Substances / Cocaine

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.

‍

Duration

‍Effect onset

Snorted after 3-5 minutes, smoked or injected after a few seconds to a few minutes, orally after 15-30 minutes

Duration of action

Snorted 60-90 minutes, smoked or injected 2-20 minutes, oral 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.

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.

The lethal dose is about 1-1.2 g, although particularly sensitive individuals (cocaine idiosyncrasy) can die at doses as low as 30 mg[2].

‍

Long-term risks

‍
In chronic use: Dependence with predominantly psychological symptoms, "craving" (uncontrollable desire to consume) - cocaine is one of the substances with the highest dependence potential and is more quickly addictive than most other substances - internal drive, anxiety disorders, personality changes, depressive states with suicidality, cocaine psychosis with paranoid delusions (persecutory experience) and hallucinations, alteration of thought processes, permanent disturbances of short-term memory; nervous twitching, seizures, persistent high blood pressure, alterations in movement patterns, chronic inflammation and damage to the nasal mucosa and nasal septum that is difficult to heal, damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, blood vessels (e. g. e.g. inflammation of blood vessels up to occlusion with death of surrounding tissue, especially by levamisole) and teeth, blood count changes with consequent weakening of the immune system (by levamisole). With intravenous application abscesses, itching and tingling.^[1]With chronic consumption: 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.

‍

Do you want to control your cocaine use? Try the digital self-help program "SNOWcontrol" for cocaine users. You can find more information here.

Effect

Coming down: Exhaustion, fatigue, listlessness, depressive moods, irritability, anxiety, emotional instability, suicidal thoughts, and a strong urge to use again ("craving").

‍‍

‍

Duration

‍Effect onset

Snorted after 3-5 minutes, smoked or injected after a few seconds to a few minutes, orally after 15-30 minutes

Duration of action

Snorted 60-90 minutes, smoked or injected 2-20 minutes, oral 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.

Dosage

The dose to achieve a desired effect depends directly on the degree of purity available on the street. The degree of purity is more than 70% for cocaine hydrochloride (powder) and often more than 60% for crack. The dosage data below can therefore only provide a rough guide.

Single dose of pure cocaine, snorted: 50-100 mg, in long-term users up to 300 mg; smoked: 50-350 mg; injected: 70-150 mg. (Dose based on pure cocaine.)

Limit dose: 5 mg

light: 10 - 30 mg

medium: 30 - 60 mg

strong: 60 - 90 mg

very strong: 90 mg +

Risks

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.

Safer Use

Attention, great danger of dependence! Take breaks from consumption, even (especially!) if it is difficult for you.
Ritualize your use. Use cocaine only on special occasions.
Keep the dosage low and avoid frequent refilling!
Eat and drink well and healthy before and after consumption and do not consume on an empty stomach.
Snorting is the lowest-risk form of use. Injecting as well as smoking crack or freebase potentiates the risks.
Individuals with pre-existing conditions of the cardiovascular system, asthma, liver and thyroid disorders should not use cocaine.
Epileptics should avoid cocaine (risk of convulsions increased).
People with attention/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should avoid cocaine because they are at increased risk of dependence and the substance is more likely to impair their intellectual performance in the long term.
Don't combine cocaine with blood pressure-raising medications.
Do not use cocaine if you have used MDMA; it cancels out the empathogenic portion of the ecstasy effect, increases the risk of cardiovascular side effects, and increases the nerve-damaging effects of MDMA.
Do not use cocaine if you have used other stimulants (e.g., amphetamine).
Don't mix cocaine with alcohol; the mixture makes you aggressive, potentially damages your heart and brain, and alcohol poisoning happens faster!
Use of downers (e.g., benzodiazepines) can lead to further substance dependence.

‍

Do you want to control your cocaine use? Try the digital self-help program "SNOWcontrol" for cocaine users. You can find more information here.

Mixed use

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.

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.

Effect

Duration

Dosage

Risks

Effect

Dosage

Risks

Safer Use

Mixed use

Substances

Sex

Extender

LSD analogues

Synthesis impurities

Medicines

Contents

Effect

Duration

Dosage

Risks

Safer Use

Mixed use

Extender

Emergency

Things to know

Current warnings

Advisory service

Downloads