Cocaine drug is the prototype of stimulant drugs that are capable, in high dosages, of inducing euphoric excitement and hallucinatory experiences.Because of these properties, cocaine ranks high in the esteem of experienced drug users, and it can lead to the highest degree of psychological dependence.
Cocaine induces feelings of muscular strength and mental alertness, leading individuals to overestimate their capabilities.This, associated with paranoid delusions and auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations, often makes the user very dangerous and capable of serious antisocial acts.
Signs and symptoms
The use of cocaine in large amounts may lead to the following symptoms:
- digestive disorders
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- loss of weight
- sleeplessness
- occasional convulsions.
No physical dependence on cocaine develops and, consequently, no characteristic withdrawal symptoms are noted when the drug is stopped abruptly, but severe depression may persist for sometime after withdrawal.
Characteristics
- A strong psychological dependence.
- The absence of physical dependence and, therefore, of characteristic withdrawal symptoms.
- The absence of tolerance; there is, rather, a sensitization to the drug’s effects in some instances.
- A strong tendency to carry on taking the drug, as found in chewing coca leaves (from which cocaine is derived), or the rapid repetition of doses often observed when injecting the drug is involved.
