Cocaine Education

Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia educates the public on cocaine facts.

Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia, states:

"Cocaine is one of the oldest and most addictive drugs on the planet.  Often associated in the media with Hollywood and high fashion, it seems to represent to the gullible, the world of film stars, supermodels and celebrity rockers.

"This year approximately five million Americans will voluntarily try cocaine, risking nausea, physical pain, insomnia and paranoia.   Nearly half of this number will continue to use cocaine repeatedly through the year risking cardiac problems, high blood pressure, pulmonary difficulties, stroke and feelings of depression.

"Cocaine is the second most abused drug in the country, next to marijuana.  Contributing to cocaine abuse is its association with Hollywood and Wall Street glamour, and with the advent of increased availability and lowered prices; this drug has become available to almost everyone.

"Not so glamorous is the increase in bloody and runny noses from snorting coke or the emergency room visits from overdoses.

"Whether it be “free base” “crack” or cocaine hydrochloride, cocaine abuse has skyrocketed in recent years and is a cause for concern.  The real story, not the Hollywood version, needs to be told."

HISTORY

Cocaine is an old drug. The Incas used coca in their every day life for centuries before the Spanish invaded. 

In the 1500s, the first scientific article was written by Nicholas Mondardes, a Seville physician.  Cocaine at that time was legally used as a local anesthesia.

In 1884 Sigmund Freud touted cocaine as a cure for depression and morphine addiction and other ills.  He and an associate Dr. William Halsted became addicted to cocaine.   Years later Freud stopped his use of cocaine

In 1906, an increasing amount of reports of toxicity from cocaine abuse prompted The Food and Drug act.

In 1910 the first cases of nasal damage from cocaine snorting was seen in hospitals.  Reports of toxicity from cocaine, continued to escalate.  Some of these reports included cardiac death, similar to the deaths of Len Bias and John Belushi.  These episodes prompted the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914.

Since the late 1970s ccocaine abuse is on the rise and with it the medical emergencies, making a leading drug for emergency room visits.

CRACK

Crack is a highly abused, highly addictive form of cocaine and deserves its own mention.  Many lives are lost or ruined by this drug.

Crack is not a new drug – only the name is new.  Freebasing goes back to the 1920s.  Crack is a preferred drug for dealers because it is easy to hide and is so highly addictive, there is a guarantee repeat customer base.

Crack can only be smoked (not injected or snorted) It is absorbed from smoking twice as fast than intravenous use.  There is an immediate central nervous system stimulation lasting about five to 10 seconds, followed by a severe crash.

There are intense cravings created from the desire to re-create the euphoria.  In an attempt to regain this 10 second euphoria, a user may sell all their belongings, steal or sell their body. 

After a crack binge the user is depressed, exhausted and has put a huge toll on their health and their life.

MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS

There are enormous medical complications with cocaine use.  Some of the most frequent are:

 Cardiovascular effects, including heart attacks
 Respiratory difficulties, including respirator failure, n
 Neurological effects, including stroke and seizures and headaches.
 Gastrointestinal complications including abdominal pain and nausea
 Loss of sense of smell
 Nose bleeds
 Malnourishment

   SYMPTOMS

These symptoms can occur overtime or with one use of cocaine:

 Chaotic heart rhythm or fast heart beat
 Accelerated breathing
 Increased blood pressure
 Increased body temperature
 Chest pain
 Nausea
 Blurred vision
 Restlessness
 Irritability
 Paranoia
 Psychosis
 Fever
 Muscle spasms
 Convulsions
 Coma
 Death

SIGNS OF OVERDOSE
 First sign may be muscle tremors and twitches
 Increased reflexes
 Tachycardia
 Exhaustion phase is characterized by coma or paralysis
 Cardiovascular and respiratory collapse are the end point of this phase
 Death  (which can occur with as little as 20 milligrams)

USE WITH ALCOHOL

Cocaine and alcohol is a lethal combination and is the most common dual drug combination that results in drug related death.

FACTS

 Most cocaine comes in through the United States Mexico border.
 Organized crime groups based in Columbia control the world supply
 Cocaine is the most highly abused drug in Georgia, Texas and California and ranks second in the other states.

The Narconon program provides body detoxification through a sauna and exercise program that recovering drug addicts report helps to eliminate or reduce cravings. The recovering drug addict then learns those life skills essential to success in life and the ability to stay clean.  They graduate from Narconon with a life plan and continued support to make sure they make it in life.

Copyright © 2008. Narconon of Georgia Inc.(www.drugsno.com) Call 1-877-413-3073. All rights reserved. Narconon and the Narconon Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by the Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.