Dangerous Misconceptions

08/27/2008

Dangerous Misconceptions

 But it's dangerous to think of cocaine as "safer" than Ecstasy, says Brendan. The drug can make users feel alert, energetic and confident. But it can also lead to sweating, loss of appetite and increased heart rate. At higher doses users may feel anxious and panicky. Large doses or quickly repeated doses over a period of hours can lead to extreme anxiety, paranoia and even hallucinations.

 Frequent use of the drug or taking it in large doses can also result in serious health problems and, in some cases, death. Approximately 15-20 people in the UK die each year from cocaine overdoses, and figures by researchers at St George's Medical School in south London show that the number of cocaine-related deaths increased by 16 per cent in 2000.

 Extensive studies have highlighted the damaging effects of the drug, which include increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other research suggests cocaine can hamper brain-power manual dexterity for up to a month after the drug is last taken. It is also thought to pose dangers to unborn children if taken by pregnant women.

 One US study by researchers at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis showed that cocaine users were at risk of developing potentially fatal arterial aneurysms. An aneurysm happens when the wall of an artery balloons out under pressure. If it happens in a heart or brain artery, and goes on to burst, it can trigger either a heart attack or stroke.

 The study of 112 cocaine users showed that almost one in three had aneurysms in a heart artery—the normal rate in patients with heart symptoms is around 5 per cent.

 The drug can also have a neurological effect. Researchers at the US National Institute on Drug Abuse found that cocaine impairs brainpower—particularly among those taking at least 2 grams a week. They say the study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that drug abuse can cause long-term problems well after the user has stopped taking the substance.

 In addition to the dangers it poses on its own, mixing cocaine with other drugs can bring added problems, says Brendan. If combined with other stimulants such as Ecstasy or speed, it can increase the heart rate to a worrying level.

 Annabel's research found that many cocaine users drank alcohol at the same time. This is risky because, whereas cocaine is a stimulant, alcohol is a depressant, so combining the two can have unpredictable effects.

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