COCAINE

COCAINE
Cocaine is a stimulant drug of the central nervous system, primarily affects the dopaminergic system.

Origin

It was extracted from the coca leaf, a plant native to South America that is used by the Indians to inhibit hunger, thirst and fatigue. Battle also altitude sickness, sore gums, stomach pain, and many other conditions. The concentration of cocaine in the leaf is very low (the percentages are handled scientifically range between 0.1% and 0.8%) and therefore ingested in natural form, does not produce severe toxicity or creates dependency. For example, to obtain a gram of cocaine from coca leaf infusion of pure (free for sale around the world) would require about 500 bags, which would be absorbed only minimal amounts in nanograms (1 nanogram is 1 millionth mg) in a long time so that would not arrive at concentrations sufficient to cause disruption of psicoestimulación or behavioural problems.

PLANT COCA

Stocks

Cocaine is an addictive stimulant that runs through the modulation of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is in certain areas and neurons of the brain. It has been called the drug of the eighties and nineties for his great popularity and use during those decades. However, cocaine is not a new drug. Indeed, it is over 100 years old, whereas, coca leaves have been used for thousands of years and not as a potent stimulant recreational, but as a medicinal herb and for the development of herbal teas.
In the mid-nineteenth century, was extracted for the first time the pure cocaine leaf Erytroxilon plant, which grows mainly in Peru and Bolivia. In the early twentieth century, cocaine became the main ingredient in most of the tonics and elixirs that were created to treat many illnesses, including Vin Mariani. He is currently a drug classified under Schedule I1 in the United States ( "Schedule I) together with other substances such as LSD. Their illegal status prevents their use in humans under any circumstances, even if you use doctors and other countries like the United Kingdom such as using local anesthesia in certain types of surgeries of the eyes, ears and throat. Its stimulating effect is far below potential and the duration of amphetamine, although the latter it has a legal status in the United States that allows them to be used in several ways, from to treat obesity, depression, narcolepsy, and a few years Now, to be administered to children who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD), despite the risks associated with the chronic use of these drugs in children, many of them completely unknown.
Basically there are two chemical forms of cocaine: the salts and crystals cocaine (free base). The hydrochloride, the most common form of powder cocaine, dissolves in water and, when abused, can be used intravenously (into a vein) or intranasally (through the nose). The free base refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by the acid to produce salt. This form of cocaine-smoking, as it does not decompose as it makes hydrochloride.
Cocaine is usually sold on the street illegally in the form of a white powder, and fine crystal. Traffickers usually mixed with other substances, such as cornstarch, talc or sugar, or with certain drugs such as procaine (a local anesthetic similar chemical structure), or with other stimulants, such as amphetamines (such as methamphetamine). Also sold in a form called crack, rock, and bazuco (in Colombia and the Caribbean), or "Paco" in Argentina, in the form of white or yellow stones processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate, which is usually smoked in glass pipe. That form is very popular in middle and low and cause addiction that the crystalline form.
The drug is commonly known as cocaine, coca market, camerusa, shovel, fillet of hake, parakeet, pichi, potatoes, papuza, "the diego rodriguez", "the crazy larry", "the maradona" fariña, Hake, farla, farlopa, white, white woman, carolina, radish, chifle, escopetazo, lizard, keto, mandanga, milonga ... As well as many other denominations depending on the area.

Crack


The effects are immediate and consist of an elevation of self-esteem and self-confidence, accompanied by a large locuacidad, excitement (and may lead to extreme irritability). The effect lasts for a relatively short time (about 30-60 minutes) and begins to decline as the subject experiencing anxiety to receive another dose. In the long term, its use produces uncontrolled addiction, mental disorders and death, either by direct physical effects, suicide or accidents.

Occurrence and development

Cocaine is an alkaloid that is obtained from the coca leaf, a plant that grows in South America, of which there are 200 varieties of which only 4 produce alkaloid said:
• Erythroxylum coca, or coca Bolivian native to Peru and Bolivia.
• Erythroxylum coca, or coca ipadu variety of Amazon: orginaria areas close to the Amazon river
• Erytrhoxylum novo granatense or Colombian coca: originating in Colombia and Ecuador.
• Erytrhoxylum truxillense or coca Trujillo: native to the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains in Peru.

The contents of alkaloids in the plant is between 0.1 and 0.8%, the major component is cocaine. The chemical formula of cocaine is metilestero of benzoilecgonin turning left (2R, 3S)-3-bensoiloxitropan-2-metilestero coal acid with the empirical formula of C17H21NO4. It also contains cinamilcocaina, benzoylecgonine, trujillina, and the alkaloid tropacaína annex. The plant coca is grown in South America and Java at elevations between 600 and 1,000 meters. The main countries of cultivation are Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Indonesia.
For the preparation and consumption of cocaine are known methods and different preparations: cocaine base paste (different from the "coca paste", sold over the counter and legal in the entire world, which is nothing but the coca leaf harmless mixed with ash or lime and contains a lower percentage to 0.8% of the alkaloid cocaine), cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine alkaloid, each presented different levels of power and poisoning due to the varying levels of purity. One of the most common forms for use and consumption is crack, a cocaine alkaloid extracted from a salt powder mixing with sodium bicarbonate and secándola in small stones. The crack differs from other forms of cocaine by vaporizable be easily inhaled and when its effects are very fast.
There is a need for a wide range of chemicals for their production and in the form that is required extraction or you can use this list as to arrive at its purest form and refined:
) Production of cocaine base paste: kerosene, gasoline or other similar organic solvents; alkalis, for example sodium carbonate, potassium or calcium, sodium hydroxide or calcium oxide; acids, for example: The sulphuric.
B) Production of cocaine base: oxidants, eg potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, alkalis, for example: aqueous solution of ammonia.
C) Production of cocaine hydrochloride: organic solvents, for example : ethyl ether, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and toluene; hydrochloric acid.
To prepare pasta báse cocaine is the alkalization of the coca leaf, dried, extraction with organic solvent (Kerosene), precipitation with strong acid (sulfuric acid), dissolution of the residue in water and precipitation last alkali .
History
The former coca bushes were taken in 1750 from South America to Europe. In 1859 was achieved for the first time the isolation of the alkaloid by Albert Niemann. In 1898 was the explanation of the constitution in 1902 by Richard Willstätter synthesis. Since 1879 it was used to treat cocaine dependence on morphine. By 1884 it began to be used as anesthetic in clinics in Germany. Around that same time Sigmund Freud wrote about its impact on his work Über Coca (coca).
"The psychological effect of Cocainum wall. And doses of 0.05 to 0.10 grams is the excitement and euphoria retained, which does not differ much from the euphoria of the healthy people. Missing completely change the feeling of excitement that accompanies alcohol, also lack the characteristic effect of alcohol immediate anxiety. There is a sense of increased self-control, it feels great vigour and capacity for work. But if the good works are strange and elegant arousal and increasing the forces intellectuals alcohol, tea or coffee. It is just normal and is soon to believe that the effort is under the influence of something. "

The first recipe for the refreshing drink Coca-Cola containing extract of coca leaves and cola nuts (an African hallucinogenic), but did not contain cocaine in any quantity. Coca-Cola is the only company in the world authorized to import coca leaf in quantities greater than half kilogram.
The use of cocaine in Europe was broad and legal in the first third of the nineteenth century. The dangerous nature of the substance was recognized slowly. In 1884 was first introduced in ophthalmology therapies. The use of cocaine, according to the statute of limitations anesthetic substance of Germany, it is still possible today.
The doctor Peruvian Carlos Gutierrez-Noriega (1906-1950)-in collaboration with Zapata, in his book entitled "Studies on coca and cocaine in Peru" (1947) states:
"Coca-drug that acts as a narcotic of vital sensations therefore suppresses hunger, fatigue agencies weakened, thirst, cold and the most basic human aspirations in these circumstances-was essential to adapt the body a very poor living conditions and abnormal. This drug has acted as a special assistant to the Andean people for four centuries, to deal with the most extreme misery. "

Effects and medicinal uses

Cocaine against sore teeth, 1885
Cocaine increases the risk of thrombosis, stroke and myocardial infarction, accelerates atherosclerosis and transient causes paranoia in the majority of addicts. Using continuous suction through the nose for cocaine (sniffing) can produce nasal congestion, ulceration of the mucous membrane, even perforation of the nasal septum. While cocaine produces greater sexual arousal, can also cause impotence or sexual dysfunction eréctil2 3. Cocaine can cause complications cardiovaculares in the arteries of the heart and brain, which can cause myocardial corazón4.
Cocaine is the most famous local anesthetic. Because of the high danger of addiction and marked toxicity is not used more. Cocaine serves as a substance for many local anesthetics, such as: lidocaine, and escandicaína Benzocaine.
When used intranasally the beginning of the action is at two minutes (five to ten minutes when used intravenously) and the maximum effect occurs between fifteen and twenty minutes, up to an hour. Where the administration is oral absorption rate is low and the duration of the action prolongada5.
Potential addiction and other hazards


Cocaine powder



After the cocaine intoxication with some consumers are presented in a strong depression. This prompts the state to take a quick cocainómano new drugs, thereby avoiding the "depression cocaine." This mechanism is dangerous because it can lead to a dependence on drugs.
The regular consumption of cocaine can lead to a quick psychological dependence (addiction), but not a physical dependence, seen as emotionally intense need for the use of repetitive droga6. A specific effect is here (which is more pointed when smoke crack cocaine base) "greed episodic": still inexperienced consumers the effect of the drug can lead to extreme anxiety to consume more when the effect is diminished. In the extreme case the dynamics of consumption (called binges in English: episodes of short periods of time when it happens consumption) may result in lasting several hours or days. A special case in cocaine long term is the emergence of the so-called dermatozóica madness, in which the consumer is convinced that insects moving under his own skin. In addition to cocaine dependence is often a deterioration of the conscience of the addict-this in the context that the effect of increasing self-esteem, together with the dynamics of consumption, does dispel the social conscience (why cocaine it is sometimes called as "ego-drug").


Health Risks

The risk of dying from an overdose of cocaine is for cocaine approximately 20 times less than that for heroin users. In Germany less than 2% of those killed by drugs die from an overdose of cocaine. The risk of dying from a mixture of intoxication is significantly higher. About 6% of all deaths due to drugs in Germany are due to a mixture of intoxication.
Cocaine can produce psychosis cocaínica syndrome conduct that keeps very similar to paranoid schizophrenia, which has sometimes been confused.
Aspirate cocaine can injure nasal membranes, smoking damages the lungs, and the injection is very dangerous for the high probability of an overdose in this form of administration. The fatal dose of cocaine, single intravenous injection, is a 1 gram aproximadamente7.

The intravenous use of cocaine is associated with an increased risk of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 8.
In addition, the notable stimulation causes has often led to accidents or cause to consumers.
Purity of cocaine
The cocaine was found in the illegal drug market is rarely pure. According to the report of the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation in Germany 2003 is diluted in the lower grades, which are on average by cocaine hydrochloride 85% in samples of a kilogram of weight and a gram samples kilogram in the order of 60%. In less than one gram samples is approximately 35% of cocaine hydrochloride. The average degree of purity content in samples of cocaine based on samples of the order of a kilogram is 85% (percentage of cocaine hydrochloride) and surprisingly has been in the past 10 years practically stable. However, in samples of the order of one gram to one kilogram has been reduced by 10% the content of purities, whereas less than one gram has been reduced by 20%.

Cocaísmo

The chewing coca leaves mixed with limestone flour is known as cocaísmo. This will rarely have symptoms of addiction, because cocaine with limestone becomes ecgonine. The chewing coca leaves is common even today in indigenous communities in growing areas, as opposed to the taking of pure cocaine. Among its purposes, under this form of consumption, are: diminishes the sense of the heights disease and hunger. The cocaísmo under regular consumption attacks the teeth.
In Peru is known as "Chacchar " that comes from the Quechua "chakchay " which means chewing, for that coca leaves are mixed with "llipta "which is the ash obtained from quinoa, snuff, corn or other plant rich in alkaline substances, which he eventually add salt. Chacchar The fact is a ritual act or social in Andean communities of Peru under a magical-religious.

It is worth mentioning that if the coca leaf is green but not dry serves to produce cocaine.