Immediate physical effects include dilated pupils and increased blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. Occasional use can cause a stuffy or runny nose, while chronic use may destroy nasal tissues. Injecting cocaine with contaminated equipment can cause AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases. Tolerance develops rapidly, and psychological and physical dependency can occur. The use of cocaine can cause kidney damage, heart attacks, seizures and strokes due to high blood pressure.
Death can occur by cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.
Rohypnol, illegal in the U.S., has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but is prescribed legally for insomnia in other countries. Hoffmann-La Roche has developed a new formulation of Rohypnol, one of numerous medications and substances that reportedly have been misused in crimes of sexual assault. The new Rohypnol tablet can be more easily detected if covertly slipped into someone's beverage. It dissolves more slowly in liquid and releases a bright blue color as it dissolves. When used in darker liquids, the drink appears murky.