Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that can cause heart problems. It can also cause mental health problems, including paranoia and psychosis. It can also decrease appetite, leading to malnutrition.

Cocaine comes as a white crystalline powder and can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected. It is also known as blow, bump, C, candy, coke, snow, and speedball.

It is a stimulant

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that speeds up the body’s systems and functions. It can make users feel euphoric and talkative but it can also produce feelings of anxiety and aggression. It can also lead to an addiction or overdose.

Cocaine comes from the leaves of the Erythroxylon coca plant, native to South America. It was used for centuries as a traditional medicine and is still widely consumed in some cultures. It was even found in popular health tonics and elixirs, including Coca-Cola, in the early 1900s before it became a schedule II drug in the US.

Street cocaine is often cut with other ingredients, such as levamisole (an animal dewormer) or mannitol (a prescription diuretic). It is difficult for a casual user to tell whether the product they are buying is pure or not. Many users are also unaware that the additives can cause serious health problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.

It is addictive

Cocaine is an addictive drug that affects the body and mind in a way that leads to feelings of instant euphoria. It works by releasing extra dopamine into the brain, which is associated with motivation and reward. It is important to use cocaine in safe contexts and only for short periods of time. If you become addicted to cocaine, it is a good idea to seek professional help as soon as possible. Treatment programs for cocaine addiction typically include detoxification and behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapies can include cognitive behavioral therapy and contingency management.

Cocaine is a stimulant that is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. It is available as a white powder or as crack cocaine, which is usually mixed with other substances and snorted through the nose or injected. It can also be rubbed into the gums or added to food. The risks of using cocaine are high, and the drug can lead to heart failure or death from seizures.

It causes a euphoric high

Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant that causes high levels of dopamine to be released. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate emotions and reward-seeking behaviors. Cocaine works by binding to a receptor in the brain and blocking its removal, creating a chemical buildup that creates a rush of pleasure. This is what makes cocaine so addictive.

When cocaine is used regularly, the brain becomes desensitized to the drug, which means larger doses are needed to feel the same effects. This is known as tolerance. The drug also causes blood vessels to constrict, which can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Cocaine is a white powder that can be snorted, injected or rubbed into the gums. It is often mixed with other drugs and snorted as a mixture called a speedball. It can also be processed with ammonia and sodium bicarbonate to form freebase or crack, which are snorted or smoked. This is an illicit substance that should be avoided at all costs.

It can cause sudden cardiac arrest

Cocaine, extracted from the leaves of the coca plant, is a fast-acting drug that can have serious, harmful effects on the body. It can be abused by sniffing, snorting, or injecting it into a vein. People who inject cocaine may also share needles or other injection equipment, which increases their risk of HIV and hepatitis B and C infections.

Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure and narrows the body’s capillaries and blood vessels. This can cause a sudden increase in stress or pressure on the vascular system and result in a heart attack, even in young people without previous coronary artery disease. The condition is called acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Chronic cocaine use can also lead to inflammation in the layers of the heart’s muscles. This can lead to a deterioration in the heart’s ability to pump blood and a life-threatening rupture of the aorta, which is one of the body’s largest blood vessels.