Grown mainly in South America, it is smuggled into th is country by the ton every day. Cocaine can cause serious damage to the central nervous system and sudden heart attacks. The insidious nature of this addiction and the high cost of the drug itself has often resulted in the ruin of many addict's lives both physically and financially. Withdrawal and detoxification from cocaine can be psychologically and medically uncomfortable. Left untreated, this addiction will inevitably lead to permanent physiological damage or ultimately to the death of the addicted individual.
Cocaine hydrochloride is a central nervous system stimulant derived from the coca plant.
Abused for the intoxicating effects, cocaine interferes with the absorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for controlling pleasure, alertness, and movement. Cocaine use can cause dilated pupils, nausea, headaches, sweating, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, loss of appetite, and seizures. Cocaine speeds up the heart by stimulating the same nerves that cause fear causing the heart to beat erratically or stop. Cocaine also shrinks the peripheral blood vessels and places extra pressure on the heart and circulatory system. These effects can lead to heart attacks, strokes, brain seizures, cardiac arrest, and respiratory failure in otherwise healthy people.