Cocaine sends the reward pathway into overdrive, resulting in intense excitement as well as an inflated sense of self-confidence.
On the extreme end, a cocaine user might also experience psychotic delusions, and all that excess energy can cause heightened aggression.
Other side effects of cocaine use include raised blood pressure, raised body temperature, and photosensitivity due to pupil dilation.
The high doesn't go on for very long- on average, users start to come down after 15 minutes to half an hour. Even after the high has worn off, the drug isn’t immediately flushed out of your system.
Traces of cocaine can be picked up in blood and saliva samples for up to two days after use and in urine samples for up to four days after. Cocaine use can even be detected by testing hair samples.
Why Cocaine Is So Incredibly Dangerous
In this video, Justin from the Institute of Human Anatomy discusses the devastating toll cocaine consumption has on the body.
Video Timeline
00:00 - 00:34 Intro
00:35 - 01:14 Different Forms of Cocaine
01:15 - 03:30 The Nasal Cavity
03:31 - 06:32 The Destruction of the Nasal Cavity
06:33 - 07:17 The Blood-Brain Barrier
07:18 - 09:41 Cocaine & the Nervous System
09:42 - 10:34 Cocaine Addiction/Dependance
10:35 - 12:28 Overdose
12:29 - 13:26 Summary