What is the drug: Liquid cocaine
Liquid cocaine is a term used for three different types of substances. A shooter cocktail, medical anesthetic and an illicit drug. We will brief you on all three, but this article is going to be about the drug, why it is made and how it is used.
As a drug, white powder cocaine is water soluble. This means that it can be dissolved into any water based liquid. This property is usually abused by drug traffickers, but users can make liquid cocaine to make it injectable intravenously.
What are the other types of liquid cocaine?
The first of three is a shooter cocktail often found at clubs and parties. Despite its name, it does not contain any actual cocaine. Instead, it’s made from a mixture of Jägermeister, rum and schnapps. The type of rum and flavor of schnapps can vary. Its name implies the intensity of the alcohol, not the presence of any illicit drug.
Medically, liquid cocaine is very rarely used with the most common country being the USA. In South Africa, you will likely never come across this substance. Doctors and surgeons will typically use it as a topical local anesthesia for ear, nose and throat surgery. Liquid cocaine is a strong vasoconstrictor, something that narrows blood vessels. This property is sometimes used to limit blood flow to wounds.
The recipe to liquid cocaine.
Regular cocaine, or cocaine hydrochloride, is a white powder that is typically snorted. This powder is water soluble and can be dissolved into many liquids. This is usually a property of the drug abused by drug traffickers to hide cocaine in beverages, beauty products, syrups and even fertilizer. The possibilities for smuggling cocaine this way is near endless.
Once successfully smuggled, the liquid cocaine is processed back into the original white powder. This is a large reason why street drugs can be so dangerous. There is no guarantee that the drug no longer contains contaminants from the liquid it was smuggled in. Users could be getting poisonous laundry detergent with their drug and not even know about it.
While not as common, users may mix cocaine into a liquid themselves, creating liquid cocaine to be injected intravenously. This can create a quicker high than snorting it, but the strength remains the same.
How liquid cocaine affects you differently
The effect of all cocaine comes from the way it interacts with the central nervous system. It rapidly increases dopamine level beyond what the body is naturally capable of. This hit of dopamine sends the user into a euphoria with extra energy and alertness. Some users will also experience extreme anxiety, irritability and twitching.
If you want more information on cocaine and its effects, read our main article on the drug here.
Liquid cocaine has the exact same effects, both short and long, but it comes with a few extra dangers. Any kind of regular injection can damage veins and become high risk spots for infection. The site becomes sore and inflamed and can be life threatening if not treated medically.
The liquid nature of this drug poses an even bigger threat. Once diluted, it can be very difficult to understand dosage. Combined with the faster acting effects, risk of overdose greatly increases. If not handled properly, this can lead to death.
How to save someone suffering from a cocaine overdose.
If you are around someone using cocaine and you see them struggling to breath, experiencing chest and head pain, blurry vision, vomiting or seizures, they are experiencing an overdose and you need to act fast. A cocaine overdose requires medical assistance.
Call an emergency line immediately. In South Africa, that is 10177 for an ambulance. Follow their instructions. If the person is unresponsive and you cannot feel a pulse, perform rescue breathing and chest compressions until the ambulance has arrived. If they are experiencing seizures, move them to a space they cannot hurt themselves. If they are vomiting, lay them on their side and keep their airway clean.
Liquid cocaine treatment and rehab.
Overcoming an addiction to cocaine is not straightforward. It’s a deeply personal journey. Lasting recovery is best achieved through a structured approach that combines medical supervision, professional counselling, and evidence-based behavioural therapies. Together, these tools help people work through the causes of their addiction, manage cravings, and develop the resilience needed to sustain a drug-free life.
The Way Recovery is dedicated to helping people reclaim their lives from cocaine and other substances. Our compassionate and experienced team works closely with each client to create tailored treatment plans in a safe, private, and non-judgmental space. Whether you are taking this step for yourself or reaching out on behalf of a loved one, we are committed to walking alongside you throughout the entire recovery process.
Take the first step today and reach out to The Way Recovery to find out more about our treatment programmes and how we can help you or someone you love build a foundation for long-term healing.
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