ocaine sold in major cities in the United States was in the form of an ingredient in tonics and potions available from local pharmacies. In 1911, the Canadian government legally restricted cocaine use, and its popularity decreased. The 1920s and 1930s saw a decline in its use, especially after amphetamines became easily available. Cocaine=s popular return beginning in the late 1960s, coincided with the decreased use of amphetamines.Along with the feelings of pleasure comes negative effects. The effects of any drug depend on the amounts taken at one time, the user=s past drug experience, the manner in which the drug is taken, and the circumstances under which the drug is taken. Cocaine=s short-term effects appear soon after a single dose and last about twenty minutes, while the effects of Acrack@ last about twelve minutes. Taken in small amounts, cocaine usually makes the user feel confident, talkative, and mentally alert - especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. It can also temporarily dispel the need for food and sleep. Surprisingly, it can make some people feel contemplative, anxious, or even panic-stricken. Some people find that the drug helps them perform simple physical and intellectual tasks more quickly; others experience just the opposite effect. Physical symptoms include accelerated heartbeat and breathing, higher blood pressure and body temperature, and dilated pupils. Large amounts intensify users= Ahigh@, but may also lead to bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior. These users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, paranoia, and hallucinations. Chest pain, nausea, blurred vision, fever, muscle spasms, convulsions, and coma are some of the physical symptoms. Death from a cocaine overdose can occur from convulsions, heart failure, or the depression of vital brain centers controlling respiration. With repeated use over time, users experience the drug=s long-term effects. Euphoria is gradually replac...
