NEW DELHI: The widely available recreational drug cocaine is hard to detect in the blood if sniffed or smoked and an overdose is known to increase blood pressure, body temperature and cause hallucinations, convulsions and possible death, say experts.

Cocaine's adverse reaction increases if it is taken with alcohol and other drugs, they add.

"Cocaine is known to cause an increased pulse rate, excessive sweating, agitation, vomiting and can also lead to rupture of blood vessels due to increased pressure and even heart failure. Rahul Mahajan could have had these symptoms before he lost consciousness," said Fortis Hospital senior consultant Anoop Misra.

Common cause of death

Doctors, however, are not ruling out the use of heroin coupled with alcohol in this case. "This case seems to be that of a combination of drugs or an overdose. Overdose of cocaine is among the most common cause of death that we see among drug users in the capital. Drugs are known to heighten the negative effects of alcohol and the combination can cause respiratory problems along with adverse reaction of the heart. The condition can cause death in case the patient has a history of high blood pressure and diabetes. Also, the combination of drugs, their purity and the amount used are other important aspects when trying to detect the substance that has been abused," said Delhi Medical Council member Anil Bansal.

Doctors also claim that while cocaine is difficult to trace after 12 hours of being used, there are tests available in city hospitals and laboratories for testing common recreational drugs.

However, the country has few high-tech centres that can detect the presence of sulphide, zinc, cyanide and other poisonous substances in the body after a specified period of time.

"Drug users are known to mix substances to heighten the `kick' and these toxins inhibit the normal action of the heart and lungs, cutting off blood supply to the brain that manifests itself in the form of fits and frothing at the mouth, symptoms noted in Bibek Moitra's case," said senior consultant in the Department of Medicine of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, S.T. Byotra.

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