# Cocaine sweets to "relax" people - does it makes any sense? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695 "2003-03-24T03:41:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/1 "2003-03-24T03:41:19Z")
Ok - my own fault for looking under the “quirky” news section, but well, at least it was neither war nor Oscars. > [@](#): > > \*\* > > New cocaine sweet ‘will help people relax’ > > A company in Peru is developing a sweet made out of a mixture of caramel and cocaine. > > The company, from Carmen Alto, says the Cocamel will help people relax from the stress of daily life > > … \*\* Taken from trom this article: [http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm\_763222.html](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_763222.html) Disclaimer - no I have never used cocaine, but it was my impression that it is more of a “get lvely, wake-up” thing than a relaxant. And how lrgal would that be in Peru, I wonder. Would there then be a trade in contraband confectionary? Ah, my level of ignorance is great. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/2 "2003-03-24T03:46:49Z")
Sadly, I _have_ used cocaine, many years ago in my younger, stupider days. I’ll never touch the stuff again. I don’t know about very, very small doses, which I assume we’re talking about here, but at the doses coke users take, it’s definitely a stimulant. I could never relax after doing a line, and I hated it, yet I still wanted more. Nasty, nasty stuff. Maybe it’s something like alcohol, which at relatively low doses acts like a stimulant, but at higher dosages, behaves like a depressant, but that’s a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![Ficer67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/3 "2003-03-24T03:53:41Z")
I have never used it. What I have read is enough to make me too afraid to use it. Yes it is a stimulant, so much so that people who cannot control their addiction suffer heart attacks because they get so high that their hear can’t keep up with its own demand for oxygen. That is too scary for me to even consider eating one piece of this candy. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/4 "2003-03-24T03:57:10Z")
Actually, it mainly kills by shutting down the brain stem. I very nearly died from it shortly after I started using, yet I didn’t stop then. Don’t touch the stuff, I tell you. It’s evil ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/5 "2003-03-24T04:18:11Z")
Thank you all for your replies - yes - it does sound jsut a wee bit unhealthy! Heck - I just thought ( rather flippantly, I admit) can you imagine how awful kids would be if they got hold of this. The creatures are bad enough already! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/6 "2003-03-24T04:42:53Z")
Cocaine is known for causing heart attacks and brain damage, in addition to profoundly stupid behavior. I actually couldn’t find an MSDS for cocaine (heh, imagine that, I guess OSHA doesn’t care much for coke). So I went to Erowid and found [cocaine’s effects](http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/cocaine/cocaine_effects.shtml). Happy reading. – **Derleth** , who only uses caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/7 "2003-03-24T07:42:32Z")
OSHA’s got nothing to do with it; you just don’t know where to look. Read it and weep: [MSDS for cocaine hydrochloride](http://www.usp.org/refstd/msds-pdf/1143008.pdf) (PDF file), from the United States Pharmacopeia, no less! ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/8 "2003-03-24T09:28:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Celyn \* > **Disclaimer - no I have never used cocaine, but it was my impression that it is more of a “get lvely, wake-up” thing than a relaxant.** From what I understand, chewing coca leaves is common in Peru, and at such low doses its effects are very similar to the effects one gets from caffeine consumption. I assume that the “relax from the stress of daily life” portion of their claim is just referring to the slight mood elevation that might result, not the actual physiological effects of the drug. In any case, I would assume that this candy has such a low dose of cocaine that it would be a lot more like chewing coca leaves than like inhaling concentrated cocaine hydrochloride powder, which is obviously a bad idea, what with the paranoia, psychosis, strokes, heart attacks, and whatnot that can result. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/9 "2003-03-24T10:19:16Z")
Now, if only it didn;t entail falling out with breakfast cereal manufacturers, I suppose they could be marketed as Coca-pops. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/10 "2003-03-24T10:28:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Celyn \* > \*\*Now, if only it didn;t entail falling out with breakfast cereal manufacturers, I suppose they could be marketed as Coca-pops. > > 🙂 \*\* I have a Great idea for including it as an ingredient in a carbonated beverage. I haven’t a clue what we could call it though… Pepsi Coca?.. I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/11 "2003-03-24T11:38:04Z")
**Nametag** : I didn’t know if cocaine HCl was the same as Our Least Favored Alkaloid, so I didn’t follow links that mentioned it. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/12 "2003-03-24T11:48:41Z")
If it’s only at coca-leaf concentration, I don’t think it’s a major problem. [Coca use in the Andes](http://www.undcp.org/odccp/bulletin/bulletin_1977-01-01_1_page007.html#s030): > [@](#): > > Significant modification in behaviour and physiology of Indians using coca has not been obvious. Monge (1952) found no overt symptoms among coca users and reported that the habit was willingly abandoned by a group of users when ingestion of coca leaves was replaced by well balanced meals. Monge concluded that coca use was an intrinsic part of the Indian’s adaptation to high altitude life. A similar conclusion was reached by other researchers (Mortimer 1901, Cardenas 1952, and Slutes 1963) who reported coca use harmless and resulting in no profound, observable changes when chewed by the high altitude indigenes. During two years of residence on the altiplano, one of us (JMH) also observed no significant changes in the behaviour of native users in a variety of situations, nor did it seem difficult for even habitual users to abandon the practice. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/13 "2003-03-24T11:52:34Z")
Tthanks - it begins to sound as if it is not worse, or maybe not even as bad, as the way many of us use caffeeine, for instance. And as for alchol. Yes - I take the point abut the fizzy drink but just thought of it as “one of those things that only happened way back when”. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/14 "2003-03-24T22:05:33Z")
I used cocaine a few times back int he mid 90’s…it was underwhelming. I expected this incredible high but it was just ok…nothing to write home about. But the downside…oh boy. _Highly_ addictive, and extraordinarily expensive…not worth it no matter how you look at it, just stick with pot and alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/15 "2003-03-24T22:22:18Z")
Words of wisdom, **BONGMASTER**! I like the spelling error in Nametag’s link: “adverse effects may include numbness at **sight** of contact”. Something makes me doubt that they would use, in candy, cocaine HCl. My instincts tell me that it would be some more natural extraction method, but I could be wrong, even though it’s never happened before. Man, my nasal mucosa are sore… I’m off to find a topical anaesthetic. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/16 "2003-03-24T22:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarmaComa \* > \*\* > Man, my nasal mucosa are sore… I’m off to find a topical anaesthetic. Any suggestions? \*\* Somewhat of a hijack here, but how well does cocaine work as a topical anesthetic on regular skin? Whenever I’ve gotten a cut or anything on my hand, foot, or whatever, the various topical creams or jellies that I’ve tried that had lidocaine, benzocaine, or dibucaine have never really done much good at numbing the pain at all. Is cocaine any different, or is it only good at numbing mucous membranes like the others seem to be? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/17 "2003-03-24T22:54:10Z")
Cocaine doesn’t do a thing on skin. I know from first hand experience. It does an excellent job of numbing the mucous membranes in the nose and mouth though. And thin skin on the lips is affected also, but not the thicker skin elsewhere on the body. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/18 "2003-03-24T22:59:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Cocaine doesn’t do a thing on skin. I know from first hand experience. It does an excellent job of numbing the mucous membranes in the nose and mouth though. And thin skin on the lips is affected also, but not the thicker skin elsewhere on the body. \*\* Does that include the exposed layers of dermis and whatnot that result when you get a cut? Or just regular unbroken skin? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaine-sweets-to-relax-people-does-it-makes-any-sense/163695/19 "2003-03-24T23:03:24Z")
Dunno about that. I honestly never tried, but in that instance, I imagine it might numb the area. I’ve heard of guys using it on the head of their penises, too, to prolong sex. The skin is very thin there, too. No, I never tried that myself, either.