Medical causes and effects of cocaine abuse.

Historical data concerning the use of cocaine, its epidemiology, chemistry and pharmacology, as well as its medical complications and treatment, in both acute intoxication and chronic addiction is reported. Its repercussion and damage upon the nervous system with neurologic and psychiatric alterations is also reported. The frequency of cerebral hemorrhages and myocardial, and other visceral infarctions due to vascular lesions are discussed. Various pulmonary lesions produced by the different routes used and the multiple obstetric problems during pregnancy, such as abnormal labour with products showing cerebral damage and teratogenic lesions due to the use of cocaine are presented. Finally, the present prophylactic campaigns against the use of cocaine and other drugs are mentioned.