Substance Abuse Report: Cocaine's Effects and Treatment Strategies

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SUBSTANCE USE AND SOCIETY
Contents
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................1
INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS................................................................................................................2
PROBLEMATIC DRUG USE......................................................................................................................2
EFFECTS OF COCAINE USE.....................................................................................................................3
PHYSICAL EFFECTS..............................................................................................................................3
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS.................................................................................................................3
PHARMACOLOGICAL IMPACT...........................................................................................................4
SOCIAL IMPACT.....................................................................................................................................4
LEGAL IMPACT......................................................................................................................................4
EFFECTS OF COCAINE..........................................................................................................................5
COCAINE INTERVENTIONS.....................................................................................................................5
PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH.....................................................................................................5
BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTIONS......................................................................................................6
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERVENTIONS.....................................................................................6
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
The drug cocaine refers to the drug which has either a crystal or powder form. The drug powder contains
other substances like talcum powder, corn starch and/or sugar. At times, it also contains other drug
additives like amphetamines or procaine (a local pain killer). This drug is extracted from coca leaves and
was originally developed as a painkiller. Inhaling it in the form of vapors or smoke increases its
absorption rate and also reduces the risk of its absorption into the blood (Uosukainen, et al., 2015). The
following discussion identifies the effect of cocaine on the physical, mental, psychological, and social
aspects on its user and critically reviews the interventions that can be applied once its use becomes
problematic.
INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS
Cocaine is now considered to be the second most trafficked drug in the world. The current statistics prove
that the international seizures of this drug has been on a rise constantly with the highest drug intercepted
in South America and then in North America.
Cocaine is recognized as the second most commonly utilized illegal drug across Europe, as per the
European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction. The use of this drug is erroneously high in
young individuals where about 7.5 million individuals have used this drug once in their lifetime, 3.5
million individuals agreed to have used this drug within the last year and approximately 1.5 million
individuals have accepted that they have consumed it in the last month (Gowing, et al., 2015).
The manufacture of cocaine in 2016 has reached its highest level ever reported with the maximum
estimate of 1410 tons being produced. The maximum amount of cocaine is produced in Colombia and the
report also showed that Africa and Asia are emerging as the leading hubs and trafficking sites for
Cocaine.
PROBLEMATIC DRUG USE
Problematic drug use refers to its use that can lead to increased dependency or recreational understanding.
It also does not refer to the frequency of its use but would mean that the user will experience social,
financial, physical, psychological, or legal problems due to the use of that drug. Problematic drug use of
cocaine has been the cause of increased instances of crime and uncertain deaths.
There is also an increased vulnerability of problematic cocaine use amongst the individuals in their
teenage and research has also proved that the risk of drug use is highest in individuals in young age as
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compared to older adults. The teenagers in the age group of 12-14 years and 15-17 years are identified to
be having a critical risk of substance use and it is often seen that the drug use if initiated during this
period may lead to a further peak once the age group of 18-25 years is reached. Drug use among young
people may vary on the basis of their social, mental, economic status and equally on their peer groups and
society (Graziani, et al., 2014).
At the global level, the deaths that have been associated with the use of drugs increased by almost 60%
from 2000 to 2015. The report also shows significant use of this drug amongst women with higher rates
of post-traumatic stress disorder along with childhood adversity like physical neglect and sexual abuse.
EFFECTS OF COCAINE USE
PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Cocaine leads to a short term relief and happiness that is of high intensity and is immediately followed by
the opposite effects like edginess, intense depression, and the user craves for more drug quantity to get
similar effects. The users of this drug often do not eat or sleep adequately. They also experience a
significant increase in the heart rate, respiratory rate, convulsions, seizures, muscular spasm, etc. This
drug use can keep the people paranoid, hostile, angry, and anxious. The use of this drug increases the risk
of heart attack, seizure, stroke, including respiratory failure which may lead to sudden death of the drug
user.
Other short term effects of this drug include nausea, pupil dilatation, a disturbing pattern of sleep, erratic
and bizarre behaviour, hyperexcitability, violent attitude (at times), extreme euphoria, depression, panic
and psychosis, convulsions and seizures.
The long term effects of this drug occur due to increased tolerance from its use which necessitates its
intake by the user for satisfying their daily needs. Its prolonged use leads to psychosis and the user starts
developing hallucinations. This drug also interferes with the manner in which the brain processes its
chemicals and gradually the addict needs more and more of that chemical so as to feel normal. Those who
become addicted to its use lose interests in other walks of life like friends, family, responsibilities, etc.
The addict can even commit murder if he/she has to refrain from its use or at times seen due to drug
therapy. There is even a strong possibility of committing suicide out of drug unavailability (Ferrari, et al.,
2014).
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PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Cocaine is a strong stimulant of the central nervous system that interferes with the dopamine
reabsorption, a chemical that gives the sensation of pleasure and movement. This characteristic
contributes to the sensation of ‘highness’ owing to cocaine consumption.
The immediate psychological effects are euphoria which accounts for hyperstimulation, lesser body
fatigue, and lack of mental clarity. The effects and their extent further depend upon their route of
administration (Pendergraft, et al., 2014). The faster its absorption in the blood, the higher is its effect and
this also varies on the basis of its route of administration. Further, its increased use can reduce the period
of stimulation.
This makes the users feel energetic, light, talkative, mentally alert initially and more sensitive towards the
effect of sight, touch, and sound. It also reduces the need for food and sleep and makes the users perform
their intellectual and physical tasks quickly (Corbit, et al., 2014).
Its long term use includes addiction, mood disturbances, irritability, restlessness, auditory hallucinations,
and paranoia. The binge cocaine use where this drug is taken in higher doses can lead to a state of
increased irritability, paranoia, and restlessness. This can result in a full-blown paranoid psychosis which
results in loss of reality and extreme hallucinations.
PHARMACOLOGICAL IMPACT
The fastest routes of cocaine absorption within the cerebral circulation are by injection and smoking. On
the other hand, snorting would take 1-5 minutes for its effects to be found. This is because the
bioavailability of the cocaine in cases of snorting is lesser than in cases of smoking and injection. Further,
the drug prevents sensory impulses conduction by reacting with the neuronal membrane and blocks the
ion channels. Due to this block, there is a prevention of the ion exchange and thereby prevents the arrival
of sensory messages in the central nervous system that causes an anesthetic effect on the mind and body
(Mantsch, et al., 2014).
SOCIAL IMPACT
Cocaine is also called as Party drug, however, in reality, it leads to anti-social behaviour from the drug
user. A study that was done in the University of Zurich, Switzerland, stated that the long-term use of this
drug can lead to anti-social behaviour with a lack of empathy and difficulty in determining the emotions
of others.
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The use of this drug may begin as fun but it can lead to giving up eventually every aspect of one’s life.
The user ultimately loses interests in the common little pleasures of life and the only relationship left for
the addict is the one with cocaine (Manetti, et al., 2014).
LEGAL IMPACT
Cocaine is a Class I drug and it is illegal to supply, produce or possess it in any form. Further, it is also
illegal to provide premises for allowing its supply, consumption or production to those who need it and
the penalty of anyone found getting involved in any such activity is extreme.
It is not a cheap drug and the expense of maintaining and purchasing it on a daily basis is high. The users
are often found to commit some type of crime for resorting to its regular use. It can, therefore, result in a
criminal record of the person or life imprisonment. People use cocaine in association with drinks
(alcohol) and therefore leave themselves open towards the act of law. The maximum penalty for an addict
who gets caught due to cocaine possession is 7 years imprisonment and a high fine. Further, the penalty
for trafficking the drug is life imprisonment (under the Misuse of Drugs Act).
EFFECTS OF COCAINE
Cocaine is identified as one of the most dangerous drugs known to human beings. Once a person initiates
the consumption of this drug, it is considered and proven practically impossible to get free from the habit
of its consumption. The drug stimulates the nerve receptors (that quickly changes the sensation ability in
the body) and in turn, creates a euphoria against which the user’s body easily develops a sense of
tolerance. Its frequent use and higher dose can also create similar effects. The sale of cocaine is creating a
multi-billion dollar business across the world. The user of this drug encompasses individuals of all ages,
economic levels, occupations and even includes school children.
COCAINE INTERVENTIONS
Treatment for cocaine addiction often requires the addict to be admitted in the drug abuse treatment
programs that include a majority of individuals who smoke crack cocaine and are likely to be the poly-
drug users. The staff involved in their treatment should know that this treatment would require changes in
their behaviour, mental attitude, psychological problems, etc.
PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH
There are several medications in use for controlling the cocaine use however the most promising drug till
date is disulfiram that has been used to treat alcoholism also. Its mode of action is yet under diagnosis
however the effects may be related to the ability of this drug to inhibit an enzyme that can convert
dopamine to nor-epinephrine (Marinho, et al., 2014).
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An emergency pharmaceutical approach for avoiding the dependence on cocaine is methylphenidate
treatment. This can help to avoid the dependence on cocaine in terms of its neurological effects. The drug
provides stimulating effects on the brain for a longer duration however the reactions are less powerful.
Researchers have also developed and conducted tests on a cocaine vaccine that helped to reduce the
relapse of cocaine drug use in an addict. This vaccine stimulates the immune system of the addict for
creating cocaine-specific antibodies that can bind to cocaine and prevent it from getting into the brain.
Additionally, it also shows that those who attained high levels of antibody can achieve significantly
reduced dependence upon cocaine use (Kosten, et al., 2014). However, the results found that only 38
percent of the vaccinated drug addicts attained adequate levels of antibody for a period of 2 months.
Continuous work is being performed to improve the efficacy of cocaine strength and its ability to bind
with the elicit antibodies.
BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTIONS
There are different behavioural interventions that have proved to be successful in reducing cocaine
dependence. These are the only available and effective therapies for the drug addicts.
One form of this approach would be Contingency Management which is also called as motivational
incentives, is effective in the community treatment programs. This approach utilizes the system of
rewarding the ones who are able to abstain themselves from the use of cocaine for a specific period of
time. The results of drug-free urine tests would be the methodology to distribute points in the exchange of
which they can be encouraged towards a healthy living (Festinger, et al., 2014).
Cognitive behavioural therapy is another approach that can help in preventing the relapse of cocaine use
by developing the critical skills that helps long-term drug abstinence, along with the recognition of the
situation where the use of cocaine is most likely and help in developing the strategies that can avoid these
situations and cope with them in an effective manner. The use of technology can further help to develop
the key lessons and skill-developing activities for supporting them with the coping/practicing skills.
Researchers have also found promising results out of telephone-based counseling which has been
recognized as a low-cost approach for delivering aftercare. The individuals who have is-utilized the drugs
were kept on telephone counseling services where the results after 6-7 counseling showed a reduction in
the consumption of stimulants as compared to the control group who did not participate in counseling
service.
An effective approach would be to combine education and counseling techniques with abstinence from
cocaine. Educating the cocaine users helps prevention of its relapse and makes the users aware about the
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cues by which cocaine hits mind. Unless they know the effects of full-blown cocaine addiction there
would not be any benefit of providing medical interventions. There should also be complete prevention
from the consumption of mood-altering substances (marijuana and alcohol). It is essential that patients
also understand the importance of cocaine abstinence so as to avoid relapse (Fischer, et al., 2015). The
healthcare provider should be able to identify the high-risk situations and develop coping strategies for
managing their stress and frustration levels. It is also essential to set a good example in front of the
growing children and teach them the hazards of cocaine/drug consumption so that the young population
can refrain themselves from its use. Also, in cases of drug relapse the user should be helped with adequate
support rather than making him feel guilty and at fault.
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERVENTIONS
Along with the discussed ones, there also exist other behavioural interventions that can be applied on the
basis of situation and suitability. The most effective are the behavioural therapies for controlling cocaine
use, however, it is believed that simultaneous integration of existing behavioural and medical therapy is
the effective approach for controlling cocaine abuse. Further, the result and effectiveness of drug therapy
does not only depend upon the type of intervention used but also depends on whether or not the patient
receives the service hat matches all their treatment needs (Bowen, et al., 2014). For example, a user who
smokes cocaine out of depression due to unemployment should also receive career counseling or
vocational rehabilitation service along with the drug treatment in order to get the maximum benefits.
Similarly, those having problems in their relationships should receive couple counseling so as to avail the
maximum benefit. Research also proves that those who want to stay away from this habit often commit
towards the abstinence and develop self-help behaviours that can keep them engaged in productive and
meaningful activities (Skolnick, 2015).
CONCLUSION
Cocaine, is a highly addictive Class-A drug that helps to increase the levels of energy and alertness. The
content is derived from the coca plant, native from South America. The common way of taking this drug
is by sniffing it in the form of a powder that gets absorbed within the blood from the nasal tissues. Other
means of its intake is through ingestion from the mouth or by rubbing it over the gums. Some users also
inject it directly into the bloodstream so as to get a rapid effect of the drug however this increases the risk
of its overdose and other complications (Stanis and Andersen, 2014). The above assignment discusses the
common characteristics, prevalence rate of cocaine consumption and the side-effects of cocaine (short-
term and long-term effects). Also, the critical analysis of the interventions that can help to prevent the use
of cocaine are also discussed.
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