Cocaine causes a burst of alertness, feelings of wellbeing and euphoria and enthusiastic talking.

WHAT?

Cocaine is an illegal stimulant produced from the leaves of the coca plant. It is usually grown and processed illegally overseas. 

OTHER NAMES

C, coke, nose candy, snow, rack, white lady, toot, Charlie, blow, white dust, pebbles, Chang and stardust. Freebase is known as base. Crack is referred to as rock or wash.

SIGNS SOMEONE HAS RECENTLY USED THIS DRUG

Cocaine causes a burst of alertness, feelings of wellbeing and euphoria and enthusiastic talking. Other signs that someone has recently used this drug could be heightened arrogance, aggressiveness and over-confidence leading to careless risks.

Cocaine is extremely fast acting with the high felt almost immediately and wearing off after 10-30 minutes however the ‘come down’ or crash where a young person may feel strong cravings, headache and tiredness can drag out for up to 2 days.

SIGNS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE USING OR DEALING AT MY SCHOOL

Cocaine is not as common in Australia as it is overseas and is extremely expensive compared to other drugs. We don’t get many inquiries about cocaine at YoDAA and when we do, young people usually report using it occasionally alongside other substances. Cocaine is most commonly sold in powdered form and snorted from a flat surface although it can be smoked in a pipe or over a piece of foil or injected.

Regular snorting any drug can cause bleeding and irritation of the nostrils.

HOW COMMON IS USAGE?

In 2010, 7.3 per cent of Australians (over age 14) had used cocaine (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2010). For young people specifically, use is much less frequent. Approximately 2 per cent of young people of school age had ever used cocaine according to the 2011 secondary schools drugs survey.