 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Cocaine
What is cocaine?
Like crystal meth,
coke is a stimulant. It comes from South America in the form of white
powder derived from the otherwise innocuous coca plant. In leaf form,
coca is chewed or drunk in tea - a mild stimulant not unlike caffeine.
In fact, in the U.S. several products on the market used to contain
cocaine, including
Coca Cola (hence the name), before it was classified as a dangerous
narcotic and made illegal.
Coke can be injected, but it is usually snorted in small lines through a straw (or a rolled up Benjamin if you're a fat cat). The effects come on gradually with the peak hitting anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes after use. Using cocaine makes people feel euphoric and energetic, talkative and more mentally alert. People feel a greater sensitivity to the senses of sight, sound and touch. This is basically because coke blocks the re-absorption of the brain chemical dopamine into nerve cells in the brain. This blockage results in an abnormally high (forgive the pun) and continuous stimulation of the dopamine receptors. Cocaine can also be distilled through chemical alteration into a pure crystal form, or "rock," that is euphemistically referred to as crack. When coke is smoked in this form the high comes on almost immediately, and the effects are much more intense.
The big deal is that the effects of coke don't last very long, meaning that you have to take more in order to keep the high going. Over time, you can build up a tolerance so that you have to take more coke more often in order to feel the effects. This can lead to physical and psychological addiction to the drug. Also, as you become more dependent on cocaine in order to feel "normal" you enter into a chronic state of depression.
You might ask: "why spend all that moolah on a drug that's only gonna last for twenty minutes?" Good question. Like most drugs, cocaine makes you feel good. It makes you feel great. You get a swell of confidence. You feel like the king of the world, like you can do anything. After all, coke is a stimulant that fucks with the mood stabilizers in your brain. But it won't be too long before you go from hot shit to hot sweats, and that's not cool.
What
can it do to me?
Short-term effects of cocaine are increased heart rate, blood pressure
and breathing. This is a normal response to the drug. Side effects of
coke can include depression, anxiety, irritability, isolation, tremors,
lethargy, fatigue, nightmares, headache, sweating, and muscle and stomach
cramps. Sexy, n'est-ce pas?
If you keep it up, cocaine use can be much more damaging. It can lead to incredibly dangerous medical complications, such as chest pain, respiratory failure, strokes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and heart disease. Frequent users of cocaine have even been known to suffer from seizures and heart attacks. Nothing says, "fuck me" like a cardiac arrest. So very sexy.
Also, and this may seem like a no-brainer, you shouldn't use coke with any other drugs. The most common drug used with cocaine is… alcohol! This is also the most frequent combination associated with drug-related deaths. So, coke + alcohol = heart failure. Simple, remedial math.
What else should
you know about coke?
Like most drugs, cocaine lowers your inhibitions and impairs your judgment.
This means that things that you normally wouldn't do suddenly seem like
a good idea, including sex. Are you a good boy that normally uses condoms?
Good. But you might not while you're on cocaine. Suddenly, sticking
his bare cock in your ass doesn't seem like such a big deal. Oops, he
came in you? Oh well. But you'll probably be feeling it later on. Who
was that guy? Where's he been? Did he have anything? Did I catch anything?
Stupid coke. Oh well… I'll just snort another row.
If you're gonna use cocaine, you probably want to have a supply of condoms on you as well. That way, in the heat of the moment, you can at least protect yourself from HIV and other STDs. The coke may make you feel like the king of the world, but a scorching case of herpes or gonorrhea will make you feel like crap. Is it really worth it? That's why it's a good idea to keep the rubbers and lube close at hand. If you're gonna use coke, have a plan to keep yourself covered while you're fucked up. Remember: fuck smart, fuck safe.