September 23, 2011

Coke   - A drug belonging to the powerful stimulants CNS . For the first time the drug has been obtained from the leaves of a South American shrub Erythroxylon Coca . Locals its leaves brewed as a tea, or simply chewed, after which a person lifts the mood. In 1859 a German chemist, A.Nyuman   I obtained from the leaves of the plant clean alkaloid And named it cocaine. Initially, cocaine was used as an effective anesthetic . For example, it in his medical practice for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders applied Sigmund Freud . By the end of the XIX century. It is learned about the negative effects of cocaine on the body, and highly addictive to it. In 1914, cocaine, along with morphine   and Heroin   officially equated to drugs and banned. However, this did not prevent the elite continue to use cocaine, in particular, since 1974 the United States was recorded smoking crack   - A preparation manufactured from cocaine hydrochloride. Another way drug use was smoking Coca-paste   - Of the product, which was obtained in the manufacture of of cocaine hydrochloride. The growth of drug use continued, and by the end of the 1980s, in some countries, such as Peru and Colombia, it has become an epidemic.

Cocaine use

There are several routes of administration of cocaine in the body, which have different effects on the clinical picture.

The most used type of drug is cocaine hydrochloride , Which represents a white powder resembling on Saccharum or Translucent snow, not odorless. It is used by inhaling through the nose, wherein the drug is rapidly absorbed through the mucosa and into the blood to the brain. Cocaine which spreads on black market, contains from 15 to 75% hydrochloride, and among additional substances thither are added by heroin, lidocaine and Novocainum, other stimulants nervous system - caffeine and amphetamine, and also phencyclidine, mannitol, lactose. Also, cocaine hydrochloride and can be administered intravenously, but its effect is weakened, even in conjunction with heroin. Therefore, this method is not very common.

The second most common way of drug use is smoking crack   (alkaloid cocaine, "the base") - benzoilmetilengonina Which is produced in the manufacture of cocaine hydrochloride, but at a lower melting temperature, which contributes to its easier evaporation. Crack is smoked in a special tube with a water lock or wrapping as regular cigarettes. During inhalation through the active absorbed through the lung capillaries, blood gets narcotic substance, and then to the brain. Users browsing this way to of cocaine use the most common.

White or gray-brown powder, is an intermediate product in the processing of the leaves of the coca plant in the manufacture of cocaine hydrochloride, known as   Coca-paste . It contains 50 to 90% of the drug in the form of sulfate and cocaine alkaloids, as well as other substances such as methanol, nicotine and other. Typically, coca paste is mixed with tobacco and cannabis, and is used for smoking. This method of drug use is most common among people of South America and the Caribbean.

Another method used cocaine, use is leaves of the plant coca . They comprise from 0, 5 to 1, 5% cocaine alkaloid, and together with a piece of lime placed in the cheek, whereby a drug through the buccal mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract penetrates slowly into the blood. Since level of active drug substance in the blood is relatively low, the health risks in this case are relatively low.

Cocaine improves mood, vitality, and relieve fatigue. And a strong psychological dependence on the drug comes very quickly. A drug addict is constantly in search of new dose of cocaine, and constant desire to of his to consume. It is estimated that cocaine has a great potential for narcotic and therefore dangerous to even try it once.

Cocaine Addiction

The main symptoms of depending on the of cocaine are changes of physiological and of behavioral reactions, increase of Blood Pressure , Feel euphoria Which appear within minutes after the administration of intravenous cocaine and smoking crack, and in 10 minutes reach the peak. If inhaled drug, he begins to act 7-10 minutes, and the maximum effect is achieved in 15-20 minutes. Half an hour later the effects gradually disappear.

With cocaine intoxication   (poisoning) observed two opposite states - euphoria   and dysphoria . During continuous use of cocaine euphoria passes in dysphoria, and vice versa, and so the circle. Acute cocaine intoxication   similar in stimulating action on the nervous system poisoning ampheta- mines. During the euphoria of cocaine addict elevated mood, hyperactivity, talkativeness, cheerfulness and a sense of their own abilities. If a person has used a lot of drugs, it feels like a superman, unrealistic grandiose plans, spending money recklessly, repeats some convulsive movements, his judgment incoherent, it becomes irresponsible, experiencing increased sexual desire, his behavior is marked psychomotor agitation. It is in this able to drug addicts go to the crimes, murders, theft and become victims of of accidents. If the addict takes large doses of cocaine for a long time, the euphoria had combined with a state of panic, anxiety, insecurity, fear of dying from overdose.

During acute intoxication by cocaine, a drug addict manifested neurological and somatic disorders, dry mouth, expanded pupils, headache, sweating and shivering man, becomes pale, the body temperature rises, there is a diarrhea , Nausea, irregular heartbeat, insomnia and lack of appetite, increased reflexes. Sometimes seizures can be observed up to epilepsy But also cardiac or paralysis   respiratory center fatal.

Do addicts with experience, which for a long time use large doses of cocaine may experience mental disorders that are accompanied by visual and auditory hallucinations , Panic attacks. Psychosis caused by cocaine-called " paranoid cocaine "," cocaine delirium "And" cocaine oneiric ". Seizures of cocaine psychosis disappear after a dream, and when the drug is no longer valid. However, sometimes they can last up to several days.

Cocaine euphoria gives way to the second phase of cocaine poisoning - cocaine dysphoria , A condition characterized by depression, apathy , Irritability and anxiety, which leads to the fact that a person receives a new dose of the drug. However, if y narcomaniac asked opportunities to apply new dose cocaine, or same organism greater its not receives ( sense of tolerance When new dose no effect) then compounded dysphoria and develops postkokainovaya dysphoric depression . This type of depression is characterized by a constant desire to sleep, relax, and unwillingness to resolve their problems, sometimes the emergence of suicidal thoughts. In this state, the addict starts drinking alcohol, sedative hypnotics, pills or other drugs, for example, opium . Between long intervals of sleep addict wakes terrible appetite. Such a depressive state continues in the depending on the addition, how many days he used a drug. For example, if he smoked of crack week, then to sleep can up to 4-x days. After waking up the mood of the addict is improving but elements of depression may persist, especially if he has a long time to use drugs.

If dysphoric depression lasts more than a day, it's a - abstinence symptom , Which is characterized by dysphoric-depressive disorders, which manifest themselves in the form of suicidal thoughts and persecution mania, as well as in a strong desired, consume a new dose of cocaine. The syndrome can last up to a month, and its peak occurs within 3-4 days after the onset. Then comes the period of dysphoric depression, during which a person can not get from anything fun ( anhedonia ). At that time, drug addicts, cocaine, feel inferior, they have a feeling of inner emptiness and despair. Never leave the thought of a new dose of the drug that usually leads to its use. Do of drug addicts, cocaine users, dependence on a narcotic is based on the of depression, which can be of adynamic, anhedonic and other species. If on the drug refrain from 2 weeks to several months, the symptoms of depression disappear.

Cocaine dependence

American psychiatrists distinguish 4 stages of addiction:

• stage of social drug use;
• problem use;
• critical use;
• chronic use of the drug.

As with opium addiction, the use of drugs leads to severe cocaine addiction. At the stage of social drug use a person familiar with cocaine and uses it to enhance sexual performance, and as a stimulant during the holidays and highlights. At the stage of problem cocaine use people to buy their own drugs, and can use them for days, resulting in absenteeism and tardiness at work, failure of professional duty, regret about spending money and buying drugs in large quantities, loss of interest in the outside world.

On the critical stage a drug addict continues to use of cocaine in solitude, is not fulfilling their social responsibilities, acquires a your new friends, from the midst of of drug addicts, is not fulfilling promises of, it violates the its word, it is visited by manic ideas and inadequate behavior. The chronic phase of drug use, which is characterized by a constant search for cocaine, coca occur "binges" accompanying overdose and deteriorating physical condition. These episodes gradually become longer. Independently stop drug use is not obtained. It requires long-term treatment of cocaine dependence.

Do drug addict the problems begin at work, loss of family, friends, sexual problems and dissatisfaction with himself. At this stage, appear and violations of the mental state, there are visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations, delusions, depression with suicidal tendencies, signs of moral degradation and eccentric behavior.

NARCOLOGY marked full of of remission That last several months. During remissions shown attraction to cocaine, which is accompanied by depressive disorders characteristic postkokainovoy dysphoria. These episodes of craving for cocaine may occur even several years after the last drug use.

Cocaine dependence is fraught with complications, which depend on what kind of drug is used and how much time.

The signs of cocaine use include:

• cocaine psychoses;
• paranoia ;
• chronic rhinitis, rhinitis To which leads snorting cocaine. Sometimes it can be observed bleeding   nose and sometimes loss of smell;
• dilated pupils, eyes shining, sluggish reaction to light;
• creaking teeth;
• dysregulation of the body temperature;
• differences activity from increased activity to the oppressed and depression;
• gradual loss of memory, confusion of thought;
• pink-orange bruising at the site of injection of cocaine, which are yellow;
• incoherence and speed of speech;
• weight loss due to the fact that cocaine suppresses appetite;
• insomnia and nightmares.

Cocaine addiction gradually completely kills the body, reduced immunity, resistance to infection, corrupt teeth. Manifest herpes, pimples and boils. Man looks untidy, does not wash, look older than his years, become selfish and callous, irritable and suspicious. They do not see of the future and of prospects, and cease to to strive to something except get a new dose.

Regardless of how the cocaine ingested by a person almost immediately feels much like a anesthesia That hides the pain, mental discomfort, bad mood, and creates the illusion that a person is better. It makes a man once tried drugs, wanting him again, cocaine became his "treatment" for depression. Cocaine causes poisoning, which can lead to death. Get used to cocaine quickly after intravenous injection of 4-5 or 2-3 weeks of ingestion. Gradually, the addict receives a day to 3 g of the drug, but it does not lead to death. Over time, Cocaine becoming "superfluous men" to the community, lead a parasitic life, lose their family and friends, and often become criminals go on murder, theft, harassment, betraying his family. By the number of deaths Cocaine is the second after the morphine and heroin.

Treatment of cocaine dependence

Get rid of the cocaine addiction is very difficult to do it on their own only one person out of four. Addicts need skilled care. First you need to remove the discomfort that led man to the top of drug use, but in this case the treatment will be effective. The most effective are rehabilitation centers for drug addicts, where experienced doctors and psychologists to help people find solutions to their problems and learn new attitudes, how to live without drugs. These programs tell patients about drugs, their effects on the body, on the causes of drug use and how to improve their condition. For each patient developed an individual course of treatment and rehabilitation.