Cocaine

Published on July 11, 2024 at 8:00 / Updated on July 25, 2024 at 8:00

Synonyms	The most common synonyms are: Angie, Applejacks, Aspirin, Bad rock, Big c, Blow, Charlie, Coke, Crack, Flake, Freebase, Hard, Henry, Joy dust, Kangaroo, Lady, Snow, Nose candy, Rock, Stardust, Toot When mixed with: cannabis or tobacco in a joint: Bazooka heroin: dynamite, Speedball marijuana: Cocoa puffs
Classification	Stimulant: Refers to a substance that stimulates mental function and increases the brain's overall activity and alertness.
Mechanism of action	Alkaloid that blocks the reuptake of monoamines (noradrenaline, epinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) in the central nervous system: 0.7% of those 15 years and older 2.7% of those aged 15 to 24 years 0.3% of those aged 25 years and older
Routes of administration	Ingested (chewing coca leaves), snorted, smoked or injected. Although seldom used, there are other routes of administration (genital, rectal, transcutaneous, subcutaneous, intramuscular).

Visual description
Form	Appearance	Method of administration
Salt (cocaine hydrochloride)	white powder	snorted injected once diluted
Cocaine base (paste)	opaque, white, yellow or brown crystals	smoked
Cocaine base (freebase and crack = cocaine derivatives)	small white or yellow rocks	mainly smoked injected once diluted (not as common) Crack: pieces that are ready for use Freebase: cocaine salt transformed into cocaine base by the user

Effects sought out by the user

Effects may vary based on the route of administration and the dose:

Decreased fatigue, increased alertness and productivity
Enhanced sensory perception (touch, sound, sight, sexual perceptions)
Euphoria (high) that varies in intensity (tonic to orgasmic) and short-lived
Good spirits

Improved ability to communicate
Increased energy and self-confidence (feelings of invincibility)
Increased sex drive
Reduced appetite

Common toxic effects

Agitation
Anxiety
Dilated pupils
Increased blood pressure
Insomnia
Rapid breathing

Reduced appetite
Repetitive behaviour or movements
Runny nose
Sweating
Tachycardia
Thirst

Overdose effects

Abnormal increase in body temperature
Bleeding
Convulsions
Death
Heart attack
Hypertension/hypertensive crisis

Irregular heart rate
Kidney damage
Muscle toxicity
Psychosis
Respiratory depression
Thrombosis

Effects associated with chronic use

The effects observed with usual doses will be more pronounced. The following effects may also occur:

Breathing difficulties
Chapped nostrils (if snorted)
Headache
Heart problems
Nose bleeds (if snorted)

Psychosis
Sexual dysfunction
Track marks (if injected)
Tremors

Tolerance (need to increase the dose to feel the same effect)

Yes, doses must be increased to maintain the same effects (on average, euphoria lasts 45 seconds).

Addiction

Yes, physical and psychological, after a few weeks/months of chronic use. Dependence is greater when the drug is injected or smoked.

Withdrawal

Yes. A depressive effect occurs a few minutes after the last hit. Withdrawal symptoms include:

Anxiety
Convulsions
Diarrhea
Dysphoria (depression, unease, irritability)
Excessive sweating
Fatigue
Impulsivity

Irritability
Loss of appetite
Muscle pain
Nausea
Paranoia
Poor concentration
Suicidal/homicidal thoughts

Onset and duration of action
Route of administration	Onset of action	Peak	Euphoria with usual dose	Duration of action of the high
Ingested
Chewing coca leaves	10 to 30 minutes	30 to 120 minutes	+/-	45 to 90 minutes
Snorted
Cocaine	2 to 5 minutes	10 to 30 minutes	++	30 to 60 minutes
Smoked
Paste	A few seconds	Less than 5 minutes	+++	5 to 15 minutes
Freebase	A few seconds	Less than 5 minutes	+++	5 to 15 minutes
Crack	A few seconds	Less than 5 minutes	+++	5 to 15 minutes
Injected
Cocaine hydrochloride	A few seconds	Less than 5 minutes	+++	10 to 20 minutes

Screening

Laboratory tests:

Blood: detectable for a few hours after the last use.
Urine: detectable for up to 2 to 3 days after the last use.

Intoxication management

Antidote available: No
Support: symptomatic treatment
Users tend to treat their cocaine addiction with alcohol, cannabis, opiates and/or psychotropics (benzodiazepines, hypnotics), which can lead to other addictions.

Other useful information

Injecting cocaine: risk of contracting infections and particularly high risk of overdose.
Smoking cocaine: the cocaine is inhaled through a pipe, which can damage the mouth through burns. The sores can result in contracting hepatitis B and C.
Snorting cocaine: the most popular route of administration. Risk of injury to the mucous membrane lining of the nose. Risk of contracting hepatitis B and C as well as HIV (lower risk).

Many different street drugs are sold under the same name. Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.

If you need help or want to learn more:

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

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