2012 Presentations (Communicative Events)

The Role of Smoking in Cocaine Addiction

Colnaghi, Luca

The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that almost 37 million Americans,1 2 years of age or older, have tried cocaine in their lifetime, and 5.7 million have used it in the past year – making cocaine the second most commonly used drug of abuse in the United States. The reasons for its popularity are its immediate psychological effects. Snorted or injected cocaine induces self-confidence, euphoria and good feelings, magnifying the intensity of almost all normal pleasures. However, cocaine use also causes medical complications like respiratory failure, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems and paranoia. Moreover, after prolonged exposure, individuals become addicted to it, losing control over use of the drug and engaging in destructive behavior related to cocaine procurement. Cocaine addiction is a chronic relapsing condition with high risk of medical complications, cognitive impairment, financial ruin and social issues.