Why shouldn't I smoke crack cocaine? 

Well, here's are some Physiological effects of crack cocaine:

• Constricted blood vessels (vasoconstriction)
• Elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
• Increased heart rate (Tachycardia)
• Increased temperature
• Pupil dilation 
• Increased alertness
• Locomotor hyperactivity

and.. here are some cognitive/behavioural effects of crack cocaine:

• Euphoria
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia 
• Increased energy
• High self-confidence 

Does crack cocaine have any effect on our brain? 
Yes, it does.

• The Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) is a cluster of cell bodies, found in the midbrain, whose axons synapse (junction) with an area of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The chemical neurotransmitter, dopamine (involved with reward and pleasure), is released in the nucleus accumbens; this results in a 'feeling of pleasure'.

• This is what occurs under normal body conditions, during pleasureable activities. Dopamine is released from a VTA cell body terminal bouton (pre-synaptic neuron); it travels across the synapse (gap between two nerve cells) and binds to a receptor on a neuron found in the nucleus accumbens (post-synaptic neuron) resulting in the 'pleasurable feeling'. Dopamine is then reabsorbed by the VTA cell body terminal bouton, with the help of a dopamine transporter (a protein molecule).

• When crack cocaine enters our body, it affects the normal dopamine cycle by attaching itself to the dopamine transporter. This prevent dopamine from being reabsorbed by the VTA cell body terminal bouton, and hence, allows dopamine to continuously bind to the receptor on the neuron found in the nucleus accumbens. This allows for elevated levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, producing a continual pleasurable or 'euphoric' response. 

The method of 'smoking' crack cocaine is ideal for addicts, as it has a very fast onset of action, somewhere between 10-15 seconds. However, it only provides a brief high, of roughly 10-15 minutes. Since crack cocaine is rapidly broken down and provides a short high, this promotes further use of it. 


In many cases, crack cocaine addiction gives addicts a diminished sense of responsibility which can lead to a number of other problems, including unsafe sex and then potentially, HIV. 

Maybe smoking crack cocaine is not such a good idea anymore..