Quick info
Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the South American coca bush and is a stimulant, meaning it is a substance that increases alertness. It is usually sold as a white powder and snorted; less commonly, it is injected or swallowed. In the brain, cocaine causes the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin to have a stronger and longer-lasting effect, making the user feel alert, euphoric, and confident. The effects are short-lived, which intensifies the craving for another dose. Crack is cocaine that has been converted into a smokable form. It looks like small white to yellowish rocks and contains the same active ingredient as the powder. When smoked, cocaine takes effect within seconds, with a significantly more intense and even shorter-lasting high than when snorted.
Suppression of fatigue, hunger and thirst, euphoria, feeling of increased performance, greatly increased self-confidence, talkativeness, sexual stimulation, elimination of inhibitions and fears, increased willingness to take risks, occasionally: increase in aggressiveness, decrease in the ability to criticize and judge as well as the ability to concentrate, decrease in the feeling of pain, numbness and has a local anesthetic effect. Cocaine causes a strong increase in heart rate, increase in blood pressure and acceleration of respiration as well as increase in body temperature and often pupil dilation.
The individual effect of cocaine depends on many factors. In addition to the dose, the individual response to the substance as well as experience in dealing with cocaine also influences the intoxication experienced.
Coming down: Exhaustion, fatigue, listlessness, depressive moods, irritability, anxiety, emotional instability, suicidal thoughts, and a strong urge to use again ("craving").
Cocaine intoxication usually passes through several stages. Initially, there is increased alertness, increased drive, urge to move/hyperactivity, restlessness. In the further course, fearful, negative misperceptions of the environment with delusions and paranoid-hallucinatory states with paranoia and altered self-perception may occur.
Co-consumption can have a significant negative influence on both the effect and the toxicity. In the case of mixed consumption, a toxic effect can already be achieved with lower doses of cocaine. Even low doses can have a potentially life-threatening effect in the presence of pre-existing cardiovascular diseases.
Coca leaves
Coca leavesare known as "mate de coca" or dried leaves. These dried leaves contain approx. 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 an alkaline substance (e.g. lime or plant ash). This combination activates hydrolysis, which produces the alkaloid ecgonine. Ecgonine can be absorbed by the body and has a slightly stimulating effect. In contrast to cocaine, ecgonine has no addictive potential. If coca leaves are chewed without an alkaline additive, they only have an anaesthetic effect on the tongue. In South America, coca leaves are mainly used 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.
Effect onset
Snorted: 3–5 minutes; smoked (crack) or injected: within a few seconds to a few minutes; swallowed: 15–30 minutes
Duration of action
Snorted: 60–90 minutes; smoked (crack) or injected: 2–20 minutes; taken orally: 2–4 hours
Aftereffects
1-4 hours (depending on consumption time and amount)
Already appearing shortly after consumption and can last up to several hours after consumption. In the case of multiple consumption and high doses, possibly even longer.
Mild:
Light: 10–30 mg
Medium: 30–60 mg
Strong: 60–90 mg
Very strong: +90 mg
Smoked (Crack, Freebase):
Mild: 5–15 mg
Medium: 15–30 mg
Strong: 30–45 mg
Very strong: +45 mg
Intravenous (slamming):
Mild: 2–5 mg
Moderate: 5–10 mg
Strong: 10–15 mg
Very strong: +15 mg
Swallowed:
Mild: 13–75 mg
Moderate: 75–150 mg
Strong: 150–225 mg
Very strong: +225 mg
Crack / Freebase
When smoked as crack or freebase, cocaine takes effect at about half the dose required when snorted. The effects set in within seconds and wear off after 5 to 15 minutes, which is why the urge to take another hit is particularly strong and the total amount consumed adds up quickly. Break your crack rock into small pieces before using it, start with a small piece, and take breaks before taking another hit.
Regular users often need more over time, which further increases the strain on the heart and circulatory system. Start with a low dose and work your way up slowly.
Sleep disorders, irritability, aggressiveness, anxiety and delusions, depression, memory/concentration disorders, hyperactivity; nervous twitching and stereotyped movements, muscle cramps and tremors, nerve damage, constriction of blood vessels, increase in heart rate, increased blood pressure. Hypertensive crises, in extreme cases cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack or stroke. Liver damage due to the breakdown of toxins. Some extenders are additionally harmful to health (see card "Sold as ..."). When smoking freebase and crack, damage to the oral cavity, lungs and respiratory tract is possible; when snorting, tissue destruction/destruction on the mucous membranes can occur. The simultaneous use of cocaine and alcohol increases the side effects and harmfulness; especially the heart is additionally stressed.
Long-term risks
With chronic use: addiction with predominantly psychological symptoms, “craving” (an uncontrollable urge to use)—cocaine is one of the substances with the highest potential for addiction and is more addictive than most other substances—internal restlessness, anxiety disorders, personality changes, depressive states with suicidal tendencies, cocaine psychosis with paranoid delusions (persecution delusions) and hallucinations, altered thought processes, permanent impairments of short-term memory; nervous tics, seizures, persistent high blood pressure, changes in motor function, chronic inflammation and damage to the nasal mucosa and nasal septum that are difficult to heal, damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood vessels (e.g., inflammation of the blood vessels leading to occlusion and necrosis of the surrounding tissue, particularly due to levamisole), and teeth; changes in blood count resulting in a weakened immune system (due to levamisole). With intravenous administration: abscesses, itching, and tingling.[1]With chronic use: psychological dependence. “Craving” (an irresistible and uncontrollable desire to use the drug) can be rapidly triggered by so-called trigger effects (situations, memories, people, etc., associated with drug use). Other long-term risks include anxiety disorders, personality changes such as a reduction in empathy, emotional coldness, excessive distrust, depression, mental disorders involving paranoid delusions and hallucinations, changes in thought processes, and permanent impairments of short-term memory and intellectual abilities. Nerve damage, nervous twitching, seizures, changes in motor function, and damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood vessels, and teeth. General weakening of the immune system, in extreme cases leading to necrosis (death of skin cells), liver damage caused by the breakdown of toxins, and the risk of kidney damage from cutting agents.
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.
Do you want to control your cocaine use? Try the digital self-help program "SNOWcontrol" for cocaine users. You can find more information here.
Do you want to control your cocaine use? Try the digital self-help program "SNOWcontrol" for cocaine users. You can find more information here.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Lower risk
Learn about the substances, their effects, how quickly they take effect, and the proper dosage. Get to know each substance on its own first, and see how they affect you and whether they suit you before mixing them. Allow enough time between doses, mix as few substances as possible, and start with low doses.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
Risk
This combination already poses a significant risk. The effects can reinforce each other or change in unpredictable ways. Therefore, use these substances with caution, test new or unfamiliar substances individually first, and keep the doses as low as possible. Allow sufficient time between doses and avoid taking additional doses on a whim. Be aware of the varying durations of action for each substance.
The simultaneous use of cocaine and alcohol produces the toxic substance cocaethylene, which increases the harmful side effects and puts additional strain on the heart in particular. Injecting cocaine is particularly dangerous if the substance is diluted with local anesthetics, as this mixture can lead to paralysis of the central nervous system and to a delay or blockage of the cardiac conduction system.
Do not use cocaine if you have used MDMA ; the MDMA effect will be canceled out.
Do not mix cocaine with alcohol - the mixture makes you aggressive and you risk alcohol poisoning.
The following extenders occur in connection with cocaine.
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.
