Cocaine Research Paper Alexis Cecena Health 1050

Coca is one of the oldest, most potent and most dangerous stimulants in the natural origin

Cocaine was first extracted from coca leaves by a German chemist name Albert Niemann, not until the 1880’s did cocaine get popular in medicine and Albert Niemann calling it a “magical” substance. that could cure depression and sexual impotence, Albert then began prescribing cocaine to his friends and girlfriend for general use, Albert had thought that cocaine had led to physical and moral decadence so kept promoting cocaine use to more friends one whom ended up suffering from hallucinations of snakes creeping over his skin. Cocaine was first extracted from coca leaves by a German chemist name Albert Niemann, not until the 1880’s did cocaine get popular in medicine and Albert Niemann calling it a “magical” substance.

Cocaine acts in the deep areas of the brain Cocaine acts in the deep areas of the brain. These are the areas that reward us for "good behavior" those activities that lead to food, sex, and healthy pleasure. cocaine interferes with the chemical Neurotransmitters that nerves use to communicate with each other. Cocaine blocks norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed. The resulting chemical buildup between nerves causes euphoria or feeling "high."

Short Term Effects Talkativeness and sociability. Extreme mental alertness. Nervousness and jumpiness. Anxiety, especially about being caught using. Irritability. Paranoia. Diminished decision-making ability. Insomnia. Tremors and dizziness. Muscle twitches and spasms. Lost self-control. Violent behavior. Dry mouth. Constricted blood vessels. Dilated pupils. Decreased appetite.

Long Term EFFECTS Headaches Convulsions Seizures Coma Heart Disease Lung Damage and Disease Psychological Damage

Later in 1886 the popularity of cocaine became greater and that is when the coca leaves were added as an ingredient in Coca-Cola. In the early 1900’s cocaine was broadly used by people of all social classes which increased the use in society and all the dangers from cocaine became more evident which is why coca cola was pressured in to removing the coca leaves from their soft drinks in 1903. Later in 1886 the popularity of cocaine got bigger and that is when the coca leaves were added as an ingredient in Coca-Cola. in to the early 1900’s cocaine was broadly used by people of all social classes which increased the use in society and all the dangers from cocaine became more evident which is why coca cola was pressured in to removing the coca leaves from their soft drinks in 1903.

In 1905 it had become more popular for users to snort cocaine and within five years hospitals and medical facilities had reported cases of nasal damage from the use of cocaine

Cocaine Was officially banned in 1912 after the United States Government reported 5000 cocaine related deaths in one year. Cocaine is a Schedule II controlled substance.

In the 1990’s Columbian drug cartels produced 500 to 800 tons of cocaine a year shipping to the United States, Europe, and Asia. The largest cartels were dismantled by law enforcement agencies in the mid 1990’s but were then replaced by smaller groups with more than 300 knows active drug smuggling organizations, by 2008 cocaine had become the second most trafficking illegal drug in the world (webmd.com) In the 1990’s Columbian drug cartels produced 500 to 800 tons of cocaine a year shipping to the United States, Europe, and Asia. The largest cartels were dismantled by law enforcement agencies in the mid 1990’s but were then replaced by smaller groups with more than 300 knows active drug smuggling organizations, by 2008 cocaine had become the second most trafficking illegal drug in the world (webmd.com)

CREDITS National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cocaine Retrieved from   http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/mind-over-matter/cocaine on March 1, 2015 http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/cocaine-use-and-its-effects http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/cocaine/international-statistics.html https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/cocaine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cocaine.html