Cocaine and methamphetamine, commonly referred to as meth, are potent stimulant substances that possess the propensity to lead to addiction while their effects are vested primarily upon the central nervous system. Whilst sharing some commonalities, these substances exhibit fundamental distinctions with regard to their chemical composition, method of consumption by addicted people and impact on neurological and physiological functioning. The present discourse aims to delve into the dissimilarities existing between cocaine and methamphetamine and scrutinize their respective impacts on both the physical and psychological aspects of an individual. 

Cocaine is sourced from the foliage of the coca plant and takes the form of a crystalline, white powder that is conventionally sniffed or liquefied in water and subsequently introduced intravenously into the circulatory system. In contrast, Methamphetamine is a pharmacological agent of synthetic origin, composed of multiple chemical constituents, among them pseudoephedrine, a frequently encountered constituent of over-the-counter treatments for cold symptoms. Methamphetamine is frequently synthesized in impromptu laboratories and presents in various morphologies, notably a crystalline structure consumed frequently through smoking, snorting, or intravenous administration. 

Both cocaine and methamphetamine exert robust stimulatory effects on the physiological system, eliciting enhancements in cardiac activity, systemic blood pressure, and whole-body thermoregulation. Methamphetamine induces a more prolonged physiological response in the body as compared to cocaine, as the psychostimulant effects of methamphetamine remain effective for an estimated duration of 12 hours, while cocaine, conversely, has a considerably shorter-lasting duration of up to approximately 30 minutes to an hour. Methamphetamine presents a considerably potent impact on the physiology and psychology of the body, inducing a profound propensity towards physical and mental reliance, thereby increasing the propensity of morbidity and mortality. 

Cocaine and methamphetamine have a notable impact on the reward pathway of the brain, culminating in the release of dopamine - a crucial neurotransmitter that governs feelings of pleasure and motivation. Methamphetamine elicits a substantially amplified release of dopamine, in contrast to cocaine, ultimately inducing a heightened and prolonged euphoria. The pharmacological impact of these substances results in amplified measures of energy, loquacious behaviour, and an elevated state of euphoric feelings. Subsequent to experiencing the desired outcomes, a crash is prone to manifest, resulting in a complex emotional state characterized by melancholic tendencies, anxious thoughts, and paranoid ideations - this can develop into a persistent methamphetamine psychosis.

In conclusion, the consumption of cocaine and methamphetamine has been observed to result in detrimental effects on critical cognitive processes such as memory retention, attentional focus, and executive functioning. Utilization of said narcotics may result in enduring alterations in cerebral structure and activity, comprising diminished capacity to perceive gratification and heightened susceptibility to the onset of psychological conditions, notably depression and anxiety or psychosis.

Cocaine? Methamphetamine? What is the difference?

Scientific Publications:

  1. Byrne, S. P., & Kirwan, G. M. (2019). The neurobiology and social psychology of cocaine addiction: Clinical, ethnographic and psychopharmacological perspectives. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 100, 20-33.
  2. Li, Y., Yuan, K., Cai, C., Feng, D., Yin, J., Bi, Y., ... & Tian, J. (2015). Reduced frontal cortical thickness and increased caudate volume within fronto-striatal circuits in young adult smokers. Drug and alcohol dependence, 151, 211-219.
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  4. Szerman, N., Martinez-Raga, J., Peris, L., Roncero, C., Basurte, I., Vega, P., ... & Casas, M. (2013). Rethinking dual disorders/pathology: substance use disorders and mental illness. Revista de psiquiatria y salud mental, 6(3), 107-116.
  5. Wojtas, A., Rymaszewska, J., & Kiejna, A. (2018). Methamphetamine use and its correlates in the Polish population. Drug and alcohol dependence, 189, 1-7.
  6. Zilverstand, A., Huang, A. S., Alia-Klein, N., & Goldstein, R. Z. (2018). Neuroimaging impaired response inhibition and salience attribution in human drug addiction: a systematic review. Neuron, 98(5), 886-903.

Important words to remember:

  • Dopamine
  • Neurotransmitter
  • Addiction
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Fronto-striatal circuits
  • Dual disorders/pathology
  • Salience attribution