Episode 1
Cocaine
(1 rapier. l2711241
cocaine is a narcotic drug. It is essentially derived from coca
leaves. It is variously called coke, dust, candy, cee, coco, rock, amala and lady snow. Coca leaves were traditionally found in Bolivia,Peru and Columbia. However, according to the April, 1999, edition of UNESCO sources, coca leaves are now grown in Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Panama, Guyana and other parts of the World.
Chlorohydrate which is the Final product made from cocaine paste is manufactured in laboratories that are also springing up in countries such as Argentina and Chile.
Cocaine, a very strong stimulant iseffective when taken orally, by smoking, sniffing and by intravenous injection. It is sometimes mixed with heroin. It is more dangerous than other stimulants because it breaks all forms of restrai nt of direct expression of an instinct,
releases inhibitions and makes emotional resistance to thought or action impossible. Although this drug in its natural presence in leave form has been chewed to produce euphoria, subdue anxiety, relieve fatigue and suppress hunger, it has very many side effects. It stimulates the brain and
produces hallucination, mental derangement with delusions of beauty or persecution or abnormal tendency to suspect and mistrust others.
The major effect of cocaine is its stimulation and arresting grip on the central nervous system, enlargement of the pupil and local unprescribe anaesthesia.
It has been confirmed in many cases that large dose of this drug causes serious convulsion, unconsciousness and even death apart from the fact that it hurts the cornea, which is the clear coating over
the eyeball.
Smoking of cocaine paste and sniffing of its powder has sent many urban youths in Peru, North America, Europe and Nigeria tn mental asylum and special hospitals.
A person who withdraws from the continuous use of cocaine stands the risk of facing acute hunger, feeling bad, dejected, weak and unable to sleep. Sniffing of cocaine from time to time causes infection of the nose that later leads to sores and holes inside and around the nose.
injecting this drug directly into the veins not only exhaust thg i veins, it also causes complications related to tenderness and weak‘ ness ofthe muscles. Tetanus, scars one veins. abscesses of injection site, local and systemic infections have been traceable to cocain injection. Sharing of syringes lead to aids.
Smoking of cocaine corrode the delicate membranes of the smokers lips, mouth, respiratory system and damages the lung. lt increases heart-beat and blood pressure. It equally promotes stomach ulcer, cough and loss of weight.
Failure ofthe respiratory system, incoherent speech, day dreaming or hallucinations, disordered state of mind, body tremors and terrifying delusions leading to frenzied excit ement have all been traceable to the use of cocaine.
note: sometimes,too much intake of cocaine leads to instant death.