Cocaine
COCAINE
One of the most dangerous and widely abused drugs is cocaine, although they do not produce very severe physical dependent symptoms upon withdrawal. In the early 16th century, Francisco Pizzaro encountered the Inca; he found that royalty used the coca plant. This was the 1st contact Europeans had with this drug. In Peru this was considered to be “the gift of the Gods” (Craving for Ecstasy and Natural Highs: A Positive approach to mood Alteration Milkman, Sunderwirth) and was used in religious ceremonies as well for medicinal purposes. It was claimed to be a brain tunic, and a cure for nervous affliction and in the 19th century was available over the counter and in Coca-Cola. Cocaine is also known as coke, blow, snow, flake, and a yay-yo. When you ingest it, you feel euphoria; increased energy, and alertness; reduced fatigue and appetite; constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Withdrawal Symptoms include fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, agitation or extreme suspicion cravings and depression. Also adverse overdose reactions to cocaine are paranoid psychosis, auditory hallucinations, heart attacks, chest pain and repertory failure, strokes, seizures, headaches, gastrointestinal complementation’s, such as abdominal pain and nausea. The use of Cocaine in adolescence, a developmentally critical period for the cortical areas of the brain, is especially detrimental, as research has shown that it can be more addicting than if it was started in adulthood. Changes in the brain put teenagers at a higher risk for drug seeking behaviors. Cocaine interferes with the normal growth of dendrites, especially in the area of the brain involved in learning and attention. Cocaine exerts its effects on the brain by increasing the amount of dopamine flowing into the nucleus acumens. (Milkman, Sunderwirth pg. 173). Many
One of the most dangerous and widely abused drugs is cocaine, although they do not produce very severe physical dependent symptoms upon withdrawal. In the early 16th century, Francisco Pizzaro encountered the Inca; he found that royalty used the coca plant. This was the 1st contact Europeans had with this drug. In Peru this was considered to be “the gift of the Gods” (Craving for Ecstasy and Natural Highs: A Positive approach to mood Alteration Milkman, Sunderwirth) and was used in religious ceremonies as well for medicinal purposes. It was claimed to be a brain tunic, and a cure for nervous affliction and in the 19th century was available over the counter and in Coca-Cola. Cocaine is also known as coke, blow, snow, flake, and a yay-yo. When you ingest it, you feel euphoria; increased energy, and alertness; reduced fatigue and appetite; constricted blood vessels; dilated pupils; increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Withdrawal Symptoms include fatigue, lack of pleasure, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness, agitation or extreme suspicion cravings and depression. Also adverse overdose reactions to cocaine are paranoid psychosis, auditory hallucinations, heart attacks, chest pain and repertory failure, strokes, seizures, headaches, gastrointestinal complementation’s, such as abdominal pain and nausea. The use of Cocaine in adolescence, a developmentally critical period for the cortical areas of the brain, is especially detrimental, as research has shown that it can be more addicting than if it was started in adulthood. Changes in the brain put teenagers at a higher risk for drug seeking behaviors. Cocaine interferes with the normal growth of dendrites, especially in the area of the brain involved in learning and attention. Cocaine exerts its effects on the brain by increasing the amount of dopamine flowing into the nucleus acumens. (Milkman, Sunderwirth pg. 173). Many
Bibliography: Berger, K. S. (2008). The Developing Person Through the Life Span. New York: Worth Publishers. Sunderwirth, H. B. (2010). Craving for Ecstacy and Natural Highs A Positive Approach to Mood Alteration. SAGE Publications Ltd. Works Cited Berger, K. S. (2008). The Developing Person Through the Life Span. New York: Worth Publishers. Sunderwirth, H. B. (2010). Craving for Ecstacy and Natural Highs A Positive Approach to Mood Alteration. SAGE Publications Ltd.