PSYC 321 TEST 2 STUDY GUIDE
Cocaine
- a crystalline tropane alkaloid derived from the leaves of the coca bush/tree
General outline of cocaine use
- 1300 BC - archeologists find mummified bodies in Peru with shell vessels for coca and the
powdered lime used even today to enhance absorption
of cocaine from the leaf
1850s - European chemists were able to isolate the far more potent active agent in the leaf,
which they called cocaine
late 1800s - cocaine was a popular ingredient in many remedies and tonics; Only valid
therapeutic use was its numbing effects which revolutionized surgery
1880s - epidemic of cocaine abuse; doctors prescribed it; no prescription needed
end of 19th century - sentiment turned on cocaine due to it causing psychosis, overdose
death, and severe addiction
1914 Harrison Narcotics Act - public opinion turned on cocaine due to its recognition in the act
1970s - cocaine made a comeback as "natural" or "organic" drug; expensive; "rich people
drug"
1980s and 1990s - cocaine became one of the most frequently used drugs; more affordable
1986 - introduction of crack (an inexpensive smokable form of cocaine; Freebasing (smoking)
cocaine eventually became more popular than injecting
Recently, cocaine use has gone down but medical problems are still high mainly because of
combining with other drugs
Key differences between cocaine and methamphetamines
- drug type, classification, origination
- process of metabolization/ half-life
- appearance
, - effects on body and brain
One important difference between cocaine and the amphetamines is their duration of action.
Cocaine is metabolized rapidly, with most of its effects dissipating 20 to 80 minutes after
administration. Cocaine or its metabolites (chemicals produced when the drug is broken down
in the body) are detectible in human urine for two to three days after administration.
Amphetamines are much longer acting, with effects that persist 4 to 12 hours and they or
their metabolites are also detectible in urine for two to three days. The synthetic cathinones
are more similar to amphetamines with typical duration of action 3 to 4 hours.
Common street names for cocaine
- coke
- rock
- snow
- blow
- crack
- freebase
- base
-C
- girl
- lady
- white
Common street names for methamphetamines
- speed
- crank
- ice
- chalk
- crystal
- meth
Cocaine
- a crystalline tropane alkaloid derived from the leaves of the coca bush/tree
General outline of cocaine use
- 1300 BC - archeologists find mummified bodies in Peru with shell vessels for coca and the
powdered lime used even today to enhance absorption
of cocaine from the leaf
1850s - European chemists were able to isolate the far more potent active agent in the leaf,
which they called cocaine
late 1800s - cocaine was a popular ingredient in many remedies and tonics; Only valid
therapeutic use was its numbing effects which revolutionized surgery
1880s - epidemic of cocaine abuse; doctors prescribed it; no prescription needed
end of 19th century - sentiment turned on cocaine due to it causing psychosis, overdose
death, and severe addiction
1914 Harrison Narcotics Act - public opinion turned on cocaine due to its recognition in the act
1970s - cocaine made a comeback as "natural" or "organic" drug; expensive; "rich people
drug"
1980s and 1990s - cocaine became one of the most frequently used drugs; more affordable
1986 - introduction of crack (an inexpensive smokable form of cocaine; Freebasing (smoking)
cocaine eventually became more popular than injecting
Recently, cocaine use has gone down but medical problems are still high mainly because of
combining with other drugs
Key differences between cocaine and methamphetamines
- drug type, classification, origination
- process of metabolization/ half-life
- appearance
, - effects on body and brain
One important difference between cocaine and the amphetamines is their duration of action.
Cocaine is metabolized rapidly, with most of its effects dissipating 20 to 80 minutes after
administration. Cocaine or its metabolites (chemicals produced when the drug is broken down
in the body) are detectible in human urine for two to three days after administration.
Amphetamines are much longer acting, with effects that persist 4 to 12 hours and they or
their metabolites are also detectible in urine for two to three days. The synthetic cathinones
are more similar to amphetamines with typical duration of action 3 to 4 hours.
Common street names for cocaine
- coke
- rock
- snow
- blow
- crack
- freebase
- base
-C
- girl
- lady
- white
Common street names for methamphetamines
- speed
- crank
- ice
- chalk
- crystal
- meth
