Cocaine

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Chapter 11
Stimulants

• Cocaine
• Amphetamines
• Amphetamine
• Methamphetamine
• Ephedrine
• Cathinone khat
• MDMA ecstasy
• Methylphenidate
• Caffeine
• Nicotine

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Map of principal coca-growing regions of South
America
Cocaine
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Cocaine
Freud advocated use of cocaine the wonder drug
Cocaine use in US
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Cocaine
Coca leaves Coca paste Cocaine hydrochloride
(HCl) Freebasing Crack
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Mechanisms of cocaine action
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Computerized tomographic (CT) scan of a thalamic
hemorrhage in a crack cocaine smoker
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Cocaine

• Stimulants and DA
• Important anatomical connection
• Dopaminergic connections from midbrain
  (substantia nigra and VTA) to striatum and
  nucleus accumbens
• Effects
• Nucleus accumbens
• Locomotor response
• Reward system activation
• Striatum
• Stereotyped behaviors

10
Cocaine

• Cocaine Abuse and Dependence
• 10-15 of initial users become cocaine abusers
• Cocaine abusers report initially using
  legal/illegal drugs at about age 13-14
• Initial use usually thru snorting
• Factors important to changes in use patterns
• Reinforcing effects (stimulating, euphoric,
  confidence-boosting effects)
• Switch from snorting to smoking or IV injection

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Tolerance after chronic cocaine use
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Sensitization after chronic cocaine use
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Hypothetical relationship between cocaine use,
synaptic DA levels, and mood
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• Withdrawal
• Few withdrawal symptoms other than depression
• Acute withdrawal
• Death by cocaine
• About 25 of deaths reported with cocaine use are
  due to the drug effects.
• Causes include
• - cerebral hemorrhaging
• - lethal cardiac arrhythmia
• - myocardial infarction (heart attack) even in
  individuals with no prior heart problems

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Cocaine

• Brain Abnormalities in Cocaine Abusers
• Low blood flow in some regions
• Deficits in glucose utilization in frontal lobe
• Decreased grey matter concentration
• Consequences?
• Deficits in
• Verbal memory
• Attention
• Motor function