Quick info
Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the South American coca bush and belongs to the group of stimulants.
The increased release and additional reuptake inhibition of the endogenous neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine lead to suppression of fatigue, hunger and thirst, euphoria, feelings of increased performance, greatly increased self-confidence, urge to move, restlessness, talkativeness, elimination of inhibitions and fears, suppressed sense of pain, and increased willingness to take risks.
Coca leaves:
Coca leaves are known as "Mate de Coca" or dried leaves. These dried leaves contain about 0.5 to 2.5 % alkaloids, of which up to three quarters consist of cocaine. The leaves are chewed or drunk as tea. However, a psychoactive effect only occurs when they are taken in combination with a basic substance (e.g. lime or plant ash). This combination activates a hydrolysis, resulting in the alkaloid ecgonine. Ecgonine can be absorbed by the body and a slightly stimulating effect sets in. In contrast to cocaine, ecgonine has no dependence potential. If coca leaves are chewed without alkaline additives, they only have a numbing effect on the tongue. Coca leaves are used in South America mainly for medicinal purposes, e.g. to combat nausea or altitude sickness. The import and consumption of coca leaves and "Mate de Coca" is prohibited in Switzerland.
Low dose: 10 - 30 mg
Average dose: 30 - 60 mg
High dose: 60 - 90 mg
Very high dose: from 90 mg
Onset of action
Snuffed: after 2 - 3 minutes
Smoked and sprayed: after a few seconds
Duration of action
Snuffed: 30 - 90 minutes
Smoked and injected: 5 - 20 minutes
Sleep disturbances, irritability, aggressiveness, exaggerated egocentrism up to "megalomania", decrease in critical and judgemental ability, anxiety and delusions, depression, memory/concentration disorders, shortness of breath, hyperactivity, nervous twitching, muscle cramps and tremors, high stress on the cardiovascular system due to constriction of the blood vessels, increase in heart rate, increased blood pressure and hypertensive crises. In extreme cases, overdose can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
When the effect wears off: exhaustion, depressive moods, irritability, feelings of anxiety and a strong urge to take the drug again ("craving").
Long-term risks
In case of chronic use: psychological dependence. "Craving" (irresistible and uncontrollable desire to consume) can be rapidly triggered by so-called trigger effects (situations, memories, people, and the like, which are associated with consumption). Other long-term risks are anxiety disorders, personality changes such as reduction of empathy, emotional coldness, exaggerated mistrust, depression, mental disorders with paranoid delusions and hallucinations, alteration of thought processes, permanent disturbances of short-term memory and intellectual abilities. Nerve damage, nervous twitching, seizures, alterations in movement patterns, damage to: Heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood vessels and teeth. General weakening of the immune system, in extreme cases with necrosis (death of skin cells), liver damage due to the breakdown of toxins and the risk of kidney damage due to extender.
Chronic inflammation and damage to the nasal mucous membranes and nasal septum, which is difficult to heal. When smoking freebase and crack, damage to the lungs and respiratory tract is possible due to the deposition of combustion residues (ash residues). When injecting or smoking (freebase), the phenomenon of "dermatozoan madness" (the idea that there are worms or insects under the skin, perception of a tingling sensation under the skin) is known. Colloquially also called "cocaine worms/bugs"). This delusion leads to excessive scratching of the arms and/or legs, up to open injuries, which can lead to abscesses if hygiene is poor.
Attention, very high risk of psychological dependence! Take breaks from using, especially if it is difficult for you.
Keep the dosage low and avoid frequent refilling!
Drink enough soft drinks and take breaks in the fresh air.
Eat healthy before and after consumption and do not consume on an empty stomach.
Follow the safer sniffing and safer sex rules.
Snorting is the lowest-risk form of use. Smoking crack and freebase as well as injecting increase the risks (no syringe exchange!).
People with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, asthma, liver disease, hyperthyroidism and pregnant women should not use cocaine.
Do not combine cocaine with other stimulants or drugs that increase blood pressure.
When cocaine and alcohol are consumed at the same time, the toxic substance cocaethylene is formed; it intensifies the harmful side effects, and the heart in particular is put under additional strain. Injecting cocaine is particularly dangerous when the substance is laced with local anaesthetics, as this mixture can lead to paralysis of the central nervous system and delay or blockage of the cardiac excitation conduction system.
Do not use cocaine if you have used MDMA; it will cancel out the MDMA effects.
Do not mix cocaine with alcohol - the mixture makes you aggressive and you risk alcohol poisoning.
Increased risk behaviour due to disinhibition and overestimation of self. Increases blood flow and thus, in women, arousal (in men, on the other hand, cocaine can cause erectile dysfunction).
The following extenders occur in connection with cocaine.
LSD analogues are substances that are chemically very similar to LSD and can have comparable effects. Some of them have been known for a long time (e.g. ALD52, ETH-LAD, AL-LAD, PRO-LAD etc.) and have been studied pharmacologically as well as psychopharmacologically, at least in part. Others are newer "creations" (e.g. the derivatives 1P-LSD,1B-LSD, 1cP-LSD, 1V-LSDetc.), for which only few or no data are available. Certain LSD analogues can (still) be legally produced, traded and consumed in some countries, which is the main reason for their distribution.
Most LSD analogues are naturally different from LSD in their effect and/or potency (e.g. ETH-LAD, AL-LAD, LSZ etc.). In contrast, the so-called 1-acylated LSD compounds (e.g. 1P-LSD, 1V-LSD, 1B-LSD, ALD-52, etc.) are presumed, on the basis of pharmacological studies, to convert into LSD in the body (they function as so-called prodrugs) and thus have a comparable psychoactive effect to LSD.
In the case of prodrugs of LSD and LSD analogues, it has not been conclusively clarified whether, in addition to their psychoactive effect, they can produce other pharmacological effects. How potent these prodrugs are compared to the resulting substance (e.g., 1P-LSD to LSD), and to what extent a delay in onset of action occurs in each case, may be substance-dependent and cannot be generalized. Therefore, it is important to approach the dose/effect carefully to avoid overdoses.
If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or alcohol, call an ambulance on 144. Tell the emergency responders everything you know.
It could save lives.