WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT?

National Drugs Campaign

GET THE FACTS

M

Marijuana (CANNABIS)

Pot, grass, weed, reefer, joint, Mary-Jane, Acapulco Gold, rope, mull, cone, spliff, dope, skunk, bhang, ganja, hash, chronic... More

I

Ice

Meth, crystal meth, d-meth, shabu, tina, glass... More

S

Speed

Uppers, ice, meth, crystal, whizz, snow, go-ee, shabu, point, paste, base, zip, eve, leopard's blood, oxblood, gogo, MDEA... More

E

Ecstasy

E, Ex, E and C, eccy, MDMA, PMA, adam, XTC, love drug, eggs... More

C

Cocaine

Coke, flake, snow, happy dust, Charlie, gold dust, Cecil, C, freebase, toot, white girl, Scotty, white lady. Crack cocaine-crack, rock, base, sugar block... More

H

Heroin

Horse, hammer, H, dope, smack, junk, gear, boy... More

C

GHB

G, fantasy, grievous bodily harm (GBH), liquid ecstasy and liquid E... More

AT

Alcohol + Tobacco

It's easy to forget that alcohol and tobacco are drugs too... More

DRUGS


Cocaine


OTHER NAMES:
Coke, flake, snow, happy dust, Charlie, gold dust, Cecil, C, freebase, toot, white girl, Scotty, white lady, Crack cocaine-crack, rock, base, sugar block

IMPACTS:
The symptoms of using cocaine can include:

    • Anxiety
    • Increased pulse rate
    • Dilated pupils
    • Paranoia
    • Agitation
    • Hallucinations

    Consequences of using cocaine can include:

    • High risk of addiction
    • Violent or erratic behaviour
    • Hallucinations
    • Cocaine psychosis
    • Eating or sleeping disorders
    • Impaired sexual performance
    • Ongoing respiratory problems
    • Ulceration of the mucous membrane of the nose
    • Collapse of the nasal septum, cardiac arrest, convulsions

OTHER FACTS:
Cocaine is a stimulant which, in its pure form, is a white crystalline powder called 'cocaine hydrochloride'.

Most cocaine users snort the drug, which can lead to damage to the nasal membranes and septum. Some users inject cocaine, which can cause severe 'vasoconstriction', a condition that prevents blood flowing to the tissue and can result in severe tissue damage. Collapsed veins, abscesses and damage to the heart, liver and brain are also possibilities.

Taking cocaine while drinking alcohol can be particularly dangerous. When the two are mixed the body produces a substance in the blood called 'cocaethylene', which can be even more toxic than the cocaine itself. Mixing drugs causes additional problems. For example, taking heroin with cocaine will affect the part of the brain that controls breathing, and increases the risk of falling into a coma and dying.

It is possible to overdose on cocaine. Other serious consequences include seizures, heart attack, brain haemorrhage, kidney failure, stroke and convulsions.

MORE INFO / LINKS:
For information or help about drugs call the National Drugs Campaign Info Line on 1800 250 015 (freecall).

For more information about drugs and links to support services, go to the Helping Hands section of this site.