Effects of Cocaine on Bodies and Brains
These are just some of the problems cocaine can cause:
You Feel Sick
Cocaine can cause stomach pain and headaches. It can make you shake, throw up, or pass out.
No Appetite
Cocaine can make you not want to eat. Over time, you might lose a lot of weight and get sick.
Heart Attack and Stroke
Cocaine raises your blood pressure and makes your heart beat faster. This can hurt your heart. It can give you a heart attack or stroke (brain injury from a blood clot). Some people die because of it.
HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis
People who inject (shoot up) cocaine can get HIV/AIDS and hepatitis (a liver disease) if they share used needles. People also get these diseases by having unsafe sex. They may forget to use condoms because they're high on the drug.
Addiction
It is easy to lose control over cocaine use and become addicted. Then, even if you get treatment, it can be hard to stay off the drug. People who stopped using cocaine can still feel strong cravings for the drug, sometimes even years later.
"It was easy to ignore that little voice in my head."
While partying with cocaine, Jason made bad choices about sex. Now he is living with HIV. (Photo information)