| Cocaine use is widespread in the United | | | | paranoia or twitching. Usually, these |
| States and the drug is one of the most abused | | | | negative side effects increase with use. An |
| in the country. As a drug, cocaine is an | | | | overdose can often cause paranoid delusions, |
| extremely potent nervous system stimulant. | | | | itching and sometimes hallucinations. |
| Depending on the strength and how it's taken, | | | | |
| the "high" associated with cocaine can last | | | | One effect of cocaine is that it raises the |
| anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. In | | | | levels of serotonin and dopamine in a user's |
| short, cocaine is very potent, very addictive | | | | brain - giving them a "high." Unfortunately, |
| and very dangerous. To learn about some of | | | | when the "high" wears off, it is followed by |
| the side effects associated with cocaine use, | | | | a "crash," which if repeated can either lead |
| keep reading. | | | | to severe depression or magnify an existing |
| | | | mental problem. |
| 1. Heart Problems | | | | |
| | | | 3. Seizures or Strokes. |
| Because the drug is so effective at | | | | |
| stimulating the nervous system, what starts | | | | Because of the toxicity levels of most |
| as general hyperactivity and increased blood | | | | cocaine, combined with the increased heart |
| pressure soon leads to a heightened heart | | | | rate, users are at a definite risk for |
| rate. While these same effects cause the | | | | seizures, respiratory failure, stroke or |
| sense of euphoria that comes from using | | | | cerebral hemorrhaging. |
| cocaine, they can also lead to heart attacks | | | | |
| and future major heart problems. | | | | 4. Reduced Immune System. |
| | | | |
| Cocaine can be especially dangerous for users | | | | Long term use of cocaine can break down your |
| with a history of heart problems or high | | | | immune system and increase the risk of |
| blood pressure. They are putting themselves | | | | developing a number of auto-immune or |
| at risk for heart failure. Heart problems | | | | connective tissue disorders such as |
| often lead to death, which is part of the | | | | vasculitis, lupus, Stevens-Johnsons syndromes |
| reason why using cocaine is so dangerous - | | | | and Goodpasture's disease. Use of cocaine can |
| whether you have a history or high risk for | | | | also lead to renal failure and kidney |
| heart problems or not, cocaine use can cause | | | | diseases. |
| serious heart problems for you. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Degraded nasal cartilage. |
| 2. Paranoia and Depression. | | | | |
| | | | Long time use of cocaine will wear down at |
| The euphoria caused by the initial rush that | | | | the cartilage inside your nose, eventually |
| cocaine provides is often followed by | | | | causing it to wear away completely, |
| discomfort or depression. These symptoms can | | | | collapsing the nose or causing major |
| be highlighted by an overwhelming sense of | | | | respiratory problems. |