POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 65 Sharing crack pipes can lead to the transmission of diseases like Hepatitis C through saliva or blood and the injection of cocaine places the user at risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV infection/AIDS if needles or other injection equipment are shared. Signs & symptoms of cocaine & crack use. A person on cocaine may feel agitated and nervous. Cocaine can also produce euphoria (“high”) and can make a person feel mentally alert, energetic and talkative. The senses of sight, sound, and touch are heightened. A person may feel more calm and in control. However, all of these effects do not last long. When the “high” wears off, the person may feel anxious or depressed and have intense cravings for the drug. Some people stay “high” by using the drug for hours or days. Shortterm use of cocaine can produce many other effects: • postponement of physical and mental fatigue • reduced appetite • increased blood pressure and heart rate • exaggerated reflexes • rapid breathing • dilation of pupils • dry mouth • anxiety • paranoid thinking In addition, a person could potentially experience: • severe agitation • paranoid psychosis • nausea and vomiting • elevated body temperature and cold sweat 1. National Institutes of Health – NIDA 2. June 2022, Cocaine Toxicity, John R. Richards, Jacqueline K. Le , National Library of Medicine 3. National Institutes of Health – NIDA 4. Cocaine (Canadian Drug Summary), Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction 5. Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CADS) 2021 Fentanyl Fentanyl is much stronger than most opioids – 40 times more potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is extremely dangerous if used nonmedically – even a small amount can cause an accidental overdose and death. Street names include: Apache, China girl, China white, dance fever, Friend, Green beans, Goodfella, Jackpot, Murder 8, Poison, TNT, as well as Tango and Cash. Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opiate analgesic that is similar to but much more potent than morphine. As the most potent opiate pain relief medication available, it is typically prescribed to treat patients with severe pain, or to manage pain after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat people with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to opiates. Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl works by binding to the body’s opiate receptors, highly concentrated in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. When opiate drugs bind to these receptors, they can drive up dopamine levels in the brain’s reward areas, producing a state of euphoria and relaxation. What does fentanyl look like and how is it used? In its prescription form, fentanyl is known as Actiq, Abstral, Duragesic, Onsolis and Sublimaze. When prescribed by a physician, fentanyl is administered via injection, transdermal patch, or in lozenge form. When used correctly, it can be very effective and safe. Learn more about drugs continued continued
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