Cocaine

            Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that affects your alertness, feel the need for sleep, and provides intense feelings of pleasure. Cocaine is prepared from a loaf of coca bush, which grows in Peru. Albert Niemann, a German chemist, first identified cocaine in the mid-19th century. It was introduced as a medicine to treat many illnesses. Later, it was used in surgery. In some places cocaine is still used for surgery, yet in many places they are currently using lidocaine. .
             In the 1880's Sigmund Freud created a sensation with a series of papers praising cocaine's potential to cure depression, alcoholism, and morphine addiction. This excitement was soon replaced when documented reports began to circulate of fatal cocaine poisoning and cocaine addiction.
             Many people become addicted, but some people continue for the same reason they started:.
             - They want to fit in.
             - They want to escape.
             - They are bored.
             - Etc.
             Cocaine is usually sold on the street as a salt. This salt is a fine, white powder known as coke, C, snow, flake, or blow. Cocaine in the form of powder is "snorted". It may also be rubbed on the lining of the mouth. To experience the effects it can be injected. .
             Physical symptoms include irregular heartbeat and breathing, higher blood pressure and body temperature. Some other symptoms are chest pains, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, and coma. Large amounts of cocaine could cause violent behavior. .
             Even though it could kill them, 2.7% students in grades 7-13 reported using cocaine in the proceeding year.