Cocaine

The Names:

Charlie, crack, coke, sherbert, cheng, barley, clam chowder, freebase, gack, toot, vialli, speedball

The Facts:

Cocaine comes from the leaves of the coca plant. It is naturally a white powder, has no smell, dissolves in liquid and has powerful stimulant properties. The most common method of taking cocaine is to sniff a small amount (called a 'line') up the nose through a small tube, where is it then absorbed into the bloodstream. It can also be heated and the fumes inhaled. It can be injected in some forms.

"Freebase cocaine" is the name given to cocaine where chemicals have been used to draw out the 'pure' cocaine and get rid of impurities, increasing it's effects when smoked. "Crack cocaine" is a form of freebase cocaine. "Speedball" is an injectable and dangerous mixture of cocaine and heroin.

The Law:

Cocaine is a Class A drug in all it's forms, which means it is illegal to produce, supply, or possess cocaine. It is also illegal to allow premises to be used for supplying or producing cocaine.

The Effects:

Cocaine makes you feel well, happy and exhilarated. This generally lasts for 15-30 minutes followed by a 'coming down' period, where users may experience anxiety, paranoia, depression, and insomnia (inability to sleep). This encourages users to repeat the dose in order to maintain the effect for longer, which leads to psychological addiction.

The Risks:

Users may experience sneezing, nosebleeds, damage to the nose, tremors, muscle twitching, rapid pulse, nausea, anxiety, high blood pressure, cold sweats, and mood changes. Overdose is possible, and can be fatal.

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