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Cocaine
Cocaine is usually sold as a powder. It can also be ‘washed up’ into crack cocaine, a smokable form of the drug.
The British pop artist Robbie Williams has described cocaine as God’s way of letting you know you’ve got too much money. If a cocaine habit gets a hold of you, you don’t have too much for too long.
So what’s this ‘ere charlie all abaht, then?
Like most drugs, cocaine comes from a plant. The coca plant. This plant grows in South America. Yes, until 1902 it was the real thing that went into that globally successful brand of soft drink. The coca content was replaced with caffeine (until the advent of caffeine-free cola). Like cocaine, caffeine is of course a stimulant drug.
If you wanted to get a buzz from the plant you’d need to chew a few leaves, and the mildly stimulant properties would give you a lift. Where it is grown and harvested, many people still do chew the leaves. The vast majority of cocaine is consumed in an entirely different way. Most people’s introduction to charlie involves a tightly rolled banknote, a line of finely chopped white powder and a nostril.
sniff!
and then just for good measure, the other nostril…
sniff!
…and then a rubbing of the wetted finger over the remaining crumbs, and over the gums.
a cold, chemical, numbing taste that hovers at the back of your throat, as the high unfolds and you are your very own number one fan. Funny, happy, laughing, menacing, delightful, tough, big, scary, outrageous, saucy, sexy, flirty, dirty, giggly, groovy, nasty, fast and sparkly, towering, masterful…well, whatever you want to be, really. Confident. With a very big capital C. Full of energy. Life and soul. You are the chosen one. For as long as it lasts, which is usually a maximum of thirty minutes…
What goes up..
…and before the coke’s wearing off, it’s time for some more. Someone using coke over the course of an evening can start to become compulsive about needing a little bit more, a little bit more, a quick line, a little toot…high doses can cause confusion, disorientation, and a belief that having another line will sort everything out. Even after relatively small doses cocaine use can produce feelings of anxiety, irritability, depression and paranoia. High doses increase the likelihood of these after-effects.
Some people say that they can use coke and feel fine the next day. No ‘hangover’ at all. They like the way they get high, it wears off, they’re back to normal. Not like other drugs that can leave you feeling all wired and twisted.
Everybody’s different. It’s just worth taking a moment to say that if you use cocaine and think the world’s meaningless and full of worthless bastards who occasionally seem like they’re ganging up on you, there may be a connection. Although it may mean that the world is indeed full of worthless bastards, and it might just be your turn to be picked on.
Aside from the psychological impact of the cocaine come-down, other common after effects are hunger and tiredness. As cocaine will reduce your appetite and reduce tiredness, two of the things you are probably unlikely to do if you’re using cocaine are eat properly and sleep.
And so, my dear Watson, pray tell…
What risks have we found here, Sir?
Regular cocaine use will lead to interrupted sleep patterns, anxiety and paranoia. It can cery quickly become a reinforcing cycle of behavior regularly using cocaine might find themselves feeling unwilling or unable to cope in a particular context unless they’ve had some charlie. It might be a work, home or social context, or another context, or several contexts…they might get stressed out and irritable when they’re not using. Occasional weekend ‘social’ use might become regular weekend use, if a party seems to go with less of a ‘bang’ if charlie’s not in the picture. Someone using every weekend can soon start to find that the weekdays become something to get through until the next weekend. And the weekend starts earlier. And lasts longer. Pretty soon you’re having a quick blast in the pub on a Wednesday, or before an important meeting that you want to be on top form for, or whatever other reason you’ve found to absolutely reasonably justify to yourself that this is not a problem, I’m in control here, and it’s just a little something to help me get through the day and it’s not like I inject or anything. It’s not like I get ill here. I mean, shit, it’s no different to smoking a cigarette really.
bang. gotcha.
And of course it’s not inevitable. It’s just really easy, if you can afford it. For some people, they know they’ve had enough when they’ve run out of money. If you’ve only got enough for half a gram then half a gram will have to do you. If you can afford a lot more than that – well, why not?
There is no physical dependence associated with cocaine. Someone using it regularly will not become ill if they stop using. People often experience a compulsion to take more, though, and can start to feel unable to have a ‘good’ time unless they are using cocaine.
Crack cocaine
‘Crack’ is also cocaine. It’s cocaine delivered in a highly potent and rapidly absorbed form. Some people chew coca leaves, some people sniff the powdered crystalline refined alkaloid cocaine hydrochloride and some people smoke the freebased alkaloid in the form of crack. Just like some people like to look at the full moon on a summer’s evening and others like to strap themselves to the top of an enormous hydrogen-fueled rocket that travels at four times the speed of sound to go have a closer look for themselves. And then burn-up on re-entry, parachute in from 20,000 ft and end up bobbing about in the midst of a vast ocean feeling a little lost and wondering when the last bus home is.
Crack is a smokable form of the same drug. It’s not just smoking cocaine – burning cocaine powder destroys the drug. Mixing cocaine with the right household chemicals to produce a smokable form, similar to (and much easier to produce than) freebased cocaine is the science of making crack. Rock. Wash. Stones. When crack is heated it produces a smoke containing cocaine which usually has a purity above 90%. When the smoke is inhaled it passes into the bloodstream through the lungs and quickly reaches the brain. Quickly as in within a heartbeat or two.
ignition…
…and within a few minutes the high is peaking, leveling, estimated time for re-entry is fifteen minutes…on my mark…10…9…8…
…splosh…
“I wonder when the last bus home is?”
This is of course the edited version of the experience. The splosh >>> bus transition is separated by as many blasts on the pipe as cash and time allows. The high is all of the high of cocaine, only more so. Immortal, untouchable. Omnipotent. And oh! for such a searingly short time. The compulsion to have more of that is massive. The come-down is like stepping off a bus. And then finding that the bus is floating several hundred feet above a dark, sinister, menacing place that is dark, and deep and bad. And it has your name on it. And there is absolutely no doubt about it, the world is absolutely definitely meaningless and full of worthless bastards who are ganging up on you just to press home the point about how pointless it all is and they can just fuck off. Bastards. I’ve just about had a fucking nuff of those sad little gits. I could go on…
The comedown from crack is far more distressing than the comedown from cocaine powder. Mood swings, irritability, anxiety and paranoia are common.
I’ve met regular crack users who have developed a smack habit after taking heroin on a regular basis to reduce the impact of the come down from the crack they’re using on a regular basis. It can all get very, very messy, very, very quickly. When you get into regular use it’s easy to blow hundreds on crack before you leave the house in the morning.
Unless you can’t afford it.
I guess that might be why some people are suggesting that there might be a link between crime and drug use. It kind of makes sense to me.
‘ello ‘ello ‘ello
In the UK, cocaine is controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as a Class A, Schedule 2 drug.
Other Class A drugs include heroin and LSD.
Im so glad you all have the same views!! I was begining to think I was the only person who thought these things!! My friends all love it!!I dont understand it!! To me a drug is something to share and experience with people I meen if i’ve got one pill and my m8 hasen’t ill split it!! or pass a spliff around etc but with coke people go off into the toilet and do it by themselves its just extremely anti social I think!!
Also I mentioned it to my friend (who is a regular user) and he said the fact that u’ve spent that much money on it makes it seem better!!! BOLLOKS!!!! I detest it!!!
😀
yeah, what really gets me about coke is because it costs bare ca$h not many people want to share it – and it does make ppl self-centred and arrogant.
it might be on the rise in the club scene, but so is violence (including shootings)! and sexual harrasment. I think there is a connection there…
yeah, what really gets me about coke is because it costs bare ca$h not many people want to share it.
it might be on the rise in the club scene, but so is violence (including shootings)! and sexual harrasment. I think there is a connection there…
I completely agree I definately think that its conected!! and i’ve also heard that crack (coke in another form) gives muggers,robbers ect the motivation they need to cause such violece!! without it they woulden’t have the bottle!! are these subtances really any different???
well a lot of muggers are cowardly but violent scum who would do this sort of crime anyway, drugs or not (people got mugged long before crack hit the city!) – they are people missing something in their lives so they have to make other peoples lives shit as well by intimidating them…but crack use (or the desire for more) certainly makes them worse.
I’m from south london originally and crack has really fucked up all the areas where I used to go – you have to always look over your shoulder because if you’ve got something like a watch or wearing any sort of bling (even if its cheap shit) some hater wants to tax you for it – they will even kill you in broad daylight with people watching ; not even caring that someone will eventually squeal and they will do HMP for time (whilst the old bill can be crap they do tend to solve murder cases due to forensics)
its as if the crack has burned out peoples emotions there and they no longer give a flying fuck. I wanted to move back to london a while back but I don’t want to risk it now as I value my life, and being able to go where I want without too much paranoia..
OK I will admit I like the odd sniff but every time I consider doing coke I also think about stuff like how those scum put the coke in dogs to try and get it through (and no vet would have opened them up at the other end so they would have killed both the dogs to get the coke back) 😡 I don’t want to put money in the pockets of people like this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3618752.stm
not often I say fair play to the authorities but in this case they should have got more prison time as well..
Yes it is a great shame to think that people will stoop to these levels just to smuggle a bit of coke across the border, its a crying shame when you remember THERE ARE evil people like this in the world!! But I do seem to remember a thread on this very site no to long ago!! stating a new way of hiding drugs????
yeah I to like the odd sniff but only if somelse offers me a line (which is very rare)I aint gonna say no!!! frees free!! lol! 😀
Yeah cocaine addiction causes violence. Its the same old arguement can’t be bothered to argue. Just enjoy sippin my legal whiskey and coke.
Fuck the powers that be.
Originally posted by breakzhead
Yeah cocaine addiction causes violence.
It wasn’t cociane addiction that caused violence in Bolivia.
Peaceful protests, made up of indigineous people (who make up over 50% of the population) included roadblocks and demonstrations in the capital, were aimed at three things:
1) Regaining control of the nation’s natural gas resources (which American companies were robbing): this links into the second aim.
2) Alleviating poverty: Bolivia is rich in resources but the indigineous population are some of the poorest people in the world.
3) Stopping the government destroying coca crops, which are an integral part of the lives of many indigineous tribes in Latin America.
The violence was caused by the police and military who were acting on the orders of a corrupt government that sells off the nations resources and keeps the majority of the population in abject poverty.
I was there until just before the president was forced out of office and the country’s first indigineous president appointed.
It was pretty scary seeing large numbers of 18 year old guys in army uniforms far too big for them, holding machine guns and grenade launchers and looking terrified as hundreds of Quechuen pensioners marched through the streets. The tension was palpable, but this was due to fear from the armed police and military, not because of a lot of coked up peasants causing trouble.
Anyway, the comparison I was trying to draw was this:
Many people see partying as a right and an integral part of their life. Many Bolivians would say the same about a sacred plant that has been part of their culture and heritage for centuries.
Governments may be able to oppress these things for a certain amount of time, but eventually there will be a backlash. In the case of Bolivia it lead to a change of government.:)
people power! and viva la Revolucion!
this photo is of a woman demonstrating for compensation for the relatives of those killed by the police during peaceful protest
Gimme some of that good leaf, pacamama!
i remember last summer i was getting coke for some guy that i new and all it lead to was trouble at first it was only a g a day the it esculated to about 5 a day and because i was getting it for nothing and taking it everyday i thought i couldnt get a habit but i did have a habit without even realiseing it. i became moody and irritable when i ran out till i got more in the end my family had to give me a ultimatum. my mum said if i didnt stop she was going to disown me so i had no choice but to stop it there and then. which is wot i did and iv now not touched it for a yr. i cant say i wont take it again because i know i will at some point but it will only be special occasions like birthday etc.
Hmm, well I have to say i love coke. I agree, its completely overhyped and insanely overpriced, and i did have a problem with it for about 6 months 5 years ago. Didnt turn me into a git, lead me to crime or lose me any friends, but wasn’t a good episode in my life nonetheless. I didn’t touch it for a few years, but now i quite enjoy getting a g on the occasional weekend…
I have been using cocaine on snd off for about 20 years. I hada chance to catch up with some old high school friends from the 80’s. I was pissing about the quality of the product being put out these days. I was then told by a trusted chemistry professor that of course people still sell bad shit. However, after doing some pretty extensive lab work – people aregetting about the same product as when we were kids. Thebig change has actually taken place in our brain chemistry. Basically he was saying our receptors and re-uptakes weren’t enjoying the substances we weretaking as much. I know that ithas caused long term depression for me and I have a hard time experiencing pleasure. If I could change things I probably would have done just a lot less. I’ll get off my soapbox now
Sorry, but I have to provide the alternative viewpoint here. I love coke and have enjoyed it recreationally for years. It is too expensive, but you can get it fairly cheap if you look in the right places. I love all the things that coke does to you and the fact that it’s actually a strong drug whose effects are subtle.
Drugs generally enhance peoples own characteristics – if you’re an arrogant person, coke will make you more arrogant. But I know a lot of gentle people who enjoy coke recreationally.
Anyway, just wanted to put the other side accross. It is too expensive though and that means people can be selfish with it.
I knew someone was loving it 😉
I loved boshing loads of it when I was in Bolivia, but i can’t be farked in europe
peace
I dont get much of a buzz from charley but I still like it…Only bought it once,i find things are alot nicer if they’re free!
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Forums › Drugs › Cocaine & Crack › What is Cocaine?