Cocaine

Photo courtesy of DEA photo library

Definition
Cocaine is a potent, naturally occurring stimulant found in the leaves of a South American shrub Erythroxylon coca. The concentration of the drug can be in amounts of 2 percent by weight. It appears as a white crystalline powder. Cocaine has been in use since 1855 for medicinal purposes as a topical anesthetic. Its medical use has been severely limited in modern times because of its increasing use by drug abusers.

Slang Terms
Blow, Coke, Crack, Rock

Usage
Cocaine is most commonly ingested by snorting it through the nose. It is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and produces its effects quickly. Crack cocaine is frequently smoked in pipes where it is heated into a liquid. This technique is known as "freebasing."

Effects
The effects of cocaine are many and can include vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels), dilated pupils, runny nose, exaggerated feelings of well being, increased heart rate, myocardial infarction (heart attack), cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, pulmonary dysfunction, and seizures.

Detection
Cocaine can be detected in urine, hair, and saliva. Cocaine turns into a unique substance called benzoylecgonine. No other drug produces that metabolite. Topical exposure to cocaine powder and passive inhalation of cocaine smoke is not a legitimate explanation for a positive drug test result.

Law
The only legal explanation for a positive cocaine result in the United States is a physician’s note that states topical cocaine was used during a surgical procedure for anesthesia and/or control of bleeding.