Cocaine Perfect For Heart Attacks

Cocaine users are more likely to have heart problems according to a study by the University of Sydney.

Using MRI scans, cocaine users showed a 35 per cent increase of stiffening of the aorta, higher systolic blood pressure and a 18 per cent increase of thickening of the hearts ventricle wall.

The combined effects of the cocaine use are greater blood clotting, increased heart stress and more blood vessel constriction putting the users at high risk for a heart attack.

Previous studies have shown that cocaine use can cause short term high blood pressure and artery stiffness but this study shows that these effects can be long term.

Cocaine is the perfect heart attack drug.

(Source: Drugs.com 6 November 2012)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This report is further evidence of the harms of using cocaine and its link to heart problems.

Supposed well educated professionals and celebrities who are most likely to use cocaine are ignorant of the consequences of cocaine use.

This study confirms that recent calls for illicit drugs to be legalized in Australia are highly dangerous.

Injecting cocaine at the Kings Cross drug injecting centre in Sydney should be stopped immediately and the New South Wales government should close this high risk operation.

Identified cocaine users need drug rehabilitation to get them free of drugs and governments need to adopt the Swedish rehabilitation policy which is world leader in drug use reduction.