Thread: GRAPHIC: Mexico’s Acapulco Rocked by Cartel Beheadings and Shootings

Like coffee, coca, and its extract cocaine are performance "enhancing" drugs. Which is to say they are stimulants. Chocolate is also a stimulant related to the coffee.

Of course cocaine is not typically consumed as a performance enhancing drug, it is consumed for the intoxicating effect. Coca leaf is traditionally chewed as a stimulant.

The down side of performance enhancing drugs is that body is being poisoned to achieve the desired effect and the body is stressed constantly being exposed to the drugs and struggling to purge the body of them. There is also the psychological dependence that wears on the personality, witness those poor souls who cannot seem to start the day without that "cup of Joe".

Cocaine also suffers as a performance enhancing drug by the encroachment of physical addiction because the body's normal chemistry suffers atrophy from suppression or lack or use. Methadrine (speed) also suffers from the same risk, but continues to be made available to military pilots to keep awake in single seat combat aircraft.

Yes, so "poor performance" is simply not a consequence of cocaine use. There are other numerous disadvantages to health and of course the risk of addiction for that 2% from using cocaine, primarily from the good euphoric feeling one gets from it. That's why high-functioning, high-performance and very successful people are the primary users of cocaine. They're also the the ones who can afford it. The poor folks use the "crack-cocaine" which is more dangerous and less desirable, highly addictive, but cheaper version.

Originally Posted by Judy

Yes, so "poor performance" is simply not a consequence of cocaine use. There are other numerous disadvantages to health and of course the risk of addiction for that 2% from using cocaine, primarily from the good euphoric feeling one gets from it. That's why high-functioning, high-performance and very successful people are the primary users of cocaine. They're also the the ones who can afford it. The poor folks use the "crack-cocaine" which is more dangerous and less desirable, highly addictive, but cheaper version.

We should also note that it is also possible to overdose on cocaine. MW neglected to list "death" as one of the possible complications from using cocaine. It is a dangerous drug.

And as far as the human body is concerned, there is no difference between the cocaine that is snorted as a powder and the cocaine that is smoked as crack. The only reason that crack became such a plague in impoverished communities is because it didn't need a fussy environment for its consumption.

Typically, powdered cocaine is consumed by snorting up lines laid out on a surface somewhere. Crack can be smoked anywhere on the fly, in the back of a car, standing in an alleyway, in a bathroom stall. It is also easier to package and distribute in smaller doses, making it cheaper.

The difference between getting it into the bloodstream by exposing the powder to the nasal septum and exposing its vapor to the lungs is subtle but not as important in its risks.

The difference between the way the two are prosecuted is strictly political, some would say racist. That's one of the things that should change right away in shutting down the Drug War.

Yes, cocaine is definitely dangerous. And people need the true facts on that so they know in advance. That's why I think legalization with regulation, education, taxation and rehabilitation all paid for by drug users is the best way to deal with this activity and business. For example, when you legalize and shut down the cartels at least from operating in the US, establish the regulations for the businesses, which would all be domestic only, no imports no exports, run A to Z by licensed US CITIZENS ONLY, and set up your stores, you can require they have a card that's issued after they watch a film in an education room, read the pamphlets, and then they get a card. When they make the purchase, each purchase has an information document attached to it, just like when you buy pharmaceuticals, with all the details and risks about that particular drug or drugs they purchased.

Each sale is measured against the regulations that control the quantity sold at any one time. Each item would be produced according to producer's regulations that control the quality of the drug to make them as safe as possible. Growers would also be regulated for the same reasons. But like selling knives or guns, this is no guarantee of safety or that using them won't cause you harm. But at least the public before they purchase will at least have read the pamphlets and watched a film, a real film with real information, not scare tactics or morality crap, but actual truthful information about the real risks and consequences to health of using the various drugs and I think this will make a big difference for first-time users and limited users. If you exaggerate or lie, you'll lose all credibility, so it must be honest, straight-forward and truthful. Then have plenty of information available about rehab, telephone numbers, locations of facilities, 911 assistance if needed to get to a rehab facility, as well as information for people about signs that you need rehab, indicators of when you're in too deep, have gone too far, and need help right away, and be sure to let them know that it's free, paid for with part of the FairTaxes they pay for the drugs when they buy them, no stigma, no appointment, available on demand 24/7, privacy fully protected, just walk in and ask for help.

I think if we do these things, we'll actually see a decline in drug use in years to come. I think fewer young people will use them, I think moderate to heavy users will use less, and more will get the help they need to help combat addiction. We'll also see a virtual elimination of the illegal market, an end to foreign drug cartels and illegal immigration that's driven by the cartels, we'll see far less crime, incarcerations, ruined lives and broken families.

And to me, that's the best we can do to deal with this issue in a proper manner.

Then, we stop worrying about it and let the new system do its thing.

Originally Posted by pkskyali

We should also note that it is also possible to overdose on cocaine. MW neglected to list "death" as one of the possible complications from using cocaine. It is a dangerous drug.

And as far as the human body is concerned, there is no difference between the cocaine that is snorted as a powder and the cocaine that is smoked as crack. The only reason that crack became such a plague in impoverished communities is because it didn't need a fussy environment for its consumption.

Typically, powdered cocaine is consumed by snorting up lines laid out on a surface somewhere. Crack can be smoked anywhere on the fly, in the back of a car, standing in an alleyway, in a bathroom stall. It is also easier to package and distribute in smaller doses, making it cheaper.

The difference between getting it into the bloodstream by exposing the powder to the nasal septum and exposing its vapor to the lungs is subtle but not as important in its risks.

The difference between the way the two are prosecuted is strictly political, some would say racist. That's one of the things that should change right away in shutting down the Drug War.

One danger with cocaine was it's addictive nature. To many it went from a recreation drug to a have to have drug. Cocaine users did not just snort lines. It was very common in public for a person to pass around a small vial (usually had a small spoon in it) with cocaine in it. Very easy to use on the fly and in bathroom stalls.

I believe besides the fear of addiction, people started seeing some of the side effects from cocaine use. The destruction of their sinus cavities and heart attacks. I believe the common fear of all these drugs were what the dealers were using to cut the drugs. I know it was all over the news.

Originally Posted by MontereySherry

... Cocaine users did not just snort lines. It was very common in public for a person to pass around a small vial (usually had a small spoon in it) with cocaine in it. Very easy to use on the fly and in bathroom stalls.

...

These small vials and spoons were usually expensive adornments not really comparable to the simplicity of a crack pipe which could be nothing more that a glass or metal tube with a little steel wool of some kind in the end. The more elaborate the paraphernalia, the more incriminating evidence you have on you in case of arrest, another liability in the use of powder over crystal.

One of the things that generate drug use subcultures is the associated paraphernalia. Pipe tobacco is rife with this kind of preoccupation. But marijuana is even worse. Have a look at the magazine High Times, dedicated to the marijuana subculture, replete with endless advertisements for all kinds of smoking apparatus and associated gear. The emerging vaping subculture got its start in vaping marijuana. Growing your own marijuana is another part of the cannabis subculture completely corrupted by gizmos and apparatus. Even now the agricultural outcome of commercial legalization is completely obscured by the obsessive preoccupation with indoor grow operations that are really no longer necessary.