Cultural Causes of Cocaine Addiction
Culture can define and shape somebody’s approach to trying out cocaine, and then their cocaine habit following their initial use by a long shot. A majority of people who use cocaine are middle class Caucasians. Using cocaine is very acceptable in certain social groups. This drug is a social one and, unlike marijuana, you aren’t going to find somebody using it medicinally or for a relaxing night in. Because it provides the user with energy, confidence and makes them more focused, most people who use it like to do it in order to sober up and keep drinking for longer periods of time so as to prevent getting too drunk. (As if getting too high on cocaine is a better alternative.)
You can find these people at nightclubs, “trendy” fashion industry parties, or other such events that would socially accept a drug like cocaine. Not only that, but cocaine makes a person more talkative which makes it appealing especially to those seeking to network at an industry type of event. Unlike crack, cocaine isn’t totally and wholly stigmatized. It’s vividly and repeatedly glamorized by pop culture. Cocaine is glorified in movies, television and pop songs. You can find the drug being unabashedly referenced in a myriad of popular rap songs. It’s even been propped up by the media countless times as a non serious type of drug of the “hip” variety by celebrities who get caught using with little consequences.
The reality of the matter is that cocaine is highly dangerous and could be cut with all sorts of adulterants, but most people don’t quite grasp this concept when going into a cocaine habit. Instead it seems like a cool aspect of social acceptance within the scene they’re a part of or trying to be a part of. Let’s take the entertainment industries, namely fashion, for example. This is a perfect example of the type of scene in cities like New York or Los Angeles where cocaine is pretty much regularly used without a second thought. It’s practically a bonding ritual for these people, and a significant part of the nightlife.
The perception of cocaine in especially metropolitan areas is a lot different than narcotics such as crack or meth. Crack and meth are regarded with caution and as harshly harmful substances, while cocaine on the other hand gets a free pass just because it’s popular. This false perception is leading tons of people in the wrong direction. When the occasion of getting offered cocaine arises in particularly a big city like New York people tend to accept the invitation gracefully under the false idea that it’s a casual, harmless drug. It’s precisely this type of misguided perception and attitude that is leading someone into an addiction while staying oblivious to the fact that they’re hooked.
Gateway Drugs To A Cocaine Habit
There’s quite a bit of controversy as well as a myriad of opinions and theories out there on the discussion regarding which exact drugs are the gateway drugs to cocaine use. The consensus is that the following substances are gateway drugs to cocaine:
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Marijuana
The chances of cocaine addiction are increased a lot if the person tried one or more of these gateway drugs under the age of 18. However, it doesn’t matter at what age these substances are tried, they can all lead to cocaine addiction. Alcohol and nicotine often go hand in hand, especially at parties, bars and nightclubs. The scenes that you can find using cocaine are likely to be smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol often as well. One interesting statistic is that 90% of cocaine users between ages 18 and 34 had smoked cigarettes prior to using cocaine. As you can see, this isn’t necessarily unheard of.
However, marijuana isn’t as widely known or seen as clearly as a gateway drug. This might have to do with the obvious fact that marijuana is a downer, and cocaine an upper. But this is precisely one connection between the two and what can cause someone to either switch over to cocaine or to alternate between the two.
An aspect of this is when somebody had been smoking or using marijuana, especially over a longer period of time, and then quits or stops; they will begin to get the effects from withdrawing from marijuana. When these effects set it, they begin to crave or need to fill in the void or mask the unwanted effects. If this is a person who goes out and drinks regularly, they are likely to invite a cocaine offer with open arms. They might not be aware of what’s going on, as the symptoms of withdrawing from marijuana aren’t widely known in itself, so they might just have an itch for cocaine meanwhile staying oblivious as to the reason why.
Another aspect of marijuana being the gateway drug to cocaine is that these are two of the most common illicit drugs. Cocaine is the second most used illegal substance in the United States, marijuana is the first. It’s purely circumstantial that people who have tried out marijuana will also try out cocaine and vice versa, for the same cultural reasons- they both appear like harmless, casual and “social” drugs and are constantly promoted that way in these social circles. Marijuana is merely a stepping stone, usually, to longer lasting and habitual cocaine use.
In a majority of cases, though, we see that people who use alcohol and cigarette also use marijuana- all three of which lead into an eventual cocaine habit. There may be a pretty obvious reason for this: evidently these people are prone to addiction in general. So while it may seem that a hard drug like cocaine would require one or a combination of these substances to get started, that isn’t always or routinely the case. People becoming involved in any addiction for that matter are especially inclined toward addictive type behavior. Needless to say, these gateway drugs mentioned can definitely act as catalysts to using cocaine and therefore falling into an addiction thereof.
Cocaine Portrayal Versus Reality
Cocaine is portrayed by various media outlets and pop culture as something entirely different than what it really is. What cocaine really is, illusions brushed aside, is a harmful drug which is potent and very addictive. Addiction is common when dealing with cocaine, a fact that is currently being squashed by a false rumor which spreads otherwise.
The bottom line is that this drug leads many people into a full-blown addiction regularly. Anyone who says otherwise is being inaccurate. The unfortunate reality of cocaine is not congruent with the misguided and structured facade we see in movies. Cocaine might seem alluring when falsely promoted but it actually can lead to dangerous situations. Because a tolerance builds up fast with this drug, more of the drug is required (and more often, too) in order to achieve the high desired. An addiction to cocaine can end up running someone’s life in this way and hence make a dent on their financial situation. In conclusion cocaine remains a serious issue and a current struggle in our society today.
