COCAINE NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE

Cocaine epidemics seem to occur every few generations.

The first epidemic occurred at the end of the 19th century. In the
1970s and 80s, use of cocaine exploded when smokable cocaine (crack)
hit the streets.

The popularity and hardcore use/abuse of cocaine has remained strong
even to this day. Headlines abound about movie stars entering the
revolving doors of treatment centres or overdosing on the substance.

The product originates from the coca plant. One acre of coca bushes
will yield 1.5 to 2 kg of cocaine (Grinspoon & Bakalar, 1985). It
takes approximately 250 kg of leaves to make 1 kg of cocaine and the
refinement process often involves toxic substances like gasoline,
kerosene and sulfuric acid. If the refining isn't done carefully, the
resulting cocaine can contain many of these toxic chemicals (1990
Alain Labrousse). It is estimated that North America consumes 40 to 50
per cent of these products.

The effects are directly related to the blood levels of the drug
reaching the brain. The more cocaine reaches the brain, the higher the
intensity.

The higher the intensity the greater the craving and tolerance, abuse
and addictions then spiral out of control. It is believed that Sigmund
Freud may have been on some mind-altering substances when he said:
"Coca is a far more potent and far less harmful stimulant than alcohol
and its widespread utilization is hindered at present only by its high
cost. I have already stressed the fact that there is no state of
depression when the effects of coca have worn off."

He actively promoted this drug for various ailments including
depression, gastric disorders, alcohol addiction, tuberculosis and
asthma. Of course we know better today.

In 1885 Cocaine Toothache Drops were prepared and sold at all
pharmacies for fifteen cents each. The anesthetic effects made this
drug a favorite among dentists long before Novocain came on the
market. Coca-cola became a very popular drink when it came out. The
"secret ingredient" was cocaine.

Cocaine was associated with pleasure and no pain. In the beginning,
low doses of cocaine enhance sexual desire and delay ejaculation and
may be considered an aphrodisiac. Chronic use and higher doses results
in sexual dysfunction and often a complete disinterest in sex.

Violence is common as the emotional triggers are overstimulated in the
amygdala portion of the brain. In the limbic system the fright center
is hyperactivated and the normal function of the temporal lobes is
disrupted.

A 32-year-old recovering cocaine abuser said; "I found that using
cocaine, mainlining it straight to the nervous system, it's like I
want to kill people. Where should I hit them first? Damn, I want to
hurt people, you know. It is just psychotic thinking." This is a scary
thought for the general population.

There are true withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal effects are different
from the crash people get when they run out of cocaine. These effects
can last for months and even years dependent on the dosage, frequency
of use and any pre-existing mental conditions.

Reports of anhedonia (the lack of ability to feel any kind of
pleasure), emotional depression, amotivational syndrome, severe
anxiety, insomnia, increased appetite and an intensified craving for
the drug are common.

Overdoses of cocaine was involved in 41 per cent of emergency
department visits in hospitals in major cities in 2004.

Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia can be triggered by repeated
use as well as stimulant-induced paranoid psychosis. (Darras, Koppel &
Atas-Radzion, 1994) reports a phenomenon known as "Crack or Meth
Dancing (choreoathetoid movements). On the downtown streets of
Vancouver we simply called it "doing the funky chicken". Psychosis and
hallucinations are common.

Users will shoot up or use every 10 to 20 minutes in binge episodes in
order to avoid the crash they know is coming. A rock of cocaine
retails (sic) at street level for $10, $20 or $40 a rock. For an
addict to keep their addiction going they will often resort to crime
and prostitution. This is an expensive habit. If they are dealing the
drug to support their habit, there is also a resulting addiction to
the money and lifestyle associated with trafficking. Smoking cocaine
results in extreme thirst, coughing, tremors, dry skin, slurred speech
and blurred vision.

Hypertension and weight loss (the Jenny Crack diet) as well as severe
cardiac damage are common. Severe medical complications can occur
including, but not limited to, chest pains, pneumonia, cracked lungs
and respiratory complications such as hemorrhage, respiratory failure
and even death.

Other more unusual side effects include crack keratitis, or abrasions
of the eye due to the anesthetic effects of cocaine that make the user
unaware of damage caused by rubbing the eye too much; crack thumb and
crack hands, caused by repetitive use of butane lighters to heat up
crack pipes; a callus builds up on the thumb and the hand has multiple
burns; and superficial crack burns to the face and hands due to the
use of small torches to melt the crack in a short glass pipe (Uppers
Downers All Arounders 6th edition 2007).

Whether one snorts, smokes or injects cocaine, this is a substance
that is unnatural to the body and the brain. Repeated use will cause
addiction and on occasion first-time use will cause death. If you or
someone you know is addicted to this substance and requires help, do
not hesitate to contact the numbers below for assistance. The life you
save may be your own.

You may contact me at (250) 613-2667, mailing address: PO Box 1150,
Fort St. James, B.C. V0J 1P0 or email me at adventuresinrecovery@yahoo.com.

Counselling services in Fort St. James are:

. Fort Alcohol & Drug Services 250-996-8411

. Nechako Valley Community Services 250-996-7645

. Nak'azdli Health Centre 250-996-7400

. Tl'azt'en Nation Health Centre 250-648-3350

. Adventures in Recovery Counselling (866) 613-2667