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Cocaine-amphetamine Abuse
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Some of the common street names for cocaine include "big C," "blow," "nose candy," "coke," "flake," "snow," "lady," "rock," "ice," and "crack".
- "Cat," "crystal," "speed,"
"bennies," "ups," "jollies," "uppers," and "dexies" are some
of the street names for amphetamine.
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- When cocaine (in the hydrochloride form) is treated with Ammonia or baking soda it is called "crack". Medically, cocaine is used at low doses as a topical anesthetic in some procedures, while forms of amphetamine (e.g., Ritalin, now being abused as well) are use to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). These drugs can be inhaled,
snorted, injected, smoked, or swallowed.
- Cocaine and amphetamines are stimulant type drugs. In
general, they cause euphoric emotions. Medically, they
affect the part of the nervous system that "revs up" the
body similar to adrenaline. They are psychologically
addictive (intensely craved), but are not physically
addictive like narcotics, such as heroin (physical addiction
means, an individual becomes ill when he attempts to
discontinue a drug).
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- Sweating
- Heart racing
- Dilated eyes
- High Blood Pressure
- Hyperactivity
- Confusion
- Paranoid delusions
- Depression after
quitting or prolonged use.
- Malnutrition due to
suppression of appetite (especially with
amphetamines)
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- Urine test is best.
- Blood test not usually sensitive enough to find these
drugs
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- Bromocriptine may help craving
- Addiction treatment programs
- If addicted to these drugs, never
stop them suddenly without medical or psychiatric help.
- Do not take these drugs (at all) if you have a medical
condition or you are taking other drugs or
medications.
- Maintain airway
- Mechanical ventilation if
necessary
- Treat Coma, heart attacks, or Seizures as they
occur
- Diazepam or Midazolam for
agitation or psychosis
- If overdose by mouth, gastric
lavage (pump stomach) and charcoal-do not induce vomiting.
- Phentolamine, Nifedipine, or
Labetalol for elevated blood pressure (do not use pure
beta-blockers by themselves for elevated blood pressure
due to amphetamine abuse)
- Esmolol for rapid heart race/rapid heart arrythmias
(this is a pure beta-blocker so another agent must be used
to treat elevated blood pressure if this is
occurring)
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- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Seizures
- Aortic Dissection
- Psychosis
- Lung damage
- Hyperthermia (elevated body
temperature)
- Fetal abnormalities
- Placental abruption
- Premature births
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