Cocaine

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant with high addiction potential and significant cardiovascular risk. Fentanyl contamination has increased dramatically — test every batch. The short duration drives compulsive redosing, which is where most harm occurs.

key risks

• Cardiovascular: significantly raises heart rate and blood pressure — most dangerous for people with heart conditions
• Fentanyl contamination: increasingly common in cocaine supply — always use a fentanyl test strip
• Levamisole: veterinary antibiotic found in most cocaine supplies, damages immune system with long-term use
• Addiction: high addiction potential — short duration creates strong urge to redose
• Cocaethylene: cocaine + alcohol forms a more toxic compound in the liver — responsible for many deaths
• Nasal damage: daily use causes progressive septum damage and nasal collapse

safer use

• Test with a fentanyl strip before every use — dissolve a small amount in water, dip the strip
• Use your own equipment — sharing increases hepatitis C risk
• Alternate nostrils and rinse with saline after use
• Set a limit before you start — compulsive redosing is the main harm pattern
• Never use alone — cardiovascular events can happen without warning
• Avoid combining with alcohol — the cocaethylene combination significantly increases cardiac risk
• Take breaks from dancing — overheating and dehydration compound cardiovascular strain

dangerous combinations

• Alcohol: forms cocaethylene, more toxic than either alone — avoid
• Other stimulants: additive cardiovascular strain — dangerous
• MAOIs: severe hypertensive crisis — life-threatening
• Heroin/opioids: "speedball" — masks warning signs of overdose from both substances

related