#SubstanceSaturdays ❄️
1/ #Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that has been around for thousands of years. It was originally used by indigenous people in South America for religious & medicinal purposes, and was later introduced to Europe and the US in the late 19th century.
1/ #Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that has been around for thousands of years. It was originally used by indigenous people in South America for religious & medicinal purposes, and was later introduced to Europe and the US in the late 19th century.
2/ Cocaine works by increasing levels of #dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates pleasure and reward, by blocking its reuptake leading to an accumulation in the synpatic cleft. This leads to feelings of euphoria, increased energy and alertness, and decreased appetite.
3/ Serotonin and norepinehphrine reuptake are also inhibited, leading to increases in those neurotransmitters as well. Sodium channels are also blocked, slowing down the action potentials, thus leading to its medical use as a local anesthetic.
4/ Cocaine is typically used by snorting the drug through the nose, but it can also be smoked or injected. It is often used recreationally in social settings or to enhance performance, but can quickly lead to increased tolerance ➡️ dependence ➡️ withdrawal ➡️ addiction.
5/ Cocaine use can have serious physical and psychological effects on the body and brain. These can include heart attack, stroke, respiratory failure, seizures, anxiety, depression, and psychosis such as its trademark #formication, or feeling like bugs are crawling on the skin.
6/ Cocaine is illegal in most countries, including the United States. It is classified as a Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse but also has some accepted medical uses, such as a local anesthetic for certain procedures.
7/ Sigmund #Freud was a well-known user of cocaine and wrote extensively about its effects. He believed that cocaine could be used to treat depression and other mental health conditions, but later abandoned this belief and acknowledged the dangers of the drug.
8/ In the United States, cocaine use has been on the rise in recent years. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from @samhsagov, the number of people who reported using cocaine in the past year increased from 1.5 million in 2015 to 2.2 million in 2019.
@samhsagov 9/ Cocaine has often been portrayed in popular media as a glamorous and exciting drug, leading to its romanticization and normalization in some circles. However, the reality of cocaine use is far from glamorous, and can have serious health consequences for users.
@samhsagov What do you think of the glamorization of cocaine in the media, such as the recent movie #CocaineBear? Share your thoughts below, and make sure to follow along for more education via #SubstanceSaturdays
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