cocaine

other words for cocaine include; coke, charlie, china white, percy, snow, toot.

What does it look like?

• Cocaine is a white powder. Sometimes it has large lumps in it.
• Cocaine is often sold in small plastic bags or in little paper envelopes called ‘wraps'

How do you take it?

• Cocaine is usually divided into lines on a smooth surface and snorted up the nose through a rolled up note or straw.
• It can also be rubbed on the gums.

What does it feel like?

• Cocaine is a stimulant. Stimulants make users feel more alert and energetic, raising body temperature and making the heart beat faster.
• People taking cocaine can feel confident and can get annoyingly loud and talkative.

What are the risks?

• Cocaine is highly addictive. Those who get into cocaine very often find they begin to crave it more. And because the effects wear off so quickly, cocaine can become an expensive habit to keep.
• Cocaine users have died from overdoses. Perfectly healthy, young people can have a fit or heart attack after taking too much cocaine.
• Cocaine may be mixed with other substances, so you never really know what you are taking.
• People who use crack or coke regularly often develop serious problems with anxiety and paranoia. It's a known cause of panic attacks.
• Snorting cocaine can spread infections like AIDS and hepatitis.

The Law

• Cocaine is illegal. It is a Class A drug
• If you are caught with cocaine you can get up to 7 years in jail
• If you get caught supplying someone else, including your friends, you can get a life sentence.

 For more information, visit the FRANK website.