How to Spot Signs of Cocaine Use
Check for dilated pupils., Look for signs of nasal stress., Check for rapid pulse., Recognize the signs of crack cocaine use., Identify the signs of intravenous drug use., Be aware of oral ingestion., Spot conversational clues., Look for risk-taking...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Check for dilated pupils.
Cocaine use causes the pupils in the eyes to dilate because of the drug's stimulant effects.Look for widened pupils (the dark inner circle of the eye), even in well-lit rooms.Dilated pupils may or may not be accompanied by red, bloodshot eyes. -
Step 2: Look for signs of nasal stress.
Because many users administer cocaine by snorting it through the nose, one of the telltale signs of cocaine use is nasal stress.
Look for signs of: runny nosesnosebleedsdamage to the inside of nostrilsdifficulty swallowinga decreased sense of smelltraces of white powder around the nostrils, Because cocaine is a stimulant, one of the common physical symptoms of cocaine use is a rapid heart beat.
In some cases, this may lead to cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), hypertension, and cardiac death.A normal, healthy heart rate for most adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.Note that heart rate can be affected by other factors not associated with drug use, including physical activity, air temperature, body position, emotional states, and even certain legal medications.For this reason, heart rate alone should not necessarily be considered a definitive sign of drug use. , Another common method of administering cocaine is by smoking the drug, typically in the form of a solid "rock," called crack cocaine.
Crack is formed by mixing powdered cocaine with water and baking soda.Signs of crack use include burned fingers or lips from lighting and smoking through a specialized device commonly called a crack pipe., Some users inject cocaine intravenously, using a syringe.
This is done to experience immediate effects of the drug but comes with its own set of risks, including endocarditis (heart inflammation), cardiovascular disease, abscesses/infections, and an increased risk of overdose.
Intravenous drug use also greatly increases the chances of transmitting a blood-borne disease like hepatitis and HIV.Signs of intravenous drug use include puncture marks (called "track marks"), most commonly seen in the arm, and possible skin infections or allergic reactions caused by additives mixed with cocaine., One method of administering cocaine is by orally swallowing the drug.
This produces fewer external signs of drug use than smoking, snorting, or injecting the drug, but it has been known to cause severe gangrene in the bowels and gastrointestinal tract due to reduced blood flow and GI sensitivity to the drug.In cases of oral ingestion, the most visible signs will probably be the symptoms typical of stimulant use, including: agitationunusual excitementhyperactivitysuppressed appetiteparanoiadelusions, Cocaine and other stimulants often cause overly-energetic behavior.Common conversational clues of cocaine use include: excessive talkativenessrapid speechconversations that jump around from one topic to another, Cocaine use frequently gives users a sense of invincibility.This can lead to high-risk behavior, including risky sexual activities, and violent tendencies, such as fighting, domestic violence, homicide, and suicide.Risky sexual activities may lead to pregnancy, illness, and/or sexually transmitted infections.High-risk behavior may lead to legal problems, serious injury, or death., Someone who consistently uses cocaine may end up spending large amounts of time and energy acquiring cocaine.Users of cocaine may also engage in: shirking responsibilities or obligationsfrequently disappearing, going to the bathroom, or leaving the room, and returning in a different mood, Because cocaine is a stimulant, it can cause sudden changes in mood.
This may mean irritability, but it could also cause sudden bursts of euphoria or a sense of carelessness, or a shift from one extreme to the other., A common behavioral characteristic of people who use drugs is withdrawing from social relationships, either to be alone or to be with others who use drugs.Though socially withdrawing from a group of friends may be caused by other factors, such as anxiety or depression, it may also be a sign of drug use. , Many users of all kinds of drugs experience a loss of pleasure in activities or interests that had previously been enjoyable, but this is particularly problematic with cocaine use.That's because cocaine use harms the circuits in the human brain that are responsible for a sense of pleasure.Look for signs of depression and a seeming lack of pleasure in day-to-day activities as a symptom of long-term cocaine use. , Depending on the method of administration, there may be a wide range of cocaine-related paraphernalia.
Because snorting cocaine is the most common method of ingestion, common paraphernalia items include: hollowed-out pensstrawsrolled up money or money that appears to have been rolled uprazor blades, credit cards, or ID cards, often with powdery residue on the edges, Smoking cocaine typically requires a pipe, which may be made from glass or constructed out of aluminum foil.
Look for: small glass pipesaluminum foillighters empty plastic bags, including very small crack bags, Though less frequent than snorting or smoking the drug, intravenous injection of cocaine is still a common method of administration.
Look for: syringestourniquets, including belts and shoelacesspoons, which may have burn marks on the bottomlighters -
Step 3: Check for rapid pulse.
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Step 4: Recognize the signs of crack cocaine use.
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Step 5: Identify the signs of intravenous drug use.
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Step 6: Be aware of oral ingestion.
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Step 7: Spot conversational clues.
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Step 8: Look for risk-taking behavior.
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Step 9: Notice other behavioral changes.
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Step 10: Look for dramatic mood swings.
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Step 11: Notice social withdrawal.
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Step 12: Note a loss of pleasure.
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Step 13: Look for straws and tubes.
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Step 14: Identify crack cocaine paraphernalia.
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Step 15: Recognize evidence of intravenous drug use.
Detailed Guide
Cocaine use causes the pupils in the eyes to dilate because of the drug's stimulant effects.Look for widened pupils (the dark inner circle of the eye), even in well-lit rooms.Dilated pupils may or may not be accompanied by red, bloodshot eyes.
Because many users administer cocaine by snorting it through the nose, one of the telltale signs of cocaine use is nasal stress.
Look for signs of: runny nosesnosebleedsdamage to the inside of nostrilsdifficulty swallowinga decreased sense of smelltraces of white powder around the nostrils, Because cocaine is a stimulant, one of the common physical symptoms of cocaine use is a rapid heart beat.
In some cases, this may lead to cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), hypertension, and cardiac death.A normal, healthy heart rate for most adults is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.Note that heart rate can be affected by other factors not associated with drug use, including physical activity, air temperature, body position, emotional states, and even certain legal medications.For this reason, heart rate alone should not necessarily be considered a definitive sign of drug use. , Another common method of administering cocaine is by smoking the drug, typically in the form of a solid "rock," called crack cocaine.
Crack is formed by mixing powdered cocaine with water and baking soda.Signs of crack use include burned fingers or lips from lighting and smoking through a specialized device commonly called a crack pipe., Some users inject cocaine intravenously, using a syringe.
This is done to experience immediate effects of the drug but comes with its own set of risks, including endocarditis (heart inflammation), cardiovascular disease, abscesses/infections, and an increased risk of overdose.
Intravenous drug use also greatly increases the chances of transmitting a blood-borne disease like hepatitis and HIV.Signs of intravenous drug use include puncture marks (called "track marks"), most commonly seen in the arm, and possible skin infections or allergic reactions caused by additives mixed with cocaine., One method of administering cocaine is by orally swallowing the drug.
This produces fewer external signs of drug use than smoking, snorting, or injecting the drug, but it has been known to cause severe gangrene in the bowels and gastrointestinal tract due to reduced blood flow and GI sensitivity to the drug.In cases of oral ingestion, the most visible signs will probably be the symptoms typical of stimulant use, including: agitationunusual excitementhyperactivitysuppressed appetiteparanoiadelusions, Cocaine and other stimulants often cause overly-energetic behavior.Common conversational clues of cocaine use include: excessive talkativenessrapid speechconversations that jump around from one topic to another, Cocaine use frequently gives users a sense of invincibility.This can lead to high-risk behavior, including risky sexual activities, and violent tendencies, such as fighting, domestic violence, homicide, and suicide.Risky sexual activities may lead to pregnancy, illness, and/or sexually transmitted infections.High-risk behavior may lead to legal problems, serious injury, or death., Someone who consistently uses cocaine may end up spending large amounts of time and energy acquiring cocaine.Users of cocaine may also engage in: shirking responsibilities or obligationsfrequently disappearing, going to the bathroom, or leaving the room, and returning in a different mood, Because cocaine is a stimulant, it can cause sudden changes in mood.
This may mean irritability, but it could also cause sudden bursts of euphoria or a sense of carelessness, or a shift from one extreme to the other., A common behavioral characteristic of people who use drugs is withdrawing from social relationships, either to be alone or to be with others who use drugs.Though socially withdrawing from a group of friends may be caused by other factors, such as anxiety or depression, it may also be a sign of drug use. , Many users of all kinds of drugs experience a loss of pleasure in activities or interests that had previously been enjoyable, but this is particularly problematic with cocaine use.That's because cocaine use harms the circuits in the human brain that are responsible for a sense of pleasure.Look for signs of depression and a seeming lack of pleasure in day-to-day activities as a symptom of long-term cocaine use. , Depending on the method of administration, there may be a wide range of cocaine-related paraphernalia.
Because snorting cocaine is the most common method of ingestion, common paraphernalia items include: hollowed-out pensstrawsrolled up money or money that appears to have been rolled uprazor blades, credit cards, or ID cards, often with powdery residue on the edges, Smoking cocaine typically requires a pipe, which may be made from glass or constructed out of aluminum foil.
Look for: small glass pipesaluminum foillighters empty plastic bags, including very small crack bags, Though less frequent than snorting or smoking the drug, intravenous injection of cocaine is still a common method of administration.
Look for: syringestourniquets, including belts and shoelacesspoons, which may have burn marks on the bottomlighters
About the Author
Zachary Ramirez
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in DIY projects and beyond.
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