Cocaine

Question 1

What is cocaine

Answer 1

Naturally occurring alkoloid derived from the leaves of erythoxylon coca and erythroxylon novogranatense plants indigenous to South America. It is extracted and purified.

Cocaine is the most potent CNS stimulant of natural origin. It acts on the CNS by inhibiting the uptake of norepinephrine and inhibits the reuptake of dopamine.

Question 2

Classification of cocaine

Answer 2

Class A schedule II drug - has a medical use so is used under control but high potential for abuse.

Question 3

Effects of cocaine

Answer 3

• Positive : euphoria, sense of well-being, decreased appetite, reduced need to sleep, increased mental clarity.
  
  • Negatives : increased body temperature and heart rate, agitation and anxiety, paranoia, dizziness, nausea, violent behaviour, kidney failure, seizures, stroke, heart attack.

Question 4

Solvent extraction (production of cocaine)

Answer 4

Only get in South America

Coca leaves + base CaCO3 + solvent (kerosene)

——- (acid) (H2SO4)——->

coca paste (30% cocaine, 10% ecgonine)

Question 5

Acid extraction (production of cocaine)

Answer 5

Cheaper as takes less chemicals so more common.

Coca leaves + sulphuric acid—> cocaine sulphate — (filtered,sulphuric acid, base)——-> crude coca paste.

Crude coca paste —-extraction (kerosene, sulphuric acid, base) —-> coca paste (30% cocaine, 10% ecgonine)

Question 6

Purification of cocaine

Answer 6

Coca paste + sulphuric acid + potassium permanganate (oxidiser) —> cocaine base

Question 7

Powder cocaine production

Answer 7

Cocaine + acetone + hydrochloric acid —> cocaine hydrochlorde

Cocaine hydrochorde is water soluble, so can be injected, insufflated or ingested.

Question 8

Freebase cocaine / cocaine alkaloid

Answer 8

Powder cocaine + water + ammonia + ether —> base cocaine.
Powdered cocaine that is further purified by freeing it from the salt substrate. It vapourises at a significantly lower temperature than cocaine hydrochloride. Dangerous as volatile solvents used.

Question 9

Metabolism for cocaine

Answer 9

• Converted to Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite unique to cocaine which allows cocaine to be detected.
• Can be detected for 2-4 days for experimental use or up to 3 weeks for chronic use by any form of detection.

Question 10

Analysis of cocaine

Answer 10

Scott test turns blue, then pink with a blue chloroform layer if coke is present.
Confirmatory testing GC/MS or HPLC

Question 11

Routes of administration

Answer 11

Ingestion
Nasal insufflation (snorting)
Injection
Inhalation (smoking)

Question 12

Crack cocaine

Answer 12

Powder cocaine + water + NaHCO3 —> crack cocaine
Product less pure.