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Coke is a white powder that's usually divided into lines on a smooth surface and snorted up the nose with a rolled up tenner or a straw. It can be smoked and is sometimes made into a solution and injected.
A gram of coke generally costs between £40 and £60.
40 tonnes of cocaine were brought into Britain last year*. Coke is big business. So it's not unusual to find the odd wrap padded out with a bit of sugar, starch or talcum powder. Truth is that some wraps of coke would do a good job of cleaning the bathroom.
*Source: National Criminal Intelligence Service
Taking coke makes users feel on top of the world. It's a bit like speed (amphetamines) but it's stronger and doesn't last as long. People taking it feel wide awake, confident and on top of their game.
Coke's a stimulant it raises body temperature, makes the heart beat faster and staves off feelings of hunger.
There is a flip side.
After a big night on coke it's not unusual for people to feel like they've got the flu.
Some people act like they're the greatest... dancer.. lover.. comedian on the planet. Usually they're not.
The hit from coke doesn't last long (20-30 minutes).
When the effects start to wear off there's a strong temptation to take more.
Coke is very addictive. It can be very difficult to resist the craving and strong psychological dependance due to changes in the brain. Recent evidence suggests possible long-term changes to the nervous system.
Although psychological dependance is more of a problem than physical withdrawal symptons, low mood and feeling very rough soon after stopping can also tempt people to take more coke. A habit can be expensive and take over your life.
Crack and cocaine users have died from overdose. High doses can raise the body's temperature, cause convulsions and respiratory arrest. Risk of overdosing increases if crack is mixed with heroin, barbiturates or alcohol.
Cocaine is bad news for anybody with high blood pressure or a heart condition. Perfectly fit, young people can have a fit or heart attack after taking too much coke.
Those who get into coke often find they begin to crave it more and more.
Using it a lot makes people feel depressed and run down.
Too much sniffing coke and you're sneezing lumps out of your nose into a hanky.
People who use crack or coke regularly often develop serious problems with anxiety and paranoia. It's a known cause of panic attacks.
Because the effects wear off so quickly, cocaine and crack are expensive drugs. A cocaine habit can seriously damage your wallet.
Very large doses can cause death from heart or respiratory problems. You may not know you have a pre-existing heart condition.
Large or frequent use of coke tends to knock sexual desire on the head.
If there have been previous mental health problems coke could bring those problems to the surface again. If a close relative has had mental health problems there might also be an increased risk in some users.
Injecting any drug can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene. Dirty or shared needles and other injecting works can help the spread of HIV and hepatitis.
It's easier to overdose injecting. Cocaine is a local anaesthetic and it deadens pain at the injection site. This makes it harder for injectors to notice the damage they may be doing.
Using alcohol and cocaine together can be deadly.
Injecting a mixture of cocaine and heroin, known as a 'Speedball' is one of the most dangerous cocktails you can put in a human body. It is also potentially deadly.
Taking coke when you're pregnant can damage your baby. Coke causes miscarriage, premature labour and smaller babies and may cause congenital abnormalities. Babies born to mothers who keep using throughout their pregnancy show withdrawal syndrome.
Cocaine and crack are Class A drugs - illegal to have, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to seven years in jail. Supplying someone else with it can get you life and an unlimited fine.
Fact: Passing drugs among friends is supplying in the eyes of the law.
Fact: A drug conviction could stand between you and your ideal job.