Cocaine stripes: components, effects and dangers

Coca" (C17H21NO4) can seriously affect physical and mental health.

Juan was a 17-year-old boy when he started using cocaine.. At that time, he used to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol as many young people do today, but sometimes he would "pick up a gram of coke to hold him over" as he himself says. As the years went by, he consumed more frequently, and even snorted a few lines at work because it made him "more plugged in," in his own words.

At the age of 30, he almost died. It all happened in a very hasty manner, when, being surprised by a police control, Juan swallowed 3 grams of cocaine so as not to be caught by the agents of the authority in possession of this drug. After swallowing it, the bag containing the drug opened and in a matter of seconds Juan suffered a heart attack. Minutes later, he suffered two more heart attacks, until fortunately he was stabilized at the hospital, where he was resuscitated by the paramedics. Like Juan, it is common for many people to put their lives at risk by taking drugs, and cocaine is one of the most popular drugs among consumers.But what's in a line of this substance? In today's article we will reveal it to you.

What is cocaine?

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that belongs to the group of stimulants. Although it is usually associated with a white powder that is snorted, cocaine can also be injected or smoked, the latter is known as "basuco" or "paco". On the street, coca is called by different names, for example "farlopa", "farlis" or "nieve".

When we talk about a "raya" (or cleca) of coca, we refer to the line of white powder that is prepared to be snorted.. Sometimes, a smaller stripe is also made, and after soaking a cigarette with saliva, it is glued to be smoked. This is called "chino". Coca is a substance extracted from coca leaves (in South America it is usually chewed) and was originally used as an analgesic.

To know more: "Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects".

Cocaine, a deadly powder

Juan tells us: "At the beginning I used cocaine because it made me feel euphoric, it made me feel great, I was very concentrated and energetic. It's crazy, because after a while I needed to take it every day. It has caused me a lot of problems: I lost good friends and family and I was financially ruined."

Cocaine is possibly one of the most dangerous drugs for human beings, as it is highly addictive.. The profile of the cocaine addict is different from that of other drugs, such as heroin addicts, who are physically destroyed and usually end up isolated in marginal neighborhoods. The cocaine addict may live a normal life and live in upper-middle class neighborhoods, since cocaine use is expensive, so it is not available to everyone.

The negative consequences of cocaine use

When someone becomes addicted to cocaine, it is very difficult to stop, since the person becomes mentally and physically imprisoned by this psychoactive substance. Hoday, cocaine is a billion-dollar business, but it destroys many lives..

The consumer profile includes different ages, but health problems appear at any stage of life. Cocaine users may suffer from respiratory problems, Cardiovascular and cerebral infarctions, brain hemorrhages, among other negative health consequences. Despite this, cocaine consumption continues to increase around the world.

What's in a line of cocaine?

But what is in a line of cocaine? Are cocaine users really aware of what they are taking? When someone buys drugs on the street, they do not really know what is inside this illegal substance, as it does not pass any control. This allows drug dealers to add substances (often harmful) in order to make a greater economic profit..

The truth is that, contrary to what many people think, cocaine has everything but cocaine in it. According to the Diario de GaliciaAccording to the Diario de Galicia, there can only be between 5% and 40% of cocaine in a stripe of cocaine. What is more, traces of chalk, rat poison, pesticides or detergents can be found inside it.

Coca arrives in Spain with 80% purity, but here it is "cut" to produce a greater economic benefit. Although the traffickers are aware that they must maintain a percentage that allows the drug not to lose value in the market, it can happen that, in coastal areas, cocaine of very poor quality is sold to foreigners or people from abroad.

What is cocaine cut with?

Cocaine is cut with different substances, some of them very dangerous. Below you can see a list of substances that are added to a line of cocaine:

• Amphetamines
• Chalk
• Tetracaine
• Benzocaine
• Painkillers
• Antihistamines
• Opioids
• Iniston
• Sugars
• Phencyclidine
• Ephedrine
• Borax (detergent)
• Lactose
• Speed
• Almax
• Talcum powder

Know the different types of drugs

Drug use is one of the biggest problems facing society today.. The consequences of addiction to this type of substances are not only suffered by the consumers, but also by their families and people close to them. If you want to know more about the different types of drugs that exist, you can consult this article: Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects.

You can also visit our section dedicated to drugs and pharmaceuticals, where you can find monographs, news and research related to the different prohibited substances.