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Cocaine Kills
In 2004 16-year-old Quantrell Pryor, of Dearborn, Michigan, was driving a car when he was stopped by police. Pryor panicked because he had cocaine in the car, So he swallowed the cocaine. Almost an hour and a half later Quantrell went into cocaine-induced convulsions and died before he reached a hospital. Quantrell’s death, though unusual, is a common statistic among teenage cocaine users.
What’s Cocaine?
The Web site of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that “cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. The powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine can be snorted or dissolved in water and injected. Crack is cocaine that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt.”
AKA
According to freevibe.com, cocaine has many names. If you hear someone talking about crack, coke, dust, snow, rock, or blow, those are some of the most common names for cocaine. No matter what you call it, cocaine is harmful and sometimes deadly. Some of the side effects of using cocaine can be devastating.
Side Effects
The high from using cocaine doesn’t last long. Most of the time the feelings of euphoria from cocaine use last anywhere from five to 30 minutes. After that, the side effects can kick in. The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists these side effects:
• constricted blood vessels
• dilated pupils
• increased heart rate that could lead to heart failure
• seizures and hallucinations
• headaches and nausea
Do any of these side effects sound worth it for five minutes of being high? Probably not. Don’t listen to people who try to tell you there are no risks and you can do it once without getting hooked. It’s just not true.
“The side effect is that doing coke always makes you want to do more coke,” says Aaron, a 19-year-old cocaine user from Missouri. “What-ever amount you have is never enough, and so if there’s not any more, you feel unfulfilled. And if you do more, you may not be able to sleep for a long time.” Aaron adds that he doesn’t know anyone who has done cocaine only once. “They decrease their use because it’s not compatible with school or work anymore, but they still do it when they’re able to,” Aaron says.
Signs of Cocaine Use
If you are not using cocaine but suspect that a friend might be, Kimberly K. McClanahan, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky and a licensed psychologist, shares the warning symptoms. “Look for these symptoms, but be aware they can be caused by other drug use, not just cocaine,” says McClanahan. “Suspect drug use if more of these symptoms are present. They are: red, bloodshot eyes; runny nose; frequent sniffing; change in eating or sleeping habits; change in school grades and behavior; change in friends; withdrawal; depression; exhaustion; carelessness about personal appearance; loss of interest in school, family, or activities; and frequently in need of money.”
Speaking of money, cocaine use is expensive! Do you really want to spend your hard-earned cash on something you can’t eat, play, or watch?
“Often new users are given the product to sample,” says McClanahan. “As they become addicted, they are then asked to pay for the drug. Cocaine is expensive, and tolerance to it builds quickly, which means that a person needs more and more of it to get the same ‘high.’” Despite all of the warnings about cocaine use, NIDA’s statistics point to an alarming trend of cocaine use in America.
The Facts
The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers these facts about cocaine use in the United States in 2007:
• 2.0 percent of eighth graders have used cocaine in the past year
• 3.4 percent of tenth graders have used cocaine in the past year
• 5.2 percent of twelfth graders have used cocaine in the past year
If those facts aren’t scary enough, things get worse. Much worse. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 35 million Americans (12 and older) reported at least one use of cocaine. The average age of most first-time users is 18 or older; and around 2.4 million Americans are currently doing cocaine.
To teens considering cocaine use, Aaron has a strong warning: “Don’t think that you can do it and remain a recreational user, who does it only when it’s available or offered to you.” Once you try cocaine, you could be hooked, just like Aaron.
McClanahan also advises that if you are a teen considering cocaine use, giving up the substance may be much more difficult than you thought. “With any substance teens are more likely to become addicted more quickly than older people,” says McClanahan. “This is because the brain is not fully developed until the early 20s, so influences upon it, such as drugs, can alter brain chemistry permanently.”
Aaron and McClanahan both agree that cocaine is never worth a try. “I wish teens knew how easily this addiction can destroy their lives,” says McClanahan. “Even people who claim to be recreational users [one to two times per week] report severe problems stemming from their drug use. I also wish teens knew that the good feelings they get from cocaine, e.g., euphoria, self-confidence, all go away when the addiction is full-blown. Once that happens, they take the drug just to try to feel normal; it’s no longer fun.” So are you willing to risk the rest of your life for five minutes of pleasure?
For the lowdown on cocaine, visit www.freevibe.com and use the pull-down menu to select “crack and cocaine.” If you or a friend are using cocaine and want to get help, visit Cocaine Anonymous at www.ca.org, and you’ll receive free and confidential advice as well as locations for meetings and downloadable brochures.
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