Cocaine addictions may form quickly, but the drug cocaine does not. Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which is native to South America. Producing cocaine is exceptionally labor-intensive and requires weeks of work before a finished product can hit the streets. The work put into making the drug often exploits people in poorer areas and even relies on children to make it. Once it enters the veins, noses, and mouths of people hooked on it, they can quickly become addicted and continue pouring money into the cocaine industry.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we strive to shed light on cocaine and its effects. When you enroll in our cocaine rehab treatment center, we will help you understand what led to your cocaine use. In addition, we will provide support and encouragement as they come to develop coping mechanisms and strategies that they can use outside of treatment. Please reach out to Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston today at 866.516.8356 or use our convenient online form to learn more about our treatment programs.
How Is Cocaine Made?
The first step in how cocaine is made is the obvious growing and harvesting of the coca plant. Different strains of the plant contain different amounts of the necessary alkaloids required. Once the correct plants mature in protected areas, the leaves are harvested and dried. Before the leaves are dried, they are soaked in gasoline to help separate the alkaloid. The gas is then drained off of the leaves, and they are dried.
After drying, the leaves are then soaked in a substance containing lime. A couple of different processes are used to help extract the cocaine from the dried leaves. Acid and potassium are then added to the mixture to further the process. Next, the mixture is dissolved in acetone and soaked in acid again. Finally, the mixture is strained, and the resulting paste is left to dry. That is the brick of cocaine.
A second method also requires the mixture to be soaked in acetone. However, the end steps involve hand squeezing the mixture and then heating it to dry the bricks in a microwave.
Adding to the Original
To make more money on cocaine, many distributors add things to the mixture to help it stretch. Some of these are relatively harmless, but others add to the toxicity of cocaine. It is estimated that the cocaine found on the street usually is only forty percent pure. Most bricks of cocaine are mixed with baking soda, which is basically harmless. Other distributors use a substance such as levamisole. This ingredient is used to kill worms in livestock and can cause problems with a person’s blood when ingested. A medical detox program is the best way to clean your system in case there are other substances mixed in that can make detoxing more dangerous.
How Does it Become Crack Cocaine?
By mixing either ammonia or a mixture of baking soda and water, powdered cocaine can be transformed into a liquid that is then heated. This heating causes the substance to harden into a rock that is crack cocaine. This creates almost a different drug with its own set of side effects.
One of the most significant dangers is that crack cocaine is almost always smoked. This particular method of ingestion allows the substance to reach the brain faster and in higher concentrations. The high from crack cocaine is also shorter, which can cause a person to smoke more to maintain it.
Where Is Cocaine Made?
The drug is made in countries throughout South America including:
- Colombia
- Bolivia
- Peru
- Ecuador
- Venezuela
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Chile
While many South American countries make the drug, cocaine production in Colombia is especially rampant. In fact, it is estimated that eighty percent of the cocaine on the market today comes from Colombia.
Coca leaves grown in Colombia are more potent than those grown in other countries. This is because of the climate and soil in which they are grown. The coca plant also grows best at high altitudes, which is another reason Colombia is such a hot spot for cocaine production.
Effects of Cocaine on the Body
When you use cocaine, it has a drastic effect on your body. You may experience symptoms such as:
- Increased body temperature
- Higher heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Paranoia or aggression
- Sensitivity to lights, sounds, and other sensations
These effects put undue stress on your body. In addition, you may experience additional health problems, such as an increased chance of overdose, due to the other substances in cocaine.
Get Addiction Treatment from Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
Now that you know how cocaine is made, you can see why using it can be so harmful. You don’t need to keep letting this drug control you or your loved one’s lives. Help is available at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston for those ready to get treatment. In addition to cocaine detox, we also offer:
- Alcohol detox
- Heroin detox
- Cocaine detox
- Marijuana detox
Reach out to Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston 866.516.8356 today and get started on the road to recovery. Our compassionate staff has the experience necessary to help you gain the tools you need to break away from cocaine’s control. Start your new life today.
