The title is no understatement. For conservationists it is sickening. How much cocaine is being snorted by humans across the planet daily? We don’t know but we do know that the number of people dying from cocaine poisoning in the United States has been steadily increasing.
However, it’s important to note that many cocaine-related deaths often involve other substances, particularly opioids like fentanyl. This makes it challenging to isolate the exact number of deaths solely attributable to cocaine.
That being said, in 2022, there were 27,569 overdose deaths involving cocaine in the United States.
It’s a significant and growing problem that highlights the dangers of cocaine use. I’d expect similar statistics from Brazil but we don’t have the figures. Is is difficult to find statistics as this is an illegal practice.
But let’s admit that in Brazil cocaine use must be high. Perhaps very high. And perhaps getting higher year-on-year. And it has got so bad people are poisoning sharks in the blinking oceans with cocaine. 😱 Does that shock you as much as it shocks (but not suprise) me?
Cocaine in Sharpnose Sevengill Sharks: A Shocking Discovery by Michael BroadHow does cocaine poisoning affect marine wildlife including these sharks? We simply don’t know. Here is some info from Google’s AI bot.
Cocaine’s Impact on Sharks: Limited Understanding
While the discovery of cocaine in sharks is alarming, our understanding of its specific effects on these creatures is still quite limited.
There are a few reasons for this:
- Complex Physiology: Sharks have a vastly different physiological makeup compared to humans. This makes it difficult to directly apply our understanding of cocaine’s effects on humans to sharks.
- Limited Research: The issue of cocaine contamination in marine life is relatively new, and dedicated research on its impact on sharks is still in its early stages.
- Ethical Considerations: Studying the effects of cocaine on sharks would involve controlled experiments, which raise ethical concerns about harming these animals.
However, based on our general knowledge of cocaine and its effects on other animals, we can make some educated guesses:
- Central Nervous System Impact: Cocaine is a stimulant that primarily affects the central nervous system. It’s possible that it could disrupt the shark’s sensory perception, behavior, and overall neurological function.
- Cardiovascular Effects: In humans, cocaine can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure. Similar effects might occur in sharks, although their cardiovascular system is different.
- Long-Term Effects: Chronic exposure to cocaine could potentially damage organs and tissues, but more research is needed to confirm this in sharks.
It’s important to realise that these are educated speculations based on limited information. More research is necessary to fully understand the consequences of cocaine contamination on sharks and marine ecosystems. It needs to be done and more needs to be done to stop cocaine usage in the interests of wildlife (not humans! 🤣)
