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Cocaine

(All American Drug, Angie, Aunt Nora, Barbs, Basuco, Bazulco, Bernice, Bernie, Bernies Flakes, Bernies Gold Dust, Big Bloke, Big C, Big Flake, Big Rush, Billie Hoke, Bouncing Powder, Burnese, C, Cabello, Caine, California Cornflakes, Came, Candy C, Carnie, Carrie, Carrie Nation, C-Dust, Cecil, C-Game, Charlie, Chippy, Choe, Cholly, Coca (paste), Coconut, Coke, Cola, Corine, Corrine, Dama Blanca, Dust, Flake, Gold Dust, Lady, Snow, Toot, White)

Cocaine is a Class A drug made from the leaves of the coca shrub, which grows in the mountainous regions of South America.

What does it look like?

White powder

How is it taken?

Normally inhaled or 'snorted' through a straw into the nose. It can be made into a solution and injected.

What effects does it have?

When taken:

May make you feel more alert and energetic. May make you talkative and dilate your pupils. May cause paranoia, nausea, insomnia, nervousness and become overexcited. You may not want to eat or sleep. Fast acting but effects wear off quickly.

Afterwards:

Withdrawal effects include fatigue and depression. Users may take more cocaine to get over withdrawal effects.

Longer term:

Users become dependent on cocaine and take more to get over after-effects of the previous dose. Repeated snorting damages the lining of the nose. Long term injecting may result in abscesses and infection. Sharing needles and syringes increases risk of hepatitis and HIV. May cause complications for pregnant women including miscarriage or low birth weight.