Cocaine Facts

• There are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: the hydrochloride salt and "freebase."
• Cocaine is classified as a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act and is illegal in most circumstances.
• The negative side effects of habitual cocaine use that was responsible for coining the phrase, "dope fiend".
• In 1994, cocaine-related episodes comprised 28% of all emergency room drug-related episodes.
• Street names: blow, 'caine, coke, cola, freeze, snow (powder), base, rock (crack), blizzard, sleet, white lady, nose candy, soda, snow cone, blanco, cubes.
• In Texas, 200-300 cocaine overdose deaths are reported each year.
• The number of Americans that use cocaine weekly has remained steady at around a half million since 1983 according to the 1993 Household Drug Survey; 582,000 (0.3% of the population) were frequent cocaine users in 1995 (frequent meaning use on 51 or more days during the past year.
• Cocaine raises body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. Even one use causes heart palpitations or cardiac arrest.
• Cocaine is psychologically addictive and research indicates possible physical addiction.
• Young single people are the most frequent users of cocaine, with male users outnumbering female users two to one.
• Adults 18 to 25 years old have a higher rate of current cocaine use than those in any other age group.
• Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxlon coca) which grows in South America.
• Cocaine users will lose interest in their family, sex, jobs, just about everything, except using more cocaine.