COCAINE Q. WHAT IS COCAINE? A. Cocaine is an extract of the leaves of the coca plant native to Central and S. America. It is odorless, color- less to white in a crystalline or powdery consistency. It acts as a stimulant drug with a primary central nervous system action. It effects the brain and body as speed or amphetamine, though it is not chemically related. --- Q. WHY DO PEOPLE THINK COCAINE IS SAFE? A. Cocaine does not create a physical dependence and withdrawal as heroin. Regular cocaine use does not cause severe withdrawal symptoms in all people. Rather, a dependence for the brain stimulation is created. It can become a self-perpetuated and self-consuming drive for the "high". The high is short-lived and may give way to bad mood, paranoid psychosis and sensory hallucinations. At high doses, cocaine may cause death. --- Q. DO WE HAVE A COCAINE PROBLEM? A. Yes! It is estimated that nearly 22 million people have used cocaine, over 1 million are profoundly dependent, and there are more than 5 million regular users. --- Q. WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH COCAINE? A. A steady physical deterioration and general health failure are common. Loss of energy, insomnia, sore throat and nose bleeds, headaches, sinus problems and runny nose. Lost sex drive or poor or decreased sexual performance. Trembling, seizures or convulsions. Nausea or vomiting. Constant licking of lips or grinding of teeth. Constant sniffling or rubbing the nose. Loss of consciousness, trouble breathing or swallowing, heart palpitations and lack of interest in personal health and hygiene. From a psychiatric perspective, anxiety and irritability, depression, panic, delusions and paranoia, lack of concen- tration, hearing voices, loss of interest in friends and non-drug related activites, memory problems, thoughts of suicide, blackouts and compulsive behavior are key indicators of cocaine dependence. --- Q. WHAT OTHER INDICATIONS ARE THERE TO DEPENDENCE? A. Ask yourself: do you need cocaine? Do you think you are addicted? Are you unable to refuse it when it is available? Can you stop for one month? Do you use cocaine for perhaps 24 hrs. continuously? Do you miss work? Do you prefer cocaine to talking with friends? To family activites? To sex? To food? Do you use it alone? Do you use cocaine before breakfast? Do you fear being discovered as a user? Do you sell cocaine, or support your buying through some illicit activity? --- Q. CAN YOU DIE FROM COCAINE? A. Yes, many ways. About 1,000 milligrams is said to be lethal. Personal tolerances and how the cocaine was taken play an important role in determining a lethal dose. Death is fairly rapid in most cases, usually through convulsions and heart and lung failure, and can occur in snorters, injectors and free-base smokers. Death can also come as a result of heart attack, stroke or arrhythmia. Suffocation and drowning in one's own secretions can occure as well. --- 1-800-COCAINE A national treatment referral and information service. Fair Oaks Hospital 19 Prospect Street Summit, N.J. 07901 BRYAN POLICE DEPT. --CRIMEBYTE BBS (409) 779-2936 (Bryan, Texas) X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm) & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845 Rat Head Ratsnatcher 510-524-3649 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 415-567-7043 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102 Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives, arcane knowledge, political extremism, diversive sexuality, insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS. Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are, where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother. "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X