The most popular drugs in Serbia are marijuana, heroin and cocaine

Cocaine

Cocaine is a very powerful drug obtained from the leaves of the Erytroxylon coca plant that grows in South America. Even the priests of the ancient Incas knew its effects and chewed coca leaves to improve strength and drive away hunger. Even today, in Peru, chewing coca leaves is allowed and socially accepted. Cocaine occurs in the form of a white powder, although street dealers mix it with other substances such as lactose, starch, chalk, powder, aspirin, to get the amount. Cocaine is most commonly snorted, but it can also be injected.

Cocaine causes psychological addiction very quickly. Due to the short-term effects of cocaine, there is an increasing recurrence of doses, so tolerance develops rapidly. After using cocaine, there is a feeling of intense satisfaction. The person feels awake, energetic and confident. At the same time, breathing and heart rate are accelerated, blood pressure is raised, pupils are dilated, appetite is suppressed and the need for sleep is reduced. Large doses of cocaine lead to euphoria, anxiety, anxiety, strange and violent behavior, twitching, hallucinations, headaches, chest pain, rapid shallow breathing, muscle cramps, nausea. If an overdose occurs, seizures, heart attack and stroke, kidney failure, coma and death occur.

Cocaine use has also been linked to suicides, homicides and fatal accidents. The effects of cocaine appear after just a few seconds and last from 30 minutes to 1 hour. When the effects stop, the person feels very depressed, nervous and irritable. Some users try to avoid this condition by drinking alcohol or using heroin. People who are addicted to cocaine can have trouble sleeping, eating and having sexual problems. Dramatic mood swings, illusions, hallucinations and paranoia can occur. Repeated use can lead to problems with memory, attention and behavior.

Chronic snoring can cause blockage, leakage and bleeding from the nose, and cavities of the barrier that separates the nostrils can also appear. People who inject cocaine are at risk of contracting the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

Cocaine does not create physical addiction, but mental addiction is very strong and develops quickly, which leads to addiction to drug cravings. Addicts sometimes inject a mixture of heroin and cocaine called "speedball", and this mixture can easily lead to death. If snorted it causes strong euphoria, fatigue disappears, courage, strength, self-confidence are felt, and its action is very short, about an hour. Smoked cocaine is called "crack". It creates a strong and instantaneous excitement that lasts for about 20 minutes.

Abrupt cessation of cocaine use causes withdrawal syndrome. Muscle aches, unstoppable trembling, eating and sleeping disorders, depression, nervousness, irritability and a strong craving for drugs occur. Withdrawal symptoms can last for several weeks.