The Trap of Banned Drugs: Toxicological Mechanisms and Harms of Cocaine and Marijuana

Alcohol abusers often abuse other drugs. Drug abuse refers to the non-medical use of any drug. The most commonly abused drugs include narcotics, sedatives, hallucinogens, marijuana, and stimulants (amphetamine, cocaine). One of the most widely abused drugs is cocaine. Cocaine is known as the most addictive and dangerous banned substance. In 1884, Simon Freud's excessive praise of cocaine's euphoric effects nearly destroyed his scientific reputation. In the 1970s, cocaine was known as "drug champagne," a luxury only the wealthy could afford. When prices fell, the number of Americans using cocaine increased to 20 million. The most typical users are employed, middle-class, educated white men. Modern methods of cocaine use include snorting, injection, and "freedom of choice." The latter refers to a purified form that has been chemically altered for inhalation. A growing form is smoking it with a glass water pipe, known as "cracking," which may be more addictive and dangerous than cocaine powder. It can cause death in addicts from heart or respiratory failure, stroke, and paranoid psychosis. Besides addiction, cocaine can cause sleep problems, chronic fatigue, severe headaches, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Evidence suggests that cocaine can worsen heart disease, and heavy use can lead to acute hypertension, cardiac arrest, permanent brain damage, and fatal seizures. Psychologically, cocaine can cause depression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, loss of sexual interest, paranoia, hallucinations, and panic attacks. Drug-induced psychosis is caused by long-term drug use. Because cocaine does not cause physical withdrawal symptoms like alcohol, people mistakenly believe it is non-addictive. In reality, cocaine use can lead to uncontrolled dosage. Any cocaine user who cannot quit will become addicted and require treatment. There is no single treatment that works for everyone. Many programs emphasize relapse prevention and lifestyle changes. Cocaine users must recognize the dangers and develop a strong motivation to quit permanently. Individual, group, and family counseling can help them understand the role cocaine plays in their lives. The most important reason for relapse is the user's belief-that they have relapsed into cocaine use. Many Americans view marijuana use as a harmless form of indulgence. However, the concentration of psychoactive components in marijuana has now significantly increased. The potential dangers of marijuana have only been recognized in recent years. Marijuana can induce tolerance, and its active ingredients remain in the body longer than alcohol. Marijuana is a major precursor to cocaine and other illicit drugs. Daily marijuana use can cause lung damage, similar to that caused by excessive smoking. It can cause lung cancer in animals. Marijuana use can alter reproductive function in both men and women. In men, sperm count decreases with increasing marijuana use. Furthermore, some long-term users experience low testosterone levels. High doses of marijuana can also suppress the immune system. Marijuana is particularly dangerous for people with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, epilepsy, or psychosis. Reactions to marijuana are often unpredictable. Typical effects of marijuana include enhanced vision and hearing, and decreased self-control. However, marijuana addiction can also cause distorted sense of time, interrupted speech, unconnected thoughts, and loss of personal motivation. Some people may also experience delirium, panic, hallucinations, and aggression.