Dangerous Short Term and Long Term Cocaine Effects
True, cocaine is a strong stimulant, but its immediate effects are not always as obvious as the reason why people get addicted to this drug. Cocaine’s immediate effects are often dismissed as a body’s reaction to stress or from new environment, and normally, detection of substance abuse happens when there’s little time left before the body succumb to drug abuse or when death from violent events happened.
Another reason why immediate effects of cocaine are not readily apparent is because signs of cocaine abuse present itself differently in different individuals. cocaine symptoms vary depending on the person’s current physical condition, past medical history, past history of drug abuse, and age. Studies also confirm that the efficacy of cocaine varies according to gender as well. Some ‘high symptoms’ present a few minutes after cocaine use then presents ‘crash symptoms’ 30 minutes later. This cycle is reversed in other cases. The intensity and time span of the cocaine’s effect and the time intervals between intake, high and crash varies as well.
The Short Term Effects
Short term effects are those immediately felt by the users and those symptoms that present immediately after taking the drug. Many of these effects are not deadly, but there are reported cases of death even after their initial ‘try’ on cocaine, usually because of respiratory and cardiovascular failure, convulsions or seizures.
Common immediate effects of cocaine use includes loss of appetite; restlessness; insomnia; increased level of alertness, temperature and euphoria; rapid breathing and pulse rate; irregular breathing and heart rhythm; and pupil dilation. While these are not deadly per se, many cocaine users got hooked on the drug because of these effects. Appetite suppression is popular among teenagers who want to lose weight. Quick high and increased energy and alertness is popular among workaholics and those who are rushing projects. Euphoria numbs pain and permits people to temporarily forget their hardships.
The Long Term Effects
As a cocaine user develops dependence on cocaine, other cocaine effects will start to appear. The deadly ones usually start appearing during this stage. Common complications among cocaine users includes cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal complications; involuntary muscle movement; strokes; seizures; nausea; blurred vision; coma; convulsions; chest pain; and fever. Long-term symptoms need no increase in dosage of cocaine to trigger reactions that could lead to death.
More than the physical effects, social and psychological effects also present itself after continuous cocaine abuse. With cocaine dependence setting in, changes in cocaine users’ habits and routine will become more imminent. Change in work-related habits and attitude, lying, cheating, and stealing can become more rampant. Violent actions like murder, robbery or extortion can also occur.
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