The number of deaths linked to drug consumption in the world is increasing, as is the number of users and people with serious drug addiction problems. According to data from this year’s UN World Drug Report, in 2017 5.5% of the population used drugs, and cocaine production stood at a historical record with 1,976 tons, 25% more than the year before. former.

While production numbers are increasing, the brains of millions of the planet’s inhabitants are breaking down at rapid rates. Cocaine, among many other factors, can lead to direct death due to degeneration of the white matter of the brain.

The consumption of the narcotic sometimes induces leukoencephalopathy, which involves progressive damage or inflammation of the white matter of the brain. “It is not a very common disorder, but the effect is very dangerous and almost always fatal,” explains Mari Carmen Sánchez, professional psychologist at Clínicas Cita, an entity specialized in addiction cases, to La Vanguardia.

Leukoencephalopathy can present in different ways: an altered level of consciousness, confusion, impaired speech and vision, fever or spasticity (tightened muscles) accompanied by acute degeneration of the white matter of the brain.

This image shows the effects of cocaine on a patient’s brain through MRI scans.

According to a study published in the prestigious British Medical Journal, a 45-year-old man presented to the emergency room of a hospital in Malta with confusion and unusual behavior. “He couldn’t perform simple tasks and didn’t follow orders. He moved all four limbs in a strange movement,” explains Dr. Abdilla in the BMJ report.

The patient, addicted to cocaine, worsened hours later, until he entered a catatonic state. Although blood tests were normal, an MRI revealed that parts of the white matter of his brain had been “eaten away.”

The white matter is that part of the nervous system responsible for the correct transmission of brain information. It can be considered to coordinate communication between the different systems of the human body, both inside and outside the brain. The axons of neurons predominate in the white matter, which means that these areas of the brain that are white, in essence, are neuronal highways, areas of communication between parts of the brain.

However, not all the consequences of cocaine use lead to this chilling outcome. The psychologist specializing in addictions, Mari Carmen Sánchez, details other effects, perhaps more common, produced by the use of this narcotic.

With mild effects, psychologist Sánchez points out that cocaine stimulates the nervous system, causing brief feelings of euphoria, increased liveliness of the subject, talkativeness (talks a lot) and a feeling of power. Victims of consumption may also become sweaty, restless and dizzy, as well as have nausea and vomiting.

But then more acute effects appear. Increased heart rate and blood pressure can lead to abnormal rhythm and fatal seizures, even in young, healthy people. Likewise, excessive consumption can cause seizures and strokes.

Physically we can also find hepatic, renal, respiratory, dermatological, neurological (where leukoencephalopathy or cerebral hemorrhage would be located) and otorhinolaryngological (nasal ulcers, perforation of the nasal septum or sinusitis) consequences.

The cocaine user, as detailed by the addiction specialist, feels distrust, suspicion, excitement, jealousy, obvious irritability and aggressiveness, anxiety, restlessness, muscle tension, learning, intelligence and personality problems, in addition to family and economic problems.

As in everything, there is always a scientific part that gives concrete explanations about a disease and predicts its consequences. But have you ever listened to a victim? Do you know what the relationship that a habitual user has with the drug is? To try to help a patient, sometimes you just need to listen to them and try to understand why they have filled that void in their life with artificial material that only brings them limited happiness.

A user of amphetamines, popularly known as speed, explains to La Vanguardia what this substance means to her, which, like cocaine, has a stimulating effect on the nervous system, increases physical resistance and reduces the feeling of hunger and sleep. .

“I guess I’m expected to say that I discovered speed because one day it was offered to me and I didn’t know how to say no, that I felt weak, influenced by my environment or pressured to try its charm. Either I have had a difficult childhood and/or I have grown up in a broken family. But, although these circumstances may be those of many, they were not mine, this is not how the relationship with the person who would become the love of my life began.

My relationship with speed began after having tried other drugs, which I still take for pleasure, from time to time, if the opportunity arises. Starting with alcohol, which is a “drug”, in case anyone doubts it, it is legal, but not weak. Then I became familiar with joints, followed by pills, ecstasy, synthetic mixtures that I tried to experience new things, but without really knowing what it was that I was going to take. I just wanted him to make me fly. And in the end, I jumped into the amphetamine pool blindfolded, not knowing that the pool was empty and even though the jump was pure adrenaline, the fall was going to hurt.

First small stripes to keep up with the party, and then the party was an excuse to get involved. From the party to the plans with friends at night, then the beers in the afternoon, and in exams I made myself a stretch so that with less effort I could study more concepts, faster and better.

And it was that, not the exams, not the speed. But rather, feeling like I could do everything effortlessly, that I had pleasure in the moment and that gave me self-confidence. And little by little, the more I fell in love with him and the more I talked about him. And from being just another hobby in my life, now time, days, weeks and my routines revolved around it. He felt butterflies in his stomach the moment he was going to have it again. And I prioritized going to buy it, I prioritized the people who accepted my relationship. I isolated my love, my feelings towards him from my external reality, turning it into an intimate ritual, a secret love.

I understand my relationship with speed with the metaphor of romantic love. A love of very intense emotions. It’s like being tied to gold chains. The shine of gold blinds you and doesn’t let you see that, even though they are made of gold, they are still chains.

Because even knowing the negative consequences you don’t leave it. The drug has destroyed my memory, my principles and my goals, it has left my head hollow, it has left me empty. And I have filled the feeling of emptiness with it. And although I am now aware of the damage he does to me, he is still the love of my life, and although little by little I am beginning to learn new ways to fill the gap, they know little. Speed ​​is the love that has made me feel most alive and I will never be able to forget how good it made me feel.

I am motivated to change, to work on myself, to know myself and to learn ways to fill that gap, being free to follow my aspirations and not needing the artificial happiness that makes it grow.”