Common+Myths

Myth: It takes a long time to get hooked on cocaine. Fact: Cocaine is highly addictive; physically and psychologically only after a few uses. It produces strong cravings which can lead to compulsive patterns of use. Once addicted, users will take larger and more frequent

Myth: Cocaine has no side effects Fact: Cocaine can lead to enormous medical complications: heart disease, respiratory failure, stroke, seizure, various gastrointestinal complications. Physical effects; convulsions, nausea, blurred vision, chest pain, fever, muscle spasms and coma.

Myth: Cocaine makes you a better athlete/worker. Fact: Exercising after using cocaine greatly increases the risk of irregular heartbeat and death.

Myth: Cocaine makes sex better. Fact: Cocaine is an aphrodisiac; it stimulates sexual desire and excitement almost immediately after taking the drug. However, it makes sex harder to finish once started because it can delay or impair ejaculation. Habitual cocaine use for men can weaken ability to achieve or maintain an erection. Also, in both men and women it can reduce sexual drive and cause impotence if used regularly.

Myth: Cocaine is a safe drug. Fact: Cocaine causes three times more deaths than any other illegal substances. It is the most frequently reported illicit drug that leads to drug abuse fatalities. Some experience physical effects such as sweating, loss of appetite, nasal damage, nausea, headaches, irritability and paranoia. Also, it can raise your blood pressure and effect your heart rhythm which can cause a heart attack.

Myth: There is no “hangover” with cocaine. Fact: Cocaine can cause short term after effects of depression and fatigue. It can cause severe depression leading to suicidal thoughts. Also, hyperactivity, insomnia and weight loss is another after effect associated with frequent use of cocaine. Chronic use can cause aggression, anxiety attacks, paranoia and hallucinations. [3]

History

Known as the oldest, most potent stimulants of natural origin, cocaine was originated from the coca bush, most commonly found in the Andes Mountains of South Africa. The coca leaves were used in religious ceremonies by the ancient Incans in 3000 BC. It would speed their breathing and make their heart race to combat the damaging effects of living in high altitudes in thin mountain air. It would be injected by chewing or made into a tea. Also, the Native Peruvians chewed the coca leaves during religious ceremonies. In 1532, the Spanish soldiers invaded Peru and the ceremonies no longer occurred.

In the mid 18th century, cocaine was isolated and purified by German Chemist Albert Niemann. Around the late 1800’s it was more frequently used by medical community, mostly as an anesthetic in certain surgeries. Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, revealed cocaine being a cure for depression and sexual impotence. Once he published an article to promote the benefits of cocaine, the “magical” substance, he began to prescribe it to close friends. Without further research on the proper lethal dosage, a patient of Freud died from a high dosage. In 1886, John Pemberton added coca leaves to the ingredients of his new soft drink, Coca-cola. It had an energizing effect which made Coca-cola tremendously popular. In the early 1900’s, people started realizing the negative effects which then had it labelled as a drug. Consequently, Coca-cola had to remove the coca leave from their soft drink in 1903.

Within a few years, cocaine became popular to snort. Hospitals and medical literatures had increased reports of nasal damage. By 1912, throughout the United States there was 5000 reported cocaine-related deaths. By 1922, the drug was then banned. In the 70’s, cocaine became the popular drug used by entertainers and business people. By 1980, university students experimenting with cocaine increased percentage ten times since 1970. Usually known as the “rich man’s” drug due to the great expense of this particular drug, cocaine had a new reputation as America’s most dangerous and addictive drug, causing more crime, poverty and death than any other substance on record. [1] [2]

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