Cocaine is an extremely addictive illegal drug that is most often snorted as it comes in a powder form, but it can also be smoked or injected. Cocaine comes from the coca plant and is a strong stimulant, creating an energetic, sometimes manic state of mind by magnifying the brain’s level of dopamine which influences parts of the brain that control pleasure.

Cocaine produces a severe psychological addiction on a person, which is very difficult to work through. Users also progress to a high dependence on it and have to increase their usage just to reach a level of normality. At this stage, refraining from using cocaine will result in going through strenuous withdrawal symptoms. Part of why cocaine is so addicting is because it magnifies the brain’s level of dopamine and entirely reprograms the reward system.

The duration of the effect of snorting cocaine typically lasts around half an hour, while injecting or smoking cocaine results in an intense 5-10 minute high. Cocaine users constantly use to uphold their desired effects, with injection posing the greatest risk of overdosing. Among the top reasons why abusing cocaine is dangerous is due to its persistent taxing on one’s heart, which is why many cocaine users die of cardiac arrest and stroke.

Commonly Known As: Coke, blow, bump, C, nose candy, or snow.