What does cocaine do to you?
Cocaine blocks dopamine reuptake in the brain. The high is real. So is the damage.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), WHO
The Effects
Cocaine floods your brain within 2-3 minutes (snorting) or seconds (injecting). It blocks the breakdown of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. The result:
Short-term (15-30 minutes)
- •Euphoria, increased confidence
- •Heightened alertness, wakefulness
- •Increased talkativeness
- •Reduced hunger and need for sleep
- •Elevated blood pressure, heart rate
- •Dilated pupils
The Crash (after 30-60 min)
- •Severe exhaustion
- •Depression, anxiety
- •Strong cravings for more
- •Irritability, paranoia
The Risks
Cocaine is not a "safe" drug. Every line is a risk.
Acute Dangers
Heart attack, stroke
Even in young, healthy people. Cocaine severely constricts blood vessels.
Overdose
No "safe" threshold. Purity varies widely (20-90%).
Adulterants
Levamisole (deworming agent) in ~80% of samples in Europe. Causes skin necrosis, immune damage.
Long-term Consequences
Nasal/septum damage
Chronic snorting destroys tissue. Surgery required.
Cardiovascular damage
Increased risk of heart attack, myocarditis even years after use.
Psychological addiction
Cocaine has one of the highest addiction potentials of all drugs.
Cognitive impairment
Memory, attention, decision-making remain impaired.
The Reality
The 30-minute high is real. The damage to your body is real. The addiction is real. And the supply chain behind every gram is real.
Sources for this page
- →National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Cocaine Effects(Short-term and long-term effects)
- →WHO: Cocaine Dependence(Addiction potential, health risks)
- →EUDA: Cocaine Purity and Adulterants(Purity, adulterants (Levamisole))
- →American Heart Association: Cocaine and Cardiovascular Complications(Cardiovascular risks)
The other side
Cocaine doesn't just harm the user's body. It destroys rainforests, finances cartels, kills people. Every gram.
View the true costs