Cocaine

What is it?

Cocaine comes from the leaves of the cocoa shrub. It usually comes in a white crystalline powder. This is usually snorted through a straw or bank note by the user. However, it can also be swallowed, smoked or made into a water solution for injection.

What are the effects?

Cocaine is a stimulant drug and speeds up the heart rate and stops users feeling hungry. Cocaine makes users feel wide awake and confident, but these feelings normally only last around 20 to 30 minutes.

What are the risks?

Cocaine raises the body’s temperature and can bring on respiratory failure. It can also cause heart attacks, even in young fit people. Long term snorting of cocaine can lead to damage to the nose and may even make the nose collapse. Sharing snorting equipment has been linked with the spread of Hepatitis C.

Injecting Cocaine can lead to collapsed veins, ulcers, abscesses, gangrene and even amputation. Sharing needles or injecting paraphernalia can lead to the spread of blood borne viruses, such as HIV and Hepatitis C.

The law

Cocaine is a class A drug. It is illegal to have, sell or give away.