Cocaine also induces microischemia - basically constricts your capillaries and starves the neurons/glia of oxygen. This happens slowly over time and is cumulative.
As mentioned, coke is high on the abuse potential scale due to its rapid onset and withdrawal, short loop between behavior and reward.
Re:Cocaine Paraphernalia Ads in the 70s
by runnerup on Tuesday November 23, 2021 @05:15PM
(#29324251)
Alcohol also causes ischemia. Prescription amphetamines also cause ischemia but are legal.
> As mentioned, coke is high on the abuse potential scale due to its rapid onset and withdrawal, short loop between behavior and reward.
I wonder if attaching an amino acid (a la Vyvanse) would improve its pharmacokinetic profile to reduce this addiction potential. We'll never know, because its not legal to do research on medical potential for Schedule I drugs.
Re:Cocaine Paraphernalia Ads in the 70s
by ycombinete on Tuesday November 23, 2021 @11:33AM
(#29319804)
Not to mention that people are highly functional while high on it. So there’s no downtime on when you can be high.
You say cocaine in small amounts is a dandy stimulant. I take Adderall for ADHD occasionally, and I've been told by those who have used both that the differences in effect are smaller than one might guess. And while I suppose I could OD by taking a bunch of Adderall pills, I don't have a "drive" to keep on taking more for a short term hit.
My rambling is to say: My impression of cocaine use is that it does long term damage to the body and the nasal cavity, and that its short-term high makes people chase it more and thus is ripe for OD.
So I'm not too shocked that it's a controlled substance vs. something like cannabis.