How the Substance Is Consumed

Cocaine
Name
Institution
How the Substance Is Consumed
Cocaine known by its scientific name as benzoylmethylecgonine is a strong addictive stimulant that a quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and directly affects the brain. Cocaine is extracted from the Erythroxylon coca bush leafs and was used as stimulants/elixirs to treat a multiple illnesses during the 1900’s." (NIDA, 2008). Cocaine is used in powder form or as a freebase. The powdered form of cocaine is referred as hydrochloride salt snorted through the nose and known with its common street name as "coke." The powdered form can also be mixed with water and injected in to the veins. On the other hand, the freebase form is smoked. Injecting or smoking cocaine produces a quicker, stronger but short lived high than snorting
(NIDA, 2008).
The Pharmacology of Cocaine
There are two forms of illegal cocaine namely base (alkaloid, (coca leaves)) and salt. Both forms are constituted of the same level of cocaine molecule and exert similar pharmacological effects in the brain of a person. There physical properties differs and therefore the mode of administration differs. Cocaine base or "crack" has relatively low melting point of about 98ºC and vaporizes before significant pyrolytic destruction happens. Cocaine base can therefore be smoked. It is difficult to dissolve (relatively insoluble in water) and therefore not good for injection (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2008).
Cocaine salt, on the other hand is not ideal for smoking because it melting point is quite high at 195ºC and its cocaine molecule exerts has a substantial breakdown before vaporization. It is effectively injected or snorted (insufflated) through the nose (Julien, et al. 2011). It is highly water soluble and is effective for injection because it easily dissolves across the mucus membranes. Cocaine is readily absorbed in the body through the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose and mouth, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracts. Cocaine is rapidly distributed into organs such as the heart, adrenal glands, kidney and liver. Cocaine (and its hydrolytic metabolites) appears in body fluids and tissues including the blood, urine, hair, sweat, saliva, and breast milk.
Cocaine’s onset of action depends on factors such as the route of administration. The intravenous and inhaled or smoked administration results in faster onset of action of seconds while intranasal and gastrointestinal administration has a slower onset of 20 to 30 minutes. The effects of intravenous or inhaled cocaine last 15 to 30 minutes while for i...