Cocaine TeachBack

By: Mike Jenkins

Worcester State University

What is cocaine? “A powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the

leaves of the coca plant native to South America.”

Schedule II drug High potential for abuse but can given by a doctor for

medical uses, such as local anesthesia for some eye, ear and throat surgeries.

Cocaine is a white, fine, crystalline powder Other names:

Coke Powder Blow Snow

The history Derived from the coca plant Smoking cocaine rocks began in the late 1970’s Cocaine was first synthesized in 1855. It was not

until 1880 that its effects were recognized by the medical world.

Cocaine was especially accepted when John Pemberton included cocaine as the main ingredient in his new soft drink, Coca Cola in 1886.

Chemical Form 1 The water-soluble hydrochloride salt

Powdery substance Usually injected or

snorted Can be mixed with

water & smoke or injected

Chemical Form 2 The water-insoluble

cocaine base

Referred to as crack (because of the sound it makes when smoked)

Made by processing with ammonia or baking soda and water then heating it to remove the hydrochloride

How does it make you feel? Energetic, talkative, mentally alert, and

hypersensitive to sight, sound & touch

Faster it’s absorbed the more intense the high, but the shorter it will last!

May only last 15 to 30 minutes when snorted & 5 to 10 minutes if smoked

Short Term Effects Constricted blood vessels Dilated pupils Increased body temp, heart rate & blood

pressure Feelings of: Anxiety, panic, paranoia and

restlessness Tremors, vertigo, and twitches Jaw clenching/ teeth grinding Loss of appetite & insomnia

Long Term Effects ADDICTION!! Seizures, strokes, and coma Lung damage Can loose your sense of smell Increased risk of HIV or hepatitis Nausea & abdominal pain Depression Physical exhaustion Sudden death (heart attack)

Cocaine and the Brain Cocaine increases the

dopamine levels in the brain’s circuits that controls pleasure and movement

Causes dopamine to build up between nerve cells, rather then recycle through your brain normally Disrupts brain

communication

How is cocaine addiction treated? User should spend time in a rehab facility

Cognitive-behavioral therapy “A type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of

thought about the self and the world are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns or treat mood disorders such as depression”

Contingency management Therapeutic communities There are currently no medications that are

effective to treat cocaine addiction approved

Some interesting statistics 1 and 4 Americans between the ages of 26 and

34 admit to using cocaine at least once 15,000 Americans die each year form cocaine use 300,000 infants were born with a cocaine addicted

in 1988, which is the last available report Cocaine is the most common drug related to

arrest due to narcotic use or dealing Americans spend a shocking $37 billion on

cocaine as reported by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Some quotes that jumped out at me “Some of the largest companies are now

using brain scans to study how we react neurologically to certain foods, especially to sugar. They've discovered that the brain lights up for sugar the same way it does for cocaine.” – Michael Moss

“Cocaine is God's way of telling you are making too much money.” – Robin Williams

Thoughts & OpinionsI’m really surprised that there are currently no government approved medications to help cure cocaine addiction. I thought that there would have been something out there by now. They have tried to come up with some solutions but nothing has worked to perfection. They have had some success with using disulfiram (what they use to treat alcoholism), but it doesn’t work on everyone. I think that the idea of a cocaine vaccine is a really good idea, and the best one they have tried yet. 38% of the people who were given the vaccination attained high antibody levels, but for only 2 months. Hopefully they end up perfecting this vaccine to help cocaine addicts recover quickly without having to deal with a relapse.

Discussion Question Why do you think that cocaine is known for

being an upscale drug that is commonly used by the rich and successful people in Hollywood and working on Wall Street?

Note: At approximately $60 per gram, it is one of the most expensive party drugs (referred to as a “rich man’s drug”)

My Sources https://www.drugabuse.gov http://rehab-international.org/cocaine-addiction/

statistics https://psychcentral.com/lib/in-depth-cognitive-b

ehavioral-therapy/

http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/cocaine-history.html