Cocaine and Crack
Contents
Section titled “Contents”- Intercultural history
- Chemical preparation
- Pharmacokinetics and routes of administration
- Subjective effects
- Physiological effects
- Chronic use
- Cocaine as a social drug
Intercultural History
Section titled “Intercultural History”Cocaine is originally a plant-based drug derived from the coca plant, which is predominantly native to Latin and South America.
As early as 1,300 years before our era, the indigenous peoples chewed the leaves of this plant. In the context of Incan culture, coca leaves were reserved as a gift from the sun god for only the most important members of a tribe (especially priests).
Chemical Preparation
Section titled “Chemical Preparation”Cocaine, like all psychoactive drugs, is an alkaloid and can be processed in various ways:
Coca Paste
Section titled “Coca Paste”- Made by crushing coca leaves
- Approx. 70% active substance content
- Highly toxic
Cocaine Hydrochloride (Powder Form)
Section titled “Cocaine Hydrochloride (Powder Form)”- Chemical processing of the leaves
- Often cut for sale with baking soda or laxatives
- Approx. 20-30% of original active substance in street cocaine
Free Base
Section titled “Free Base”- Chemical conversion to basic form
- Dissolved in ether
- Higher active substance concentration
- Cooked in baking soda
- “Pellet-shaped” substance
- Name derives from the “cracking” sounds during production
- Usually smoked
Pharmacokinetics and Routes of Administration
Section titled “Pharmacokinetics and Routes of Administration”| Route | Time to Effect | Duration | Substance Content | Bioavailability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral (chewing) | 30-60 min. | 90 min. | 0.5-1% | 25% |
| Nasal | 2-4 min. | 30-45 min. | 20-80% | 20-30% |
| Intravenous | 30-45 sec. | 20-30 min. | 20-80% | 100% |
| Inhalation/Smoking | 8-10 sec. | 5-10 min. | 80-100% | 30% |
The faster the drug enters the bloodstream, the more intense the “kick.”
Chewing coca leaves (oral intake) produces a slow effect without a “kick.” With intravenous administration, the effectiveness is highest.
Pharmacokinetics
Section titled “Pharmacokinetics”- Cocaine is lipid-soluble — can cross the blood-brain barrier unhindered
- Biological half-life: approx. 30 minutes
- Toxic dose: 1-2 mg/kg body weight (can be lethal or cause severe damage)
- Detectability in urine: 3-5 days (in chronic users 15-22 days)
Mechanism of Action
Section titled “Mechanism of Action”Cocaine blocks the dopamine transporter molecules and prevents reuptake into nerve cells. Dopamine thus repeatedly docks onto the receptors again and again.
Result: A sensory overload that explains the euphoric feeling of happiness.
In chronic users, the body reduces dopamine production. When use is stopped, a dopamine deficiency occurs — a possible cause of depression and irritability (“crash”).
Subjective Effects
Section titled “Subjective Effects”Positive effects (vary depending on personality):
- Positive behavioral reinforcement
- Increased activity (motor and mental)
- Mood elevation to euphoria
- Inflated self-esteem
- Heightened alertness
- High alcohol tolerance
- Absence of hunger and thirst
- Stimulating effect on libido
Adverse effects:
- Anxiety states
- Paranoia
- Overstimulation
- Aggressiveness
- Eating and sleep disorders
Physiological Effects
Section titled “Physiological Effects”The physiological picture corresponds to a stress situation — the body is “artificially” put on “alert”:
- Tense muscles
- Increased blood flow
- Higher pulse rate
- Dilated pupils
“Flight, Fight, and Fright” — the flight, fight, and fear response.
Chronic Use of High Doses
Section titled “Chronic Use of High Doses”With chronic use, in addition to psychological dependence (craving), the following occur:
- Depression
- Anxiety states
- Helplessness (“drug seeking behavior”)
- Increased stroke risk with high blood pressure
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Seizures
The state of constant alertness can lead to severe neuronal damage:
- Lowering of the stimulus threshold
- Overreactions to even small stimuli
Cocaine as a Social Drug
Section titled “Cocaine as a Social Drug”Historical Development
Section titled “Historical Development”- Late 19th century: Cocaine was considered a “miracle substance” (even Freud claimed magical properties)
- Coca-Cola: Contained approx. 200 mg of cocaine per liter
- 1914: First official ban on non-medical use in the USA
- 1924: Regulation of amounts in medications
- 1920s: “Cocaine wave” among the bohemian scene in Europe
- 1970s: Revival as a “fashionable drug”
- 1980s: Crack gains popularity, younger user demographic
Cocaine vs. Crack
Section titled “Cocaine vs. Crack”Crack is more of a “street drug”:
- More intense effect than cocaine
- Often excessive consumption
- High risk of losing control
Cocaine could be described as the “clean drug of capitalist achievement society”:
- Can be consumed moderately
- Possible without dose escalation
Social Context
Section titled “Social Context”People are expected to “function” within the system — whether at work or in leisure time. They are under the pressure of a society in which negative feelings (exhaustion, sadness, pessimism) seem to have no place.
This pressure can on one hand be a reason for rising drug consumption numbers (“cocaine as a performance drug”), and on the other hand cocaine appears to be part of a “subcultural identity” — a dual nature of cocaine.