Cocaine

drug; abuse; coke; crack; cocaine; snow; stimulant; freebase; withdrawal; high; OD; overdose; snort; snorting; injecting; addiction; smoking; sniffing;

Contents

• The law
• What is it?
• More information
• Resources in South Australia

Cocaine is a stimulant drug. It speeds up the brain and nervous system, and also has a painkilling effect. It is highly addictive, and ongoing use can cause a range of health, financial and social problems.

The law

Cocaine is an illegal (illicit) drug in Australia. It is illegal to import, supply, manufacture, possess, sell or use cocaine. 

What is it?

Cocaine comes from the leaves of the South American coca plant. This plant has a long history of use - for many centuries South American Indians have chewed the coca leaves to give them energy for daily tasks. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cocaine was used in medicines for its stimulant and pain-killing effects.

Pure cocaine is a fine white powder. It is snorted or dissolved in water and injected.

Freebase and crack cocaine are forms that can be smoked. Crack is extremely addictive - its effects are felt within 10-20 seconds of smoking it, and the effects only last a short time, leaving the user wanting more straight away.

More information

Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA)
http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au/

• 'Cocaine'
  http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=130

Drug Info Clearinghouse (Australia)
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/

• 'Cocaine'
  http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/druginfo/drugs/drugfacts/
  cocaine_info.html

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (Australia)
http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/

• 'Cocaine' (pdf – 29.1kb)
  http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/NDARCWeb.nsf/resources/
  NDARCFact_Drugs6/$file/cocaine+fact+sheet.pdf 
   
• 'Cocaine use and associated harms in Australia' (pdf – 21.7kb)
  http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/NDARCWeb.nsf/resources/
  NDARCFact_Drugs1/$file/COCAINE+USE+AND+HARMS.pdf
   
• 'New treatments for cocaine dependence' (pdf - 23.7kb)
  http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/NDARCWeb.nsf/resources/
  NDARCFact_Drugs1/$file/COCAINE+TREATMENTS.pdf

Resources in South Australia

• Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia
  http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au  
  • ADIS - Alcohol and Drug Information Service.
    24 hour 7 day telephone service that provides information, counselling and referrals for people with drug problems and concerned friends and family.
    1300 13 13 40
• The Second Story Youth Health Service (TSS)
  http://www.cyh.com/SubContent.aspx?p=223 
  - Central: 57 Hyde St, Adelaide
  - South: 50a Beach Rd, Christies Beach
  - North: 6 Gillingham Rd, Elizabeth
  - West: 51 Bower St, Woodville
• Youth Healthline
  1300 13 17 19 
  http://www.cyh.com/SubContent.aspx?cp=187&p=222

The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).