Cocaine is a widely abused stimulant drug that can be addictive. As a stimulant, it can affect the brain by speeding up its activity. It can be injected straight into the blood stream, snorted through the nose and smoked through inhalation into the lungs. Smoking and injecting cocaine are the forms that deliver it quickly into the bloodstream and produce a very intense reaction, known as a "high", which is followed by a "crash." According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one in six people in the United States of America has tried cocaine before the age of 30. Cocaine use is dangerous and can affect the body in many ways, even causing death.
Depression
Depression is one of the dangers that comes with cocaine use. Ongoing use of cocaine decreases the level of dopamine, a chemical substance found in the brain. This causes users to feel negative emotions such as psychiatric conditions like depression.
Heart Problems
Constant cocaine use can cause blood arteries and vessels to get clogged and inflamed. This obstruction and blockage can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Cocaine use can also affect the brain's conduction to the heart resulting in irregular heart beats. It also results in an increased heart rate, which can ultimately lead to a heart attack and even death.
Dangers in Pregnancy
Cocaine use can be dangerous in pregnancy. It leads to an increased heart rate in both the mother and the baby. It constricts the blood vessels thus decreasing the oxygen and blood supply to the baby. This can affect the pregnancy leading to still birth or miscarriage. It can also affect the baby's growth size and cause the baby to become restless and agitated.
Withdrawal and Overdose
According to the Salvation Army, cocaine can easily become addictive and one can develop a tolerance, which means a person will need to take more to achieve the desired effect. Withdrawal symptoms can include decreased motivation, nausea, decreased levels of positive emotions, muscle pain and body shaking. Small amounts of cocaine can lead to an overdose. Since this can affect the heart and brain, it can easily affect other body organs and lead to sudden death.
