Cocaine and Ecstasy

Cocaine

• Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. It produces short-term euphoria, energy, and talkativeness in addition to potentially dangerous physical effects like raising heart rate and blood pressure.

How cocaine is used

• Injected

• Snorted

• smoked

How cocaine effects the body

• Heart attacks

• Strokes

• Constricted blood vessels

• Dilated pupils

Ecstasy

• MDMA (Ecstasy) is an illegal synthetic drug, which acts as a hallucinogen and stimulant. Its chemical structure (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methamphetamine, which are known to cause brain damage. It was originally developed as a diet aid, but was also used experimentally during counseling because of its ability to remove individual's inhibitions.

How ecstasy is taken

• Ecstasy is usually swallowed in pill form, but can also be crushed and snorted, injected, or used in suppository form.

Effects of ecstasy

• It is known for its energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from physical experiences. The effect, per use, lasts from three to four hours. Its popularity grew in the late 1980s in the rave and club scenes and on college campuses because of its reputation for producing high energy and a 'trusting and opened' effect among those who take it.