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utes or so. No hang-over. No phys–
ical addiction. No lung cancer. No
boles in the arm or burned out cells
in the brain," they said. Instead
users were guaranteed drive, spar–
kle, energy.
But tbe truth is far ditferent!
Only in recent months have many
health officials and scores of thou–
sands of users been forced to face
up to the true deceptive and enslav–
ing nature of cocaine. This is a drug
that causes a craving dependency
and addiction more severe than
heroin and other addicting drugs.
Grave New Addiction
Cocaine is now regarded by many
drug experts as the most subtle and
dangerous drug ever to enslave and
destroy human lives!
..I t [cocaine] probably produces
the most tenacious dependency of all
the chemicals on this planet that you
can give the human brain," says Ron
Siegel, a University of California at
Los Angeles psychopharmacologist
and one of the nation's leading
cocaine researchers.
Cocaine is now considered by
Dr. Siegel and many other drug
experts as the
most addictive
of
drugs in terms of its psychological
and, in many advanced cases, phys–
ical grip on hooked users.
Dr . Mark S. Gold , medica!
director of the National Cocaine
Hotline, strongly refutes the com–
mon erroneous belief that cocaine
is nonaddicting and nonthreatening
to life and health.
Says Dr. Gold, ..The popular
view today is that cocaine is a chic,
safe drug, unlike heroin, that can
be used without fear of addiction.
But cal lers to our help line tell us
they· cannot stop even though they
recognize that it is destroying their
lives."
Contrary to popular belief
among many users; cocaine is a kill–
er, says Dr. Gold. Death can occur
rapidly from convulsions, lung fail–
ure, stroke and even drowning in
one's own interna! secretions.
..What's so devastating .. . is that
we have found that there is a ·huge
chunk of high function ing people
who are getting into something
they don't understand," says Dr.
Gold. "They have acquired through
repeated use a lifelong, debilitating,
chronic illness for which there is
24
treatment through remlSSlOn and
abstinence, but no known cure."
What has deceived many cocaine
users is that
in early stages of
repeated use
when one is deprived
of the drug
it
does not cause the
c/assic withdrawal symptoms
of
many addictive drugs-cramps,
nausea or convulsions.
However, as the cocaine habit
grows, the psychological addiction
becomes so strong, the user's abili–
ty becomes so minimal, that the
resulting damaging addictive crav–
ings are equal to or worse than
those caused by heroin or other
addictive drugs. In long-term heavy
users, classic physical withdrawal
symptoms do occur.
Cocaine is now known to cause
fatal convulsions, respiratory fail–
ure and cardiac collapse, even at
moderate doses, in new or seasoned
users. At high levels of use, or
dependency levels , cocaine can
induce psychosis and paranoia and
suicida! desperation. Addiction and
death can come from any method
of use, but the danger is greatest
with smoking (free-basing) or
injection.
New Army of Addlcts
In recent years cocaine first
became the popular drug-of-choice
in upper and more affiuent middle–
class society- among doctors, Iaw–
yers, accountants, architects, enter–
tainers, athletes and others with
comfortable incomes.
Until recently, high cost (form–
erly more than $100 a gram) was a
factor in limiting its use. It was a
status drug only the near-rich and
successful could afford .
It
was
called the champagne of drugs
because it was believed to be physi–
cally nonaddictive and harmless to
health in moderate use.
Cocaine appealed to active and
progressive middle- and upper-class
moods and values. In sporadic use
it didn't have the depressant or
sedating effects of marijuana, the
popular drug of the turned-off,
dropped-out generation of rebel–
Iious youths. Nor tbe characteris–
tics of heroin or hallucinogens, the
opiates of social losers.
Cocaine was a stimulant that
brought almost instant euphoria
from a simple snort or two through
the nose, an intense feeling of ener-
gy, power and control. It seemed to
magically create euphoric feelings
of creativity, confidence, invincibil–
ity and also in sorne users give
heightened erotic excitement.
Cocaine seemed the ideal drug to
tune you into what is supposed to
make success and happiness in
modero affiuent society. It seemed
as if highly esteemed qualities of
.stamina, emotion and character
could be achieved through the use
of a harmless white powder used
moderately.
Cocaine's effects !asted only
from five to 30 minutes, sometimes
a little longer, rather than hours
like many other street or medica!
drugs. The initial short-te rm
euphoria seemed something one
could controJ: Many .therefore rea–
soned, if for five minutes why not
forever?
Snorters started out using
cocaine recreationally at parties,
celebrations, or privately for its
quick euphoric "rush." Others
started to use it occupationally-to
keep up alertness, energy levels and
"creativeness" in their jobs. They
felt they had to have something
extra to give them an edge in com–
petition with others in demanding
or high-pressure jobs.
But the short-term euphoric lift
from a few brief snorts, the feeling
of being confident and on the top of
things, is quickly over. This high is
often followed by a letdown and
depression that can only be relieved
by more snorts of cocaine. The
stronger the stimulation the more
pronounced the crash.
Once succumbing to the desire for
continued euphoric high feelings,
users wanted them more and more.
Said one initiate, "After one hit of
cocaine I feel like a new man. The
only problem is, the first thing the
new man wants is another hit."
Many cocaine users believe as
long as they use coke they will have
superlative sexual experiences. The
facts are, repeated cocai ne use
eventually causes sexual dysfunc–
tion and impotence and other seri–
ous health problems.
Growing Female Addlctlon
In many Westero nations, women
are the largest users of licit drugs
for personal and health reasons.
Middle-class women haven't been,
The PLAIN TRUTH