Cocaine is a hell of a drug. It’s safe to conclude that media coverage of celebrities’ cocaine use oddly enough glamorizes it, ultimately desensitizing its effects. Cocaine effects are extremely detrimental on the body and the consequences related to cocaine can eventually lead to permanent damage, addiction and death.
Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and now our emerging pop star Bruno Mars were recently arrested for it. Mars is having a love affair with the white girl, cocaine’s street name, which is the most popular drug used on college campuses. Could it be that our youth believe that they will become a star if they do what the stars do? Everything from what celebrities’ wear, to the cars they drive is replicated in pop culture. Why wouldn’t their illicit drug use be included in the equation? Is it possible that the myth being perpetuated in our society is that creativity cannot be achieved without a little help from outside forces?
Here’s a brief science lesson, cocaine stimulates the nervous system and its effects last 15 to 30 minutes – including increased feelings of well-being and an enhanced endurance. In a nutshell, it makes you feel like you’re TheBomb.com. However, it also causes tremors and convulsions, and increases your body temperature. Moreover, the good feeling decreases with frequent use. Your body begins to build a tolerance and it needs more cocaine to deliver the basic results. It’s an unbeatable cycle and alas, you’re addicted.
The late Rick James serves as a prime example of what can happen when you succumb to it, the allure is hard to evade. Cocaine has a solid reputation for crippling careers, destroying families and even taking lives. If everybody can witness what it’s capable of, why do they keep doing it?
Mars has the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 100 with his infectious love song “Just the Way You Are.” He’s co-written and produced several hit singles with stars like B.o.B and Travie McCoy. He ripped the “MTV Video Music Awards” stage with his performance, and then he gets popped in a Las Vegas bathroom with 2.6 grams of cocaine? What did we miss here? At the pinnacle of his burgeoning career, and on the tip of megastar success, what would make such a talented and promising individual choose to go that route?
Since his arrest, Mars has kept himself busy with in-store appearances and all-night studio sessions. Police reports claim that when questioned by officers, Mars admitted “he did a foolish thing.” Indeed. But for all the adoring fans that look up to him, foolish is an understatement. Everyone deserves a second chance, but the first impression lasts forever. –marqueta smith
