h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Cocaine - A9988924
Author: Annie - U128652

This has stemmed from not finding an entry on cocaine for the Diego Maradona rescue entry.
I've spent a lot of time on it, researched lots of different sources but mainly BBC Health and News.
I've added many links but am happy to add more.
If there's any emotive phrases that don't belong in the entry, point them out and they will be removed.

Thank you


Submitted 10 Mar

Hi Annie! Very well researched stuff.

Perhaps, as you have concentrated on the specific dangers and risks involved in taking cocaine, you might want to consider a quick change in title to 'Cocaine - The Risks' or something like that? Otherwise (much as you may not like to!) I think you'd have to at the very least examine why people take it: how it makes them feel, why it's an attractive drug, why it's apparently back in fashion again now more than it ever has been before, etc.

Have a quick read-through of the Edited Entry we've got on Ecstasy - A2398818 - which is a really good example of the kind of thing I mean.



Paully

No mention of the song?

Title changed, thanks Paully!

Sorry MJ didn't see you there - what song?

Cocaine, by Clapton!

Here's the lyrics

If you wanna hang out you've got to take her out; cocaine.
If you wanna get down, down on the ground; cocaine.
If you got bad news, you wanna kick them blues; cocaine.
When your day is done and you wanna run; cocaine.
If your thing is gone and you wanna ride on; cocaine.
Don't forget this fact, you can't get it back; cocaine.
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie; cocaine.

Hope I'm not infringing copyright, no doubt someone will tell me if I am.

I'll find it and link to it, I suspect the lyrics would make my entry disappear faster than a line of...



I actually thought you meant "Charlie is my darling" but hesitated as I am probably the only one on h2g2 old enough to remember it..

No, you're not the only about.

Changed the title and added another section on pregnancy.

I have added a link to the Clapton song (from his own website) in the tag because I didn't know where to shove it.

What an excellent article Annie. As a former plod having dealt with the criminal elements of this your detail in there should act as a deterrent to anyone wanting to use drugs. Well done.

Is it worth including something about why people do actually take it?

Is it Will Self who did a poem along the lines of "Simply everyone's doing cocaine"? Someone like that anyway, will see if I can find it...

It was Murray Lachlan Young:
http://www.theblisspages.com/cms.php?page=music&storyname=Murray%20Lachlan%20Young#cocaine

Linked to from the BBC News page here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4606658.stm

That's a comprehensive entry Annie but I agree with the others here who say you should include a paragraph of the 'positive' effects. If you don't acknowledge the (albeit temporary and minimal) benefits *any* drug related article gets viewed as 'preachy' (think about the 'Just Say No' campaign which failed dismally as it didn't address the fact that drugs are, in the short term, fun, which is why people take 'em.)

Cocaine provides a feeling of alertness, mild euphoria and (usually misplaced) self confidence. It also leaves a big hole in the wallet (the price to performance ratio of cocaine is remarkably low. Why on earth is it so popular?) and a bloody nose.

Thanks very much Straighttalker
Kelli I have added those links, thanks very much, and I've added a section on why people take cocaine - which I will add to with further suggestions in the interest of balancing the entry.

Does this need a disclaimer like the Ecstasy entry?

sorry Roymondo I pressed post message before I finished.. I have quoted you, in the new section, and brought in the Clapton song into it as well. I'll add you both in the credits section, thanks

By *both* I mean *all* - of course

I think that in the interests of objectivity you should probably change 'Some people think it enhances their performance when it is their perception which has changed.' to include a 'when it is usually their perception...' as, in some cirumstances, it *does* improve performance. That's partly why some professional creative types burn so brightly for a few years before they stop using the drug and start living for it.

No need for that Annie, if you are adding me to the credits...they're not my lyrics