Cocaine Archives - Healthhype

7 Signs Of Drug Misuse And Intoxication (‘High’)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 23:53:56 +0000

Substance abuse can refer to a number of different substances that alters mental and physical abilities, induces euphoria and there is some degree of addiction to the substance. Addiction means that a person will actively seek out the substance often at the cost of other aspects of their life, experience withdrawal symptoms without using it and constant use has negative social/financial/personal impact on the user’s life. It is not only about illicit drugs (street drugs) like marijuana, cocaine, crack, ecstasy (MDMA) and heroin. It can also involve legal substances like alcohol, prescription medication and even tobacco although the latter may not have the same degree of psychosocial effects as abuse of the other substances. How do you know if a person is high? It is not always obvious to say when a person is misusing drugs, addicted to these substances or even intoxicated. Most of us think that we can spot a person who is drunk or high but this is not always the case. You may not even know when your spouse or children are misusing drugs. Often people are ignorant or sometimes in denial about their loved ones abusing substances. Identifying drug misuse as early as possible and [...]

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Cocaine-Induced Heart Problems

Dr. Chris — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:14:47 +0000

Cocaine and the Heart Cocaine is a potent illicit stimulant produced from the leaves of the coca plant. It is widely used in the powder form which is inhaled or in the chunky form which is smoked (crack cocaine). Cocaine is often mixed with other substances to ‘cut’ the pure drug, thereby diluting it. Sometimes these fillers or bulking agents are inert substances while at other time it can be toxic compounds. Cocaine may also be mixed with other drugs like amphetamines, heroin and morphine for a more potent narcotic effect. Cocaine induces a sense of euphoria due to stimulating a massive release of brain hormones (neurotransmitters) like dopamine which acts on the pleasure and reward center in the brain. It also has a host of other effects on almost every organ and system in the body. The heart is in constant action throughout life. Sometimes it pumps harder during physical activity and at other times slower when a person is at rest or asleep. The wall of the heart is made up of three layers and the thickest section is smooth muscle known as the myocardium. It has an extensive blood supply through the coronary arteries to ensure an [...]

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Popular Teen Street Drugs, Pictures and Addiction Risk

Dr. Chris — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 23:25:09 +0000

Drug usage for recreational purposes is an age old practice but addiction to these substances is now one of the main social ills that plagues communities across the globe. It is scourge that is destroying communities, families and lives at a faster rate than many biological diseases. It is not a problem only among lower socioeconomic groups – addiction to street drugs affects even the most affluent communities. Drug usage often starts from an early age, but it is not just teens that are at risk of entering into this cycle of chemical addiction. It is not unheard of for younger children to be involved in drug usage – sometimes even younger than 10 years of age. While the end to the drug scourge is nowhere in sight, parents and caregivers can still play an important role in preventing children and teens from becoming addicts. The fact is that avoiding experimental drug use altogether is difficult to do in modern society. Children and teens are exposed to illicit drugs in various situations – at schools, social events and sometimes even within the home from other siblings. However, understanding these substances and spotting drug usage as well as intervening as early [...]

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