Spotting Signs of Cocaine Abuse
Saturday, October 18th, 2008 Posted in Health Tips, Safety Tips, Useful Tips
Cocaine, the strongest natural stimulant, is an addictive drug; you can be hooked with a single use. It causes a short-lived high that is immediately followed by depression, edginess, and a craving for more of the drug. Cocaine interferes with the way your brain creates feelings of pleasure, so you need more of the drug to feel normal.
Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a drug that comes in the form of a white powder that is snorted. It can be converted to a liquid form for injection. Crack is cocaine processed into a crystal form for smoking. Crack, also called “rock,” looks like small chunks of soap.
Cocaine, in any form, is illegal. It is the most frequently mentioned illicit substance reported to the Drug Abuse Warning Network by hospital emergency departments throughout the nation.
Cocaine is lethal. It can cause strokes, heart attacks and respiratory failure. In addition, it can cause irregular heartbeat, depression, violent actions, and loss of sexual function.
According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the following are the signs that someone may be addicted to cocaine:
- Periods of severe depression
- Weight loss
- Decline in personal hygiene or appearance
- Constant runny nose
- Frequent upper respiratory infections
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Loss of interest in friends, family, and social activities
- Loss of interest in food, sex, or other pleasures
- Hearing voices when nobody has spoken, or feeling paranoid
- Expressing more anger, becoming more impatient or nervous
- allucinations
And here are some more I collected from other sources:
- Frequently need for money
- Intense euphoria
- Bloodshot eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Hyper-alertness
- Panic
- Seizures from high doses
- The presence of any unexplained white powder
- Small spoons, mirrors, razor blades and rolled paper money used for snorting
- Small bottles with screw-top lids and small plastic packets for storing
- Increase in body temperature, respiration and pulse
- Grinding of teeth
- Obsessive touching or picking at various objects and parts of the body
- Repetitive dismantling of mechanical objects
