Cocaine: Uses and Effects

Cocaine Cocaine is a drug taken from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a potent brain stimulant and one of the most addictive drugs. Cocaine is sold on the street in two main forms: cocaine hydrochloride is a white crystal powder that can be snorted or dissolved in water heated and injected and "crack" is cocaine hydrochloride that has been processed with ammonia or (baking soda) and water into a freebase cocaine. These …

…the past month. Of that number, an estimated one- half million were current crack users. As in the past, the rate of current cocaine use was highest among young adults. In 1995, approximately 54% of current cocaine users were aged between 18 and 34 1.Pollack MH, Brotman AW, Rosenbaum JF. "Cocaine abuse and treatment." Comprehensive Psychiatry 1989 Jan- Feb;30(1):31-44. 2.Vandette JM, Cornish LA. "Medical complications of illicit cocaine use." Clin Pharm 1989 Jun;8:401-11. 3. Encarta Encyclopedia www.Encarta.com 2000 ver.