Cocaine is an old drug: it originates from a plant called coca, which has been around since the ancient Incas. It was first extracted in 1859 by a German chemist and in its infancy was used to treat depression and impotence. Coca-Cola notoriously infused its drinks with cocaine in the 1900s until it became evident to the US government that it had a problem, finally banning the drug in 1922.
What is cocaine?
First and foremost, it’s a stimulant. It has a number of secondary effects including a numbing sensation (that classic tongue dab) as well as reducing the blood supply to certain parts of the body (more on the dangers of that in a second). In fact, in medicine there are a number of local anaesthetics – drugs to make areas of the body go numb – which are similar in their chemical composition to cocaine but much safer to use, the commonest known being lignocaine.
When did it start being used as a drug?
Cocaine has two common forms: powdered cocaine, once the “middle-class drug” which is now used more widely across a number of social settings alongside its more potent and more addictive cousin, crack cocaine. A recent study conducted by King’s College London has revealed that London has the highest rates of cocaine use in Europe, at an estimated 23kg of cocaine a day. Analysts looked at the concentration of benzoylecgonine, the breakdown product of cocaine, in water. Not unexpectedly levels were highest at the weekend but still pretty high during the week.
Estimated usage
United Kingdom 2017-2018 statistics estimated that 2.6 per cent of people aged between 16-59 took powdered cocaine (as opposed to 0.1 per cent of users of crack cocaine). Despite overall feelings that younger people are taking less drugs and using less alcohol, it’s estimated that 6 per cent of young adults (aged 16-24) have tried it.
What are the effects?
Users report feeling buzzed, having more energy, being able to drink longer and feeling more confident. A common cocktail is alcohol (depressant) and cocaine (stimulant). This can lead to people consuming far more in the way of both substances than their body can tolerate (due to the counter effects) and therefore making dangerous decisions as a result. Side effects/after effects include altered sleep, paranoia, depression and exhaustion that can last for days.
What are the medical dangers?
Cocaine use has been linked to a number of medical complications. Often these are life-threatening, including heart attacks due to a lethal combination of speeding up the heart rate whilst also reducing the blood supply to the heart (vasoconstriction) and strokes (a similar phenomenon only affecting the blood vessels to the brain). Deaths attributed to cocaine (which includes crack cocaine, notably more potent) have been rising year on year with more than 400 deaths in England and Wales in 2017.
How do I kick the habit?
Cocaine is highly addictive and one part of the challenge of giving it up is just how socially acceptable this drug has come to be. It can be found in bars, house parties, concerts and weddings. Professionals regard it as a clean and sociable drug (no needles, no crack houses), but all these conveniences clearly contribute to the challenges users face giving it up. Make no mistake, cocaine can destroy relationships, careers and lives. If you feel you need support, the best place to start is an NHS service such as your GP or your local drug treatment service. As with a lot of other addictions, support groups such as NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and talking therapies are key and form the mainstay of treatment.
