Photo courtesy of www.substanceabuse.about.com

Photo courtesy of www2.auckland.ac.nz*

 

Cocaine fits into the category of drugs know as stimulants.  It stimulates the central nervous system by causing the release and blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters, specifically epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.  Dopamine is particularly important, as it is responsible for pleasure and movement (NIDA, 2001).  A potent sympathetomimetic (Brecklin et al, 1999), it increases heart rate and blood pressure.  Its effects are normally short-term when it is used recreationally, but can persist for longer periods depending on amount taken and other drugs used simultaneously.  Alcohol and cocaine together produce a new chemical in the body, cocaethylene, that increases the effects of cocaine (NIDA, 2001; Breckling et al, 1999).  Repeated use causes the user to build up a tolerance to it, therefore needing more of it, more often to get the desired high.

The most common cardiovascular problem associated with cocaine abuse is myocardial infarction, or having a heart attack, but other complications include chest pain. sudden death, acute hypertension, ventricular arrhythmia, and aortic dissection.  Heart attacks associated with cocaine are usually caused by regular abuse and are a result of high blood pressure and heart rate.  In other words, the heart is simply worked too hard for too long.  According to CNN.com (O'Connor, 1999), those who had cocaine-related heart attacks were an average of 17 years younger than non-cocaine-related heart attack patients.  She also states that three fourths of these users had no prior signs of heart disease.  In one study, 25% of nonfatal myocardial infarctions in people between the ages of 18 and 45 were cocaine-related (Qureshi et al, 2001).
 
 

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© Copyright 2000 Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036. Send comments, questions, and suggestions to: joferguson@davidson.edu