| Cocaine
is a highly potent stimulant that is considered
to be one of the greatest drug threats to the world
because of the violence associated with trafficking
and use, the physical and psychological effects
associated with its use, and the costs to society
as a whole.
Wholesale cocaine traffickers purchase cocaine
from importers and regional distributors usually
in kilogram or multi-kilogram allotments. This
is generally the manner in which cocaine is shipped
from Colombia or other cocaine producing countries
to the United States and other consuming countries.
Once the cocaine reaches its "consuming country,"
other wholesalers package the powder cocaine into
retail quantities (ounces or grams) or convert
the powdered cocaine into crack for retail sales.
There is great risk whether cocaine is ingested
by inhalation (snorting), injection, or smoking.
It appears that compulsive cocaine use may develop
even more rapidly if the substance is smoked rather
than snorted. Smoking allows extremely high doses
of cocaine to reach the brain very quickly and
brings an intense and immediate high. The injecting
drug user is at risk for transmitting or acquiring
HIV infection/AIDS if needles or other injection
equipment are shared.
EFFECTS OF USE:
MODERATE DOSE:
disturbances in heart rhythm, increased heart
and respiratory rates, elevated blood pressure,
dilated pupils, decreased appetite, excessive
activity, talkativeness, irritability, argumentative
behavior, nervousness or agitation.
LARGE DOSE: loss
of coordination, collapse, perspiration, blurred
vision, dizziness, feeling of restlessness, anxiety,
delusions, heart attacks, chest pain, respiratory
failure, strokes, seizures and headaches, abdominal
pain, nausea, paranoia.
SYMPTOMS OF OVERDOSE:
increase in body temperature, hallucinations,
convulsions
STREET TERMS:
coke, snow, nose candy, flake, blow, big C, lady,
snowbirds, white
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