Essay 3 Organization

Thesis

The decision to use cocaine leads to a three step chain of events including depression, addiction, and withdrawal.

Paragraph 2

• Using cocaine raises dopamine and serotonin while it is affecting the body
• Levels of serotonin and dopamine drop significantly after cocaine use
• Users need more cocaine to elevate their mood
• 18-22% of suicides have been found to be related to cocaine

Paragraph 3

• Tolerance to cocaine is built up and more is needed to get a person high
• Addiction sets in as a person needs the drug to overcome depression
• "Cocaine is at least as addictive as heroin"
• Long-term use can result in sleep disturbances, deterioration of the nervous system, and death

Paragraph 4

• Cravings for cocaine can last for months following the end of long-term use
• Withdrawal can cause shaking, nausea, muscle pain, and depression
• Serotonin levels are thought to be severely depleted due to cocaine use
• People experiencing withdrawal may take sedatives to ease the pain