What Does it Do to Your Brain?
Cocaine is a very potent drug that affects the CNS or the central nervous system. Prepared from the leaves of a bush called Erythroxylon coca which is a native of Peru and Bolivia, it can be self administered in a number of ways. It is most commonly ingested by snorting it into the nasal passage. It can also be smoked in the form of crack cocaine which shows a faster affect on the person smoking it. This is commonly known as snow flake, pow, snow, coke, nose candy, Bulgarian marching powder, blow or just C among cocaine addicts.
It is known to produce a wide spectrum of physiological and psychological effects in humans; the most noticeable of all, being stimulation of mood and emotions. People high on cocaine become highly active physically displaying tremors and tics, become more talkative and may have a feeling of alertness and strength. This euphoric feeling of high is usually succeeded by paranoia, restlessness, anxiety and depression the following day aka the ‘come down’.
The extent of damage caused to the brain depends upon the length of time for which the person had been taking cocaine.