Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Cocaine is a powerful drug that is widely used around the world. Experts estimate that nearly 25 million people in the US have tried cocaine at least once in their lifetime. Cocaine is commonly taken by inhalation through the nose, but is also aspirated or injected, and each use of cocaine has its own risks and negative effects. By understanding the signs and symptoms of cocaine users, you can identify a family member or friend using cocaine and decide how to intervene.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Recognize the physical cues in cocaine users

1. 

   Notice dilated pupils. The pupils in the cocaine user's eyes dilate under the cocaine's stimulating action.
   • Watch for enlarged pupils (dark circles in the eyes), even in bright rooms.
   • Dilated pupils may be accompanied by red eyes and with or without blood streaks in the eye.

2. 

   
   
   Look for nose abnormalities. Many people use cocaine by inhalation, so one of the clues that cocaine use is nasal problems. Look for the following signs:
   • runny nose
   • epistaxis
   • damage inside the nose
   • difficulty swallowing
   • decreased olfactory sensitivity
   • traces of white powder around the nostrils

3. 

   
   
   Note the state of rapid pulse. Cocaine is a stimulant, so one of the physical symptoms of a cocaine user is a fast heartbeat. In some cases, this can lead to arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), rapid breathing, and sudden death from cardiac arrest.
   • A normal adult heart rate is 60-100 beats / min.
   • Note that heart rate can be affected by factors unrelated to drug use, including physical activity, ambient temperature, body posture, emotional state, and legal drugs. So you can't just rely on your heart rate to see this as a sign of substance use.

4. 

   
   
   Know the signs of using ice crystal cocaine. Another use of cocaine is smoking. Smoking cocaine is usually in a hard "rock" form, called a crack cocaine, made by mixing powdered cocaine with water and baking soda.
   • Signs of using crack cocaine include burning fingers or lips from a lighter and smoking cocaine with a special device commonly called an ice straw.

5. 

   Watch for signs of injecting drugs. Some people use syringes to inject cocaine through a vein. This use of cocaine has immediate but potentially risky effects, including endocarditis (heart inflammation), cardiovascular diseases, abscesses / infections, and an increased risk of overdose. Intravenous drug use also increases the risk of infection with blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.
   • Signs of injecting drugs include needle marks, most commonly on the arm, skin infections or allergic reactions caused by cocaine-mixed additives.

6. 

   Be aware of oral drug use. Drinking is another way of using cocaine. Unlike smoking, inhalation and injection, oral cocaine use has little to no outward manifestations. but can cause serious gangrene in the intestines and stomach due to decreased blood circulation and gastrointestinal sensitivity to stimulants. In the case of oral cocaine, the most noticeable signs are probably the typical symptoms of substance use, including:
   • agitation
   • Unusual excitement
   • hyperactivity
   • anorexia
   • paranoia
   • illusion
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Part 2 of 3: Find out the symptoms of cocaine users' behavior

1. 

   Find clues when talking. Cocaine and other stimulants often cause euphoric behavior. Common signs when talking to cocaine users include:
   • talk too much
   • Talk fast
   • keep moving topic to topic

2. 

   Pay attention to reckless behaviors. Cocaine feels "invincible" for frequent users. This can lead to reckless behaviors, including unprotected sex, violent tendencies like fights, and domestic violence. , suicide and murder.
   • Unsafe sexual activities can lead to pregnancy, illness and / or sexually transmitted diseases.
   • High-risk behaviors can lead to legal troubles, serious injury or death.

3. 

   Recognize changes in behavior. Continuous cocaine users can spend a lot of time and energy on cocaine. Cocaine users may also experience the following:
   • evade responsibility or obligation
   • often disappear, go to the bathroom or leave the room, then come back to being in a different mood

4. 

   Notice obvious mood swings. Cocaine is a stimulant that can cause sudden mood swings. The manifestation can be restlessness, but it can also be sudden euphoria, carelessness, or a change from one extreme to another.

5. 

   Pay attention to social segregation. A common behavioral trait among drug users is withdrawal from social relationships, either alone, or with other drug users.
   • Although separation from friend groups can be caused by other causes, such as anxiety or depression, it is also a sign of drug use.

6. 

   Recognize signs of loss of pleasure. Many drug addicts of all types of drugs often lose interest in activities or pastimes they enjoyed, but cocaine users often experience this most clearly. This is because cocaine damages the vascular system in the brain that produces pleasure.
   • Look for signs of depression and loss of interest in everyday activities, a symptom of long-term cocaine use.
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Part 3 of 3: Finding evidence of drug use

1. 

   Find straws and empty tubes. Depending on how cocaine is used, there may be a variety of cocaine-related items. Inhalation is the most common use of cocaine, so the ingredients involved often include:
   • ballpoint pen cover
   • straws
   • the bill is rolled up or seems to have been rolled
   • razor blades, credit cards, and identification cards had white powder on the edges

2. 

   Pay attention to items that suck crack cocaine. Cocaine smokers often use pipes, which can be made of rolled up glass or foil. Please pay attention to the following items:
   • small glass pipes
   • Silver paper
   • Lighters
   • Empty plastic bags, consisting of very small ice cocaine bags

3. 

   Detecting allegations of drug injection. Although less popular than smoking and sniffing, injecting is still the most common use of drugs. Look for the following items:
   • syringe
   • belts, including belts and shoelaces
   • Spoons may have scorch marks on the bottom of the spoon
   • Lighters
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Advice

• Talking to someone about their drug use won't be easy. If you believe that a relative or friend is using cocaine, talk to a medical professional to find ways to help them.

Warning

• All of the above should not be considered as solid evidence. Suspicious behaviors also do not mean they are using drugs.
• The use of cocaine can cause addiction, splitting into aorta (a torn artery), high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, or death.