The effects
of cocaine occur immediately after administration
with an intense high lasting minutes and prolonged craving
lasting hours. The duration of the drug's effects depend
upon how cocaine is administered. Snorting cocaine (nasal
insufflation) produces a slower onset of effects that
can gradually increase in effect for up to 15 minutes,
while the effects
of smoking crack cocaine are immediate with euphoria
lasting 3 - 5 minutes.
Cocaine is a
powerfully addictive drug. The first sign of cocaine
addiction is drug tolerance. Drug tolerance is developed
due to a biological phenomenon known as homeostasis.
Homeostasis occurs naturally as the body continuously
adjusts itself to remain in balance so that life can
be sustained.
Users of cocaine
often feel euphoric, energetic and mentally alert after
taking small amounts of cocaine. Cocaine use lessens
a user's desire for food (anorexia) and sleep. Short-term
physiological effects include constricted blood vessels,
dilated pupils, increased body temperature, increased
heart rate and increased blood pressure. Ingesting large
amounts of cocaine can intensify the user's high but
can lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior.
Users who ingest copious amounts of cocaine may experience
tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. However,
the "cocaine high" associated with ongoing
use becomes less and less pleasant and can produce fear
and extreme suspicion rather than euphoria. Even though
the pleasurable effects from cocaine use will diminish
over time, the cravings for the drug remain fairly constant.
The most common reason that a cocaine run ends is lack
of money.
