Question

How are alcohol abuse and cocaine related?

Answer 1

• Alcohol abuse and cocaine are interrelated as when it is mixed together and consumed leads to lethal effect.
• Effect of cocaine:
  • Cocaine comes in two form
    • Water soluble powder form
    • Fat soluble free base form
  • It has anesthetic and stimulant effect.
  • Its effect comes fast and wear off within few minutes to few hours.
  • It affects the person depending on many factors such as amount , type used as smoked, snorted, injected or orally taken.
  • Person feel more energetic, talkative, mentally alert , more reactive to light .
• Effects of alcohol when consumed alone :
  • It is a depressent which affects the brain.
  • Drinking too much xan damage vital organs.
• When alcohol and cocaine are consumed together then it increases the toxic effect.
  • When it is mixed together they form a new metabolite called Cocaethylene.
  • This is stronger than cocaine and alcohol.
  • So toxicity to heart, liver and other major organ increases.
  • Cocaethylene stays in the body for a longer period of time.
  • Alcohol slows down the removal of another metabolite ( ethylbenzoylecgonine) from kidney.
  • This increases blood level of cocaine and Cocaethylene.
  • There is an increase risk of Stroke.
  • Alcohol increases craving for cocaine.
  • Increases impulsivity, heart related problems, violent behaviour, paranoia, seizure, intense drug craving and sudden death.