Cocaine refers to a drug presented in most cases in crystal or powder form. The drug is sometimes combined with sugar, talcum, and corn starch. Cocaine is extracted initially from coca leaves and utilized as an effective painkiller. In many instances, the drug users tend to sniff it, and the powder gets through the nasal materials to the bloodstream. The drug is also rubbed and ingested into the gums in other cases. The drug is sometimes injected into the bloodstream to enhance its absorption rate, although the practice poses a significant danger of overdose. In addition, inhaling the drug also speeds the absorption with reduced health effects than injection.
I consider the drug harmful and one of the most disastrous to human health. Once anyone learns to use the drug, it becomes impossible to free oneself from it both mentally and physically. The drug stimulates some of the primary receptors in one’s brain, leading to euphoria, which finally translates to a physical state of tolerance (Thornton et al. 753). Therefore the use of the drug makes it impossible for one to escape the dark path of addiction.
The use of the drug is associated with various side effects ranging from moderate to adverse. When one first takes cocaine, the entire body becomes stimulated, resulting in the haste of energy throughout the body and mind. In this case, the heart races, and the body’s sensory organs become exceedingly sensitive. Excess intake of the drug floods one’s mind, resulting in a feeling of unusual pleasure, making an individual develop a sense of confidence, euphoria, and excitement. Continued drug use leads to total brain structure damage, premature aging, and a feeble immune system.
Work Cited
Thornton, Claire, Etty Grad, and Rami Yaka. “The Role of Mitochondria in Cocaine Addiction.” Biochemical Journal 478.4 (2021): 749-764.