Cocaine Use

As a family practice resident working in a poor neighborhood in Minneapolis, I have been saddened many times to see young lives ruined by cocaine. During my stay here the last four weeks, I was surprised to find that cocaine use was prevalent in this community as well. Drug abuse can have a substantial impact on a community. It affects not only the drug abusers themselves but their friends, family, and other community members. I am writing this article to encourage readers with an addiction, be it cocaine or another substance, to seek help.

Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant as well as an anesthetic. It can be used in several forms and be smoked, swallowed, applied topically or injected. When used it can induce euphoria. It is very addictive and produces symptoms of withdrawal for those addicted to it.

The most basic health effects of cocaine result from it being a stimulant. Users will typically experience an increased heart rate, sweating, an elevation of blood pressure and increased energy. Unfortunately, cocaine can drastically effect multiple organ systems, sometimes leading to death or permanent disability.

The heart can be damaged by cocaine in multiple ways. Cocaine is toxic to heart muscle, sometimes producing cardiac arrhythmias. The constriction of blood vessels by cocaine frequently effects the blood vessels supplying the heart. In addition, cocaine is believed to increase the risk of developing blood clots. As a result, heart attacks are not infrequent amongst cocaine users; nor is heart failure.

Another devastating effect of cocaine is its potential to cause brain damage. Cocaine can cause seizures, strokes and intracranial bleeding. These are a result of cocaine's central nervous system stimulation and blood vessel constriction.

While mentioning all possible effects of cocaine is more exhaustive than I desired to include in this article, I feel compelled mention cocaine's effect on pregnancy. The blood vessel constriction induced by cocaine decreases placental blood flow and therefore limits the fetuses blood supply. The fetuses only source of oxygen and nutrition. Cocaine can also cause uterine contractions and miscarriage. Cocaine is known to cause low infant birth weights. The long-term health and developmental effects on infants whose mother' s used cocaine during their pregnancy are not fully known.

If you use cocaine, or another drug, your addiction besides affecting your own health likely has an impact on those around you. Money that could be spent more wisely is spent on drugs. Your behavior is certainly affected after taking the drug or during withdrawal. If you have an addiction, please contact your physician or other health care provider.