This is part of a new drug series, loosely framed around this time of the year (Halloween). In honor of Halloween, we’re going to scare you – with some very real facts about drugs. First up – facts about cocaine.

1. Sharing straws used to snort cocaine can spread blood diseases like Hepatitis C.

Cocaine - a scary substance all year round.

2. Mixture of cocaine with heroin creates one of the deadliest forms of cocaine, a speedball.

3. Prolonged cocaine can cause damage to the nose, to the point where abusers get plastic surgery to fix damage.

4. Cocaine, especially crack cocaine, often contains adulterants, some of which can be highly toxic.

5. In the first hour after cocaine use, the user’s heart attack risk is almost 24 times greater.

6. Cocaine can be extremely addictive, and very hard to quit, so much so that they are developing a vaccine so that people cannot feel its effects.

7. According to a “rational scale to assess the harm of drugs potential misuse,” cocaine is second only to heroin (and not by much) in its possible danger in terms of dependence and physical harm.

8. Simple possession of crack cocaine will trigger a mandatory sentence: 5 grams of crack will trigger a 5 year mandatory minimum sentence.

9. Extended cocaine use can reduce one’s sense of smell. This is called anosmia.

10. Cocaine can lead to sudden death, particularly if you have a preexisting heart condition and combine its use with alcohol and/or cigarettes.

Stay clean!  For more info, please see our home drug test page.