Cocaine and crack cocaine
What is cocaine? What is crack cocaine?
Made from the leaves of the coca plant that is grown in South America, cocaine is an addictive stimulant. Crack cocaine is a more concentrated form of cocaine that takes the base of cocaine in a smokable, concentrated form.
How is cocaine used? How is crack cocaine used?
Cocaine is usually snorted through the nose or rubbed onto the gums. It can also be dissolved into water and injected into the bloodstream. Crack cocaine is smoked.
How does cocaine or crack cocaine affect people who have used it?
People who have snorted or injected cocaine may experience:
- Hyperactivity
- Paranoia
- Nosebleeds
- Feelings of euphoria
- Increased heart rate
- Manic behavior
People who have used crack cocaine may experience all of the above as well as:
- Auditory hallucinations
- Extreme paranoia
- Erratic behavior
- Severe addiction
What are the health effects of cocaine?
In the short term, cocaine can cause constricted blood vessels, faster heartbeat, nausea, irritability, and paranoia. In the long term, cocaine use can cause nosebleeds, restlessness, malnourishment, a higher risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C, and extreme paranoia with hallucinations. If a person takes too much cocaine, they can overdose, which can be fatal.