European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Devastating effects of cocaine confirmed by Lawrence k. Altman. New York times s reports of cocaine related deaths steadily accumulate doctors arc gaming o sharper awareness of lha dangers of the drug increasingly icy realize i hey must add cocaine abuse to their chock Rel of considerations when dealing Wilh Curlain medical emergencies in inf mls and adults among Iho Nusl sinking cd cocaine s dangers Are Llic potentially devastating Ell Els on the cardio vascular Syslo recent re Pola have included the allow ing a 33-year-old Man irom North Carolina used cocaine Lor i a first Lime and Gulf Rod a head Atlace a Lew hours later a 19 Yucai old Man s Coral sched nearly every Lime he used cocaine finally he had a heart attack. At his new England Home live weeks later he resumed cocaine Uso and had a second him Alt Jck a month Laler to Sull Rcd his third Hearl Ollack. Again Allor taking Coamo four months alter his i isl alack the Man again complained of crushing chose pains collapsed and died three men in Del Oil. Two in choir Jas and one in his has who used crack i he Patent smok Ablo lorm of Coamo generally sold in pellets had paralysing so Rocs a he ally 45 year old Man Pul cd on a pipe containing Coc Atno for several hours. Ihen died irom a ruptured Aorta cocaine s dangers have not always Boon re Cognac. The Mug was used Lor can tunics by South american indians and since 1834 in Medico As a local aesthetic Sig mind four Leven used it in the belial that it would to a euro All Bolouc to recognized Iho i real of addiction 3mco Freud doctors Havo Learned of More dangers such As secures de mum. Fever lows of the Nensi of smell and death o celts in the lining of the nose. Devorl Defoss. A belief persisted that cocaine was nol particularly harmful until the Rosenl e epidemic of recreational use and abuse rho government has estimated thai 5 million americans Aig regular users of cocaine and 30 million have irid it at Irani once. Wih the increase in use. Doctors Havo discovered that cocaine can frigg i such in mesas Corl attacks strokes angina destruction of Tho Livor and other complications cocaine causes food vessels to lighten. Iho heart Rale to quicken and blood pressure to Rise suddenly ii can also trigger Polcyn tally fatal Hearl rhythms any of Hicso Ell Els can increase the heart s need Lor More oxygen Rich blood to nourish its muscle cells making Coamo a Ward to anyone whose coronary arteries Are narrowed by deposits due to atherosclerosis. Ii Iho oxygen Short age is mild and Biol. Ine person May Suller angina but no heart attack if Tho spasms of Chest pain last Long enough to kill cells they can cause Hoar attacks cocaine is also causing angina and Hearl Al lacks in younger to ally people who Havo Normal coronary arteries. A Hough the Walls of the Aorta have a Dogre ool elasticity a sudden use in blood pressure Cane Serl a great Lorce on Walla that have been weakened by atherosclerosis other cocaine users have drowned irom Iho sudden accumulation of fluid m who lungs or pulmonary Odma. That was somehow Inge Ord by the drug. Stanford University researchers suspect that Coamo users who have not previously had heart problems could damage choir hearts Over time. Of concern is Hal when in sub individuals grow older and develop Althero sclerotic Hearl Distaso their already damaged Hoard May be unable to Wilh land the added stress cocaine can be dangerous whether it is snor Lod smoked or injected into the skin Muscles or veins. Seizures for example can result from a single dose and can be difficult to treat a so. Acc also much of the cocaine sold is impure and dealers Ollon mix it with loss expensive drugs such As amphetamines. Iho reactions May be due to several drugs not just cocaine despite its reputation As an aphrodisiac cocaine can actually take away irom sexual performance some men who Havo used cocaine for a Long hmm. Particularly in High doses have reported Dill Cully in maintaining an erection and in ejaculating. Some women Havn had achieving orgasm. Some of the most drastic examples of Iho dangers of cocaine have involved so called mules or body packers. Mula is Loo name Given to those who transport cocaine from one country to another body packers stud cocaine into condoms balloons or plastic bags end when trying la elude authorities Swallow them or conceal them in Iho rectum or Vagina packets have broken open overwhelming the body with massive amounts of cocaine. In other instances holes in Tho condoms or bags have allowed cocaine to leak or fluid to be drawn in causing Tho bags to burst. In such cases the victims have suffered seizures and died. Moreover cocaine can endanger babies of users Bolh before birth and Afulei. According to a Rocoll report three hours alter a breastfeeding Mother to Chicago snorted cocaine her two week old infant developed symptoms of intoxication researchers said in december. The baby s Hearl rate sped up blood pressure Rose breathing became More rapid and it became irritable and had tremors. The sym Lorris persisted until the Mother enacted All the cocaine and lha biochemical bios Down products made in her liver cocaine use during pregnancy can my of oxygen to the fetus fatally or Wilh such Campti calms As premature delivery or Ihbe detachment of the Placenta from Iho womb. Mothers who use cocaine during pregnancy alien deliver babies Ollow weight. Other babies Sutler lion powerful effects on the nervous systems Nemo behavioural abnormalities Wilh tremors mood swings and irritability cocaine the body s reactions the Eye pupils dilate and Funsos flatten temporarily improving Long distance vision. Huml Wasuge damage la cells in lining of nose. Loss of senso of the Teeth rubbing Cocalla on Gums numbs them �1 use Signore tools decay. The Highta Estrom 39 seconds to 2 minutes to create pleasure sensations and up to 10 minutes for drug to a absorbed lot ally. The wears Olf in about 15-30 minutes person experience fatigue depression and contusion. The Oti Ivr Riak allergic reactions a possible irom the substances used Lodi Lute cocaine. Brain Nervest lilt Maneklal constriction or breaking of weakened artery leading to stroke. Seizures tremors delirium and psychosis. Blood Vetuel constriction of mood vessels Quick rises in blood pressure. Angina. Tho heart find cod How of oxygenated blood to heart. Cellular or increased Rala of heartbeat. Heart attacks. Tuesday. February 16,1988 the stars and stripes Page 17
