- Cocaine and crack cocaine are addictive.
- There is NO antidote that can reverse cocaine's effects - an overdose can be lethal.
- Physical signs of snorted cocaine and crack cocaine use may include a red, chapped and runny nose.
- Used regularly, snorted cocaine can cause a hole in the wall between the nostrils causing frequent nosebleeds.
- Psychological signs of regular use include poor school and job performance and increased preoccupation with buying and preparing the drug.
- Short-term adverse effects of cocaine and crack cocaine use include increased blood pressure, breathing difficulties, anxiety, paranoid thinking, hallucinations and more.
- Long-term effects include depression, mood swings, violent behaviour, difficulty sleeping, a loss in the sense of smell, a lack of interest in food, potential impotence and more.
- Get the full facts on Cocaine.
Read about the risks
Disclaimer
Some of the hyperlinks provided are to sites of organizations or other entities that are not subject to the Official Languages Act. The material found there is therefore in the language(s) used by the sites in question.
Health Canada is not responsible for the information found on external Web sites. Hyperlinks are provided solely as a convenience to you and do not imply official approval or endorsement of the sites, the host organizations or their sponsors. When activating these links, you will be leaving the Health Canada Web site.
Some of the information in the Words of Wisdom section has been provided by external sources. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy, currency and reliability of the content, Health Canada does not make any guarantee in that regard.
The stories in the Share your Story section are provided by sources that are not subject to the Official Languages Act, and they are therefore in the language used by the source in question.