What’s the Difference Between Cocaine and Meth?
Good question. Both drugs are stimulants, both are illegal, and both can be very addictive. Both meth and cocaine affect the central nervous system as well as the sympathetic nervous system. Both are addictive drugs, and both present a very real danger of overdose.
Despite these similarities, cocaine and methamphetamine are very different drugs.
What is Cocaine?
Cocaine may go by a number of names. Coke, snow, flake, and blow are a few of the commoner street names for the white powder. Freebase, or ‘crack’ is a form of cocaine. Powdered cocaine is generally sniffed, or ‘snorted’ by the user. It may also be diluted with water and injected into a vein. Crack, sometimes called rock cocaine, is most often smoked in a glass pipe.
Cocaine is derived from a plant that is native to South America. The effects of one dose typically last for one to two hours. A drug screen can detect cocaine up to a week after its use.
Health problems associated with cocaine use are heart irregularities, headache, stroke, and seizure. Persons who abuse cocaine for an extended period of time may suffer damage to nasal tissue. Users who inject cocaine are at risk of HIV infection and hepatitis. Continued use may lead to feelings of paranoia.
What is Meth?
Methamphetamine, sometimes referred to as crystal, ice, crank or meth, is a man-made chemical substance. It can be made from household ingredients, including certain kinds of cold medicine and nasal decongestants. When sniffed or injected, meth causes increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure and a sense of hyper alertness. Continued use may lead to feelings of paranoia.
Health problems associated with crystal meth use include severe insomnia, racing heartbeat and rotting teeth. Users who inject meth are at risk of HIV infection and hepatitis.
Commonalities Between Cocaine and Meth
Cocaine and meth both give an initial ‘rush’ of euphoria to the user. That feeling doesn’t last long, and users generally find that they require more of the drug to reproduce that initial euphoric feeling. This often necessitates the need for a structured rehabilitation program.
One thing that cocaine and meth have in common is that persons who abuse them can be treated and cured of their addiction.
If you or someone you care about has a problem with cocaine or methamphetamine, we can help. If the person abusing either drug cannot or will not seek help on their own, a family intervention may be effective. Contact us for additional information.
