Health Effects of Cocaine : General Health Effects

History, Pharmacology, and Prevalence
- Methamphetamine Overview Methamphetamine Overview
- Cocaine Overview Cocaine Overview
- Differences between Stimulants Differences between Stimulants
  - Methamphetamine and Amphetamines
  - Methamphetamine and Cocaine
- Heroin Overview Heroin Overview
- Overview of Various Other Illicit Drugs Overview of Various Other Illicit Drugs
Clandestine Labs and Forms of Methamphetamine
- Clandestine Drug Labs Clandestine Drug Labs
- Forms of Methamphetamine Forms of Methamphetamine
  - Introduction
  - Ice
  - Powder
  - Liquid
  - Base
  - Tablets
Levels of Illicit Drug Use and Factors Contributing to Use
- Levels of Use Levels of Use
- Levels of Dependency Levels of Dependency
- Factors Underlying Use and Abuse Factors Underlying Use and Abuse
Health Consequences of Illicit Drug Use
- Health Effects of Methamphetamine Health Effects of Methamphetamine
  - General Health Effects
  - Medical Complications
- Health Effects of Cocaine Health Effects of Cocaine
  - General Health Effects
  - Medical Complications
- Health Effects of Heroin Health Effects of Heroin
  - General Health Effects
  - Medical Complications
- Overdose Overdose
Treatment Modalities and Treatment Settings for Illicit Drug Abuse
- Psychosocial Treatment Psychosocial Treatment
- Pharmacological Treatments Pharmacological Treatments
- Treatment Settings Treatment Settings
Illicit Drug Screening, Brief Intervention, and Treatment Placement
- Screening in Primary Care Settings Screening in Primary Care Settings
  - The Debate
- Screening Methods Screening Methods
- Brief Interventions Brief Interventions
- Referring Users to Treatment Referring Users to Treatment
  - Linking Clients to Services in Arizona

Health Consequences of Illicit Drug Use
Health Effects of Cocaine : General Health Effects

Cocaine use, like MA use, triggers the activation of the sympathetic nervous system causing users to experience effects such as: [1]

Mental stimulation
Rapid heart beat
Increased blood pressure
Elevated body temperature
Increased rate of breathing
More rapid brain electrical activity
Elevated blood sugar level
Constricted blood vessels
Dilated pupils

As with MA, cocaine can produce effects that many users find desirable; for example, an increase in energy and sexuality; a decrease in appetite; and a sense of euphoria. Cocaine users, however, can also experience restlessness, irritability, and anxiety.[2]

References

(1) Weiss RD, Mirin SM, Bartel RL. Cocaine. 2 ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Press, Inc; 1994.
(2) NIDA. Cocaine: Abuse and Addiction. Rockville, MD; 2004 Nov. Report No.: 99-4342.

Illustrations

Dilated Pupils

Health Consequences of Illicit Drug Use Health Effects of Cocaine : General Health Effects

References

Illustrations

Health Consequences of Illicit Drug Use
Health Effects of Cocaine : General Health Effects