Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that can lead to psychological dependence. It is difficult to stop heavy cocaine use because the need to take more is so great. However, its use can have very serious repercussions on your daily life and your health.

ARE SOME METHODS OF COCAINE USE LESS DANGEROUS THAN OTHERS?

No, even occasional cocaine use carries risks. A single dose can cause an epileptic seizure, a stroke or cardiac arrest. Cocaine use also has harmful effects on health in the long term.
Psychological dependence can develop very quickly. The danger is that you will no longer be able to do without cocaine use.
This risk exists regardless of the method of taking the drug: "snorted" most often, but also injected or inhaled, i.e. smoked with tobacco or "based".

If you take cocaine with other users, respect hygiene measures. Do not take risks with the AIDS or hepatitis B or C viruses. Do not share your straw. And if you inject it: use a sterile kit.

AM I IN DANGER EVEN IF I DO NOT FEEL ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS?

Among regular cocaine users, the most common symptom is irritation or even inflammation of the nasal septum which can lead to their perforation.
Other risks exist. The most common are heart rhythm disorders which can lead to heart attacks, especially in vulnerable people. Young cocaine users are also prone to myocardial infarctions, especially if they consume large quantities of tobacco.
When cocaine is smoked in the form of crystals called "crack" or "base" (inhaled after solidification by mixing bicarbonate), damage to the respiratory tract and lungs is often observed. The risks of triggering convulsive seizures are also increased.
On a psychological level, cocaine users suffer from insomnia, memory loss or changes in their personality (depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, withdrawal, etc.). Paranoid delusions (feelings of persecution, ideas of omnipotence), hallucinations or panic attacks are also to be feared. The lifting of inhibitions due to the drug may lead to acts of violence. These risks increase in the case of a psychiatric history.
In addition, cocaine is often adulterated. Traffickers mix it with various substances, which increases its dangerousness.

I FEEL GOOD WHEN I TAKE COCAINE. WILL IT LAST?

Thanks to cocaine, we feel immediate euphoria, a feeling of intellectual and physical omnipotence and an indifference to pain and fatigue. But this well-being is fleeting and illusory. In fact, your body becomes exhausted and burns its reserves.
The short duration of the effects and the depressive state that follows the doses encourage the user to frequently renew their consumption. To this is quickly added a phenomenon of tolerance, the cocaine user needing to increase the doses or the frequency of consumption to obtain the desired effect.

WHAT ARE THE PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN USING COCAINE?

Since any consumption exposes you to risks, it is always preferable to abstain.
However, if you take drugs with other users, respect hygiene measures with regard to the equipment used (straws, syringes, etc.). This is indeed likely to be a vector of the AIDS virus or the hepatitis B or C virus.
In the case of nasal consumption, use a single-use straw, preferably made of a material that is not aggressive for the nasal walls. A quarter of an hour after having "snorted", it is recommended to rinse your nose with sterilized water or physiological serum that can be purchased in a pharmacy, in order to rid the nasal wall of often irritating residues. Moisturize your nostrils with sweet almond oil.
By injecting, there is a risk of skin abscess or phlebitis. It is essential to respect hygiene rules at the time of injection.
Cocaine disinhibits and stimulates sexual desire by promoting sexual risk-taking. The use of condoms is recommended and above all should not be forgotten. It also encourages risk-taking during injections or snorting by sharing and reusing injection or preparation equipment. So remember to keep your equipment only for yourself and not reuse it.
Avoid driving a vehicle or undertaking an activity that could be dangerous, due to lack of concentration.
Regular drug use often encourages people to use mixtures to seek new sensations or to reduce 

the unpleasant effects of certain products: alcohol, amphetamines, medications, etc. The harmful effects are amplified; the health risks are increased. In particular, alcohol chemically combines with cocaine in the body and prolongs its effects but also its toxicity.

WHERE CAN I FIND HELP TO WITHDRAW?

It is difficult to stop alone. Withdrawal is more effective if it takes place under medical supervision, with support adapted to your situation and needs.
General practitioners, hospital practitioners and drug addiction specialists ensure continuity of care between the different places where drug addicts are treated. Hospital or medico-social addiction units (CSAPA: Addiction Care, Support and Prevention Centers) offer follow-up tailored to your needs as closely as possible.

Support groups between users and former users also provide valuable assistance. They are based on the principle that you will never be better helped than by someone who has themselves been confronted with the difficulty you are experiencing.
In the meantime, the CAARUD (Reception and Support Centers for Risk Reduction for Drug Users) can provide you with advice on lower-risk use, guide you and provide you with single-use equipment (syringes, sterile injection kit, "Roule ta Paille", alcohol swabs, etc.).
You will find useful contacts depending on where you live on the website http://www.drogues-info-service.fr.

HOW DO I BROADCAST THE SUBJECT WITH MY DOCTOR?

If you use cocaine, even occasionally, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about it. Indeed, taking drugs is a source of medical complications and may interfere with any possible treatment. Just because you are taking an illicit drug does not mean you should avoid talking to your doctor about it.
If necessary, your doctor will refer you to a healthcare professional who will specifically answer your questions about drugs.
Crack is a derivative of cocaine that comes in the form of crystals. The user inhales the smoke after heating them. The user can prepare it himself from cocaine by mixing it with baking soda ("based" cocaine). The psychological dependence is very strong in this form and sets in within a few days. Regular use of crack causes hallucinations and violent, paranoid or suicidal behavior. Other risks exist: cardiac arrest, respiratory problems, etc.