritability. To lessen these effects, the user may start using alcohol or other sedatives. Cocaine use can make it easier for seizures to happen. It can change the brain’s pleasure centers. This can cause the brain to need cocaine to feel normal. Crack smoking can lead to long-term sore throat and lung damage.

Serious risks

Death can result from cocaine use. This can happen even in first-time or healthy users. Sudden death may be the result of:

• Toxic reactions.

• A seizure.

• A heart attack.

• Stopped blood flow and breathing.

• Heatstroke.

The risk of death increases greatly in hot weather. Cocaine weakens the body's ability to cool itself. It also can increase body temperature. When this occurs on hot days the user may get heatstroke.

Some users who have heart conditions or high blood pressure have a higher risk of death from cocaine use. Chronic users can also become addicted to other drugs. Or they may develop mental health problems. People who inject the drug are at risk for diseases such as hepatitis. And sharing needles can spread HIV.