COCAINE (COC), a.k.a.: Crack - Snow - Flake - Blow - Dust, etc.

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that is processed from the naturally occurring cocoa plant. Users describe cocaine as giving them an ultimate rush, a feeling of power and invincibility Cocaine is a commonly abused drug around the entire world. Long term effects of cocaine usage include cardiovascular problems, extreme paranoia, and when snorted, can cause rupturing of the mucus membranes and can cause the nasal septum to collapse. The major ways of taking cocaine are sniffing or snorting, injecting, and smoking (including free-base and crack cocaine).

Cocaine is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant and a local anesthetic. Initially, it brings about extreme energy and restlessness while gradually resulting in tremors, over-sensitivity and spasms. In large amounts, cocaine causes fever, unresponsiveness, and difficulty in breathing and unconsciousness.

Cocaine is often self-administered by nasal inhalation, intravenous injection and free-base smoking. It is excreted in the urine in a short time primarily as Benzoylecgonine. Benzoylecgonine, a major metabolite of cocaine, has a longer biological half-life (5-8 hours) than cocaine (0.5-1.5 hours), and can generally be detected for 24-48 hours after cocaine exposure.