PS268 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Topical Anesthetic, Ephedra, Mydriasis
Module III: Illegal Recreational Drugs
Lesson 9
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Chapter Six: Stimulants
Ch 6.1 − Cocaine
Origins of Cocaine
- Coca plant is grown in Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia
o Want the leaves − erythroxylon coca
▪ Leaves can be made into cocaine or tea
▪ Cocaine isolated as the active ingredient
• Alfred Neimann − used to chew the leaves
▪ Angelo Mariani − used leaves for coca wine, tea, and lozenges
- Cocaine-laced product were banned in Canada − 1908
Sigmund Freud
- Praised cocaine use
o Says it consists of euphoria no different from normal euphoria
o Found that it was an excellent topical anesthetic − numbing
o Wrong in saying that cocaine use was not followed by depression
- Introduced cocaine to the western world
- 1887 − retracted earlier statements
Cocaine in the 70s-80s
- 1900-1970 − cocaine was more or less forgotten about
o Made a comeback in 1970
▪ Due to anti-amphetamine sentiment
- 1983 − typical user:
o Educated and employed
o Used cocaine intranasally − snorted
- 1988 − typical user:
o Earned less than $25,000 a year
o More likely to smoke crack cocaine
▪ Powder was more expensive and hard to find
▪ Crack was cheaper and less was needed
Cocaine Costs
- 8-ball: eighth of an ounce (3.5g)
o Costs $200
- One line of cocaine is 100mg
o Costs $10
- Pharmacies charge $100/g
o The streets are cheaper − but NOT guaranteed a pure product
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Ch 6.2 − Mechanisms of Action
How is Cocaine Made?
- Very few materials needed to make cocaine
- Cocaine-making process:
1. Leaves are washed and turned into paste
o Then mixed with alcohol, rolled into balls and pressed
2. Pressed paste is melted and turned into cocaine
o Heating evaporates the alcohol and acid is added to cause the reaction
3. Liquid is squeezed out and paste is put into bags
o Bags are then microwaved to turn it into blocks of powder
Forms of Cocaine
- Coca Paste: crude extract
o Created during the manufacture of cocaine
- Cocaine Hydrochloride: most common form of pure cocaine
o Stable, water-soluble salt
- Freebase: prepared as a chemical base
o Can be heated to inhale the vapours
- Crack/Rock: lumps of dried, smokable cocaine
o Prepared by mixing cocaine with water and baking soda
o Called crack because it makes a cracking sound when smoked
o Only difference between crack and cocaine:
▪ Cocaine has the hydrochloride molecule
Ch 6.3 − Causes for Concern
Acute Effects
- Cocaine activates the somatic nervous system (SNS) and is a powerful stimulant
o Effects
▪ Powerful burst of energy
▪ Sense of invincibility − why given to soldiers
▪ Prolonged wakefulness
▪ Increased heart rate
▪ Diminished appetite
- Chewing leaves
o Slow absorption and onset of effects
- Snorting
o Rapid absorption and onset of effects
- Injection
o Rapid and brief effects
- Smoking
o Rapid and brief effects
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Cocaine-laced product were banned in canada 1908. Praised cocaine use: says it consists of euphoria no different from normal euphoria, found that it was an excellent topical anesthetic numbing, wrong in saying that cocaine use was not followed by depression. 1900-1970 cocaine was more or less forgotten about: made a comeback in 1970, due to anti-amphetamine sentiment. 1983 typical user: educated and employed, used cocaine intranasally snorted. 1988 typical user: earned less than ,000 a year, more likely to smoke crack cocaine, powder was more expensive and hard to find, crack was cheaper and less was needed. 8-ball: eighth of an ounce (3. 5g: costs . One line of cocaine is 100mg: costs . Pharmacies charge /g: the streets are cheaper but not guaranteed a pure product. Very few materials needed to make cocaine. Coca paste: crude extract: created during the manufacture of cocaine. Cocaine hydrochloride: most common form of pure cocaine: stable, water-soluble salt.
