User:DkGreenleaf/Cocaine

Cocaine
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that causes the user to experience extreme increases in alertness, attention, and energy after even a small dose. It is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which is native to South America. Cocaine can be taken either by snorting, injecting into the bloodstream, or rubbing into gums. Cocaine use ranges from occasional to repeated or compulsive use, with a variety of patterns between these extremes. Any route of administration can potentially lead to absorption of toxic amounts of cocaine, causing heart attacks, strokes, or seizures—all of which can result in sudden death. Adulteration of cocaine with fentanyl is a major contributor to rising drug overdose deaths.

Effects
The effects of cocaine appear almost immediately after a single dose and typically disappear within a few minutes to an hour. Small amounts of cocaine usually make people feel euphoric, mentally alert, and hypersensitive to sight, sound, and touch. The drug can also temporarily decrease the need for food, as well as sleep. Some users also find that cocaine helps them perform physical and intellectual tasks more quickly, while others experience the opposite.

Short-term physiological effects of cocaine use include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and an increase in body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Large amounts of cocaine can prolong the high but can also lead to bizarre, and violent behavior. Some people who use cocaine report feelings of restlessness, anxiety, and paranoia. They may also experience tremors and muscle twitches.

With repeated exposure to cocaine, the reward pathway of the brain becomes less sensitive to natural reinforcers. At the same time, circuits involved in stress become increasingly sensitive, leading to negative moods when not taking the drug, a sign of withdrawal. This makes users more likely to focus on seeking the drug instead of relationships, food, or other natural rewards.

Outline of proposed changes
These articles provide a deeper insight into the effect that cocaine has on the human body, and also provides useful additional information on how cocaine addiction has had worldwide impacts. The articles also delve in deeper into the history of cocaine and its production, and how the coca market came into fruition over the centuries.