Is there such a thing as a “bad” drug? Many ordinary people would label certain drugs as“bad” drugs and “safe” drugs. On the other hand, many professional doctors and researchers would agree that most drugs have both benefits and disadvantages. Most people would agree that cocaine is a “bad” drug. However, there is a lot to be said about cocaine. Cocaine has been in use for a long time and has both benefits and disadvantages. What exactly is cocaine? The molecule for cocaine is C17H21NO4 and it is a very powerful stimulant (What is Cocaine, Drugs.com, 2014). Cocaine works in the brain by blocking chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. (Cocaine Use and Its Effects, 2014) Cocaine is extracted from the coca plant.
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Use of the coca plant was used long before the 1900’s. Many ancient civilizations used the coca plant. Around 3000 B.C. ancient Incas used the cocaine plant around the Andes Mountains. Native Peruvians also used coca. When the Spanish conquered Peru, Peruvians used coca leaves to make work easier and more efficient when they were forced to do work. In the mid 1800’s, cocaine was first extracted from the coca plant. This was done by a chemist known as Albert Niemann (Cocaine: A Short History, 2014). Cocaine became increasingly popular between 1880 and 1890. It especially became popular around the medical community. One of the most famous people to experiment with cocaine was Sigmund Freud. Freud would experiment with cocaine by prescribing cocaine to some of his patients. In addition to this, he was a cocaine user himself. At this time, cocaine was not illegal (Chiriac, 2014). In 1885, Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine. The name Coca-Cola was named after two of its ingredients: extract from cola leaves and kola nuts. There were inevitably some amounts of cocaine mixed into the drink (Mikkelson, 2011). Around the turn of the century, more people became aware about the dangers of cocaine. 5,000 deaths were reported in 1912 due to cocaine. More people began to pressure Coca-Cola into becoming cocaine-free. In 1922, cocaine had official become illegal (Cocaine: A Short History, 2014). 7 years later in 1929, cocaine was completely …show more content…
After the user’s high ends, some of the psychological effects they feel might include paranoia, restlessness, and anxiety. Cocaine also affects the physiological part of a user’s body. Cocaine increases blood pressure and heart rate. This increases that chance of a heart attack. Cocaine also contracts blood vessels in the brain which increases the chance of a stroke or a seizure. Users can damage their respiratory system when they use cocaine. When they snort cocaine they can harm their sinuses. Smoking crack can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Since cocaine causes blood to contract, it can do damage to the gastrointestinal tract. When blood can’t reach the gastrointestinal tract, the absence of oxygen can cause problems such as ulcers and perforation in the stomach and intestines. Cocaine can cause kidney failure through rhabdomyolysis (Cocaine Use and Its Effects, 2014). Rhabdomyolysis involves leakage of toxic chemicals from damaged skeletal muscle. These harmful chemicals then fall into the bloodstream (Rhabdomyolysis, 2014). Cocaine use can also affect sexual ability. Chronic use can impair ejaculation in men (Cocaine Use and Its Effects, 2014). Many people frown upon cocaine when they find out the consequences of its
Use of the coca plant was used long before the 1900’s. Many ancient civilizations used the coca plant. Around 3000 B.C. ancient Incas used the cocaine plant around the Andes Mountains. Native Peruvians also used coca. When the Spanish conquered Peru, Peruvians used coca leaves to make work easier and more efficient when they were forced to do work. In the mid 1800’s, cocaine was first extracted from the coca plant. This was done by a chemist known as Albert Niemann (Cocaine: A Short History, 2014). Cocaine became increasingly popular between 1880 and 1890. It especially became popular around the medical community. One of the most famous people to experiment with cocaine was Sigmund Freud. Freud would experiment with cocaine by prescribing cocaine to some of his patients. In addition to this, he was a cocaine user himself. At this time, cocaine was not illegal (Chiriac, 2014). In 1885, Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine. The name Coca-Cola was named after two of its ingredients: extract from cola leaves and kola nuts. There were inevitably some amounts of cocaine mixed into the drink (Mikkelson, 2011). Around the turn of the century, more people became aware about the dangers of cocaine. 5,000 deaths were reported in 1912 due to cocaine. More people began to pressure Coca-Cola into becoming cocaine-free. In 1922, cocaine had official become illegal (Cocaine: A Short History, 2014). 7 years later in 1929, cocaine was completely …show more content…
After the user’s high ends, some of the psychological effects they feel might include paranoia, restlessness, and anxiety. Cocaine also affects the physiological part of a user’s body. Cocaine increases blood pressure and heart rate. This increases that chance of a heart attack. Cocaine also contracts blood vessels in the brain which increases the chance of a stroke or a seizure. Users can damage their respiratory system when they use cocaine. When they snort cocaine they can harm their sinuses. Smoking crack can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Since cocaine causes blood to contract, it can do damage to the gastrointestinal tract. When blood can’t reach the gastrointestinal tract, the absence of oxygen can cause problems such as ulcers and perforation in the stomach and intestines. Cocaine can cause kidney failure through rhabdomyolysis (Cocaine Use and Its Effects, 2014). Rhabdomyolysis involves leakage of toxic chemicals from damaged skeletal muscle. These harmful chemicals then fall into the bloodstream (Rhabdomyolysis, 2014). Cocaine use can also affect sexual ability. Chronic use can impair ejaculation in men (Cocaine Use and Its Effects, 2014). Many people frown upon cocaine when they find out the consequences of its