Cocaine users who make it 24 hours past their last high without incident should consider themselves relatively lucky. Among its other after-effects, the addictive drug is associated with a sevenfold increase in the chance of stroke, according to a new study, Web MD reported.
"Cocaine is not only addictive, but it can also lead to disability or death from stroke," said lead researcher Yu-Ching Cheng, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Though the study didn't establish a true cause and effect between cocaine and short term stroke risk, it found that 300 of the 13,000 strokes by Americans ages 15-44 last year were associated with cocaine use within 24 hours of onset.
"Cocaine use can result in the constriction of blood vessels; increased heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure; and decreased oxygen supply to the brain," said Cheng, pointing to the most likely connections between the drug and strokes. "These physiological effects may boost the risk of stroke."
Even if the study didn't prove direct causation and is awaiting peer review, Dr. Scott Krakower, assistant unit chief of psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y. who was not part of the study, agreed with its findings based on his experience with patients who use or have used the drug. He also noted that many users aren't aware of cocaine's other side effects.
"They do not realize the paradoxical effects it may have, including worsening mood, anxiety and behavior," Krakower said. "In addition, it may lead to serious consequences at any time, like acute stroke."
If cocaine does increase the chance of stroke by seven times within a 24-hour period, consider last Sunday night's pseudo robbery scene on "True Detective" (the best show on television right now) to be that much more remarkable. I lost count on the number of lines Rusty (played by Matt McConaughey) snorted during that episode; I'm also lost as to what he was actually taking, if it was cocaine laced with something else or just something else. That he was able to survive physically unscathed (we also know he lives at least 15 years longer based on the flashback nature of the show) shows that Rusty is one of the lucky ones, or, more accurately, not one of the unlucky ones.
