Cocaine is an extremely addictive stimulant drug derived from the coca plant leaves, a species native to South America. Now, cocaine has some medical benefits, such as working as a local anesthetic in surgery. However, using the drug recreationally is illegal in the US.
In the streets, where it is illegally sold, cocaine can go by different names, including coca, blow, coke, crack, speedball, etc.
Cocaine powder is commonly consumed by snorting through the nose. But it is also smoked or injected. Once inside the body, it spikes the levels of dopamine, “a feel-good hormone” in the brain. This is what users get addicted to. However, the effects only last a short while, so users have to keep consuming the drug to sustain the high. Unfortunately, cocaine use causes changes to the brain, some short-term, others permanent.
If you want to stay away from cocaine or figure out if a loved one is using it, it is important that you know how to identify it. That said, smell is perhaps the fastest way to identify something without seeing or touching it. So, the question is:
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Does Cocaine Have a Smell?
Unfortunately, pure cocaine usually has no smell, although some people argue it has a sweet floral smell. However, the process of extracting cocaine is complex and uses a variety of chemicals such as sulfuric acid, gasoline, diesel, ammonia, caustic soda, etc. These agents leave traces in the end product and, therefore, affect its attributes.
So, does cocaine have a smell? Yes, but it is not the cocaine itself you will be smelling.
The distinct smell of cocaine will depend on the impurities it contains from the extraction process. However, it will generally have a chemical or metallic smell. When smoked, the air around the smoker will resemble that of burnt rubber or plastic smell.
Beyond smell, you can identify cocaine by appearance and taste. Let us quickly dive deeper into these two attributes for identifying the substance.
Appearance
While cocaine is often consumed in powder form, it may come in rock form. But regardless of whether it is in rock or powder form, you can tell it is cocaine if it is anywhere from white or off-white in color.
To further ascertain it, look out for the characteristic shine of cocaine, caused by light reflecting off the crystals. This way, you can distinguish it from other white powders. Speaking of white powders, it is important to mention that cocaine can also be beige or pink in color.
Taste
Though not recommended, you can identify cocaine by tasting it. Cocaine has a characteristic tart and bitter taste, and many people usually taste it to tell the substance and its purity.
Use Smell as Well as Taste and Appearance to Identify Cocaine
Want to tell if a substance is cocaine? The best way to tell for sure is to smell it, check its appearance, and taste it. But remember, the latter is not advisable, so only consider it if it is absolutely necessary. Don’t take any chances; check any suspicious powders with these easy tips.
