The Bad Effects of Cocaine, from Heart to Death

Cocaine is a type of strong stimulant drug class. This substance in some countries is used medicinally as a local anesthetic. But not only that, cocaine is also widely abused by certain groups as drugs.

Cocaine is made from the leaves of the plant Erythroxylumcoca which has been extracted and purified. However, this illegal drug is often abused. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia includes cocaine in class I drugs (narcotics, psychotropics and other addictive substances) and is only used for scientific purposes.

Cocaine is not allowed to be used as a therapy and has a very high potential for causing dependence. Cocaine is abused in two forms, namely:

• Free base

  Pure cocaine without other additives made into a crystal form. This type of cocaine is usually used by heating, then the smoke from the cocaine crystals is inhaled.

• Cocaine hydrochloride

  Cocaine is a white crystalline powder, has a slightly bitter taste, and is more soluble than cocaine free base. Its use is sucked / inhaled through the nose, injected into a vein, taken by mouth, or rubbed into the gums.

What Happens When You Use Cocaine

For a short time, cocaine can make the user feel happy, energetic, talkative, lose appetite, increase self-confidence, mood change, and relieve pain and fatigue. This is what makes it so hard for addicts to quit. However, the effects of cocaine only last about 30 minutes to three hours. If used frequently, cocaine will make the user begin to experience paranoia, hallucinations, panic, irritability, violent behavior, weight loss, feeling anxious, tired, and performing strange and repetitive actions.

Consequences of cocaine abuse

Cocaine as a drug has various effects that can harm the body. These adverse effects of cocaine can interfere with physical and mental health, such as:

• Brain

  Cocaine has an impact on the disruption of brain chemicals, one of which is dopamine. This effect causes a euphoric sensation when cocaine is used, but other side effects of cocaine on the brain are increasing the risk of stroke, seizures, and body movement disorders such as tremors. In high doses, cocaine can cause coma.

• Mental disorders

  Cocaine is one type of drug that can cause drug dependence (addiction). When this effect occurs, the body will feel like continuing to use cocaine. When cocaine is stopped, a withdrawal effect can occur, this effect can cause mental disorders such as depression, mood changes, psychosis, behavioral changes that sometimes lead to violence, sleeplessness, sexual disturbances, and anxiety.

• Heart

  Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure, narrows the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, thereby reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. In addition, cocaine is also known to cause myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle. Cocaine abuse often leads to heart attacks and deadly heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias).

• Digestive tract

  Cocaine narrows the blood vessels to the intestines, depriving the intestines of oxygen, causing ulcers (sores) and eventually leakage in the stomach or intestines. The final result is the death of intestinal or gastrointestinal tissue.

• Lungs and respiratory system

  Inhaling cocaine through the nose can damage the nose and the middle wall that separates the right and left nostrils and sinus cavities, causing prolonged runny nose, loss of the sense of smell (anosmia), and nosebleeds. Inhaling cocaine can also make your voice hoarse. Meanwhile, smoking cocaine can make the lungs irritated, susceptible to infection, and even permanently damaged.

• Kidney

  Cocaine can cause sudden kidney failure. Hypertensive patients who are also cocaine users will experience accelerated long-term kidney damage, because cocaine makes blood pressure higher.

• Baby

  Pregnant women who use cocaine can make their unborn babies grow and develop properly, limbs are not formed properly (born defects), abnormalities in brain development and central nervous system, died at birth, was born prematurely, and the attachment of the placenta to the fetus. The uterine wall detaches suddenly before delivery.

• Cause other diseases

  Cocaine use is also closely linked to serious infections such as HIV and hepatitis. The risk of contracting this disease will be higher in cocaine users who share needles with other users.

• Decreased appetite

  Cocaine users can lose their appetite which can lead to drastic weight loss and lead to malnutrition.

• Death

  Sudden death can sometimes occur from a heart attack, seizures, respiratory arrest, and coma, especially for addicts who use cocaine with alcohol. This effect is also at risk of occurring due to overdose.

According to Article 54 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 35 of 2009 concerning Drugs, "Narcotics addicts and victims of Narcotics abuse, must undergo medical rehabilitation and social rehabilitation". If you, your family, or your friends suffer from cocaine addiction, seek immediate help from a doctor or visit a special hospital that has drug addiction rehabilitation facilities.