Cocaine: Available, Addictive, Abused

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain.

Cocaine is normally sold on the streets, and also available through networking in American schools, as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as "coke," "C," "snow," "flake" or "blow."

The short term effects appear almost simultaneously with the usage and last for minutes to possibly hours. It can make the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative and mentally alert through an increased sensitivity to touch, sight, smell and hearing.

Long term effects may include tolerance whereby many addicts fail to achieve the euphoria first experienced and increase dosages which cause a self destructive cycle of irritability, restlessness and paranoia. Losing touch with reality through a full-blown paranoid psychosis is also possible.

When abused in combination with alcohol, the toxic interaction is extremely dangerous since it is the most common two-drug combination resulting in a drug related death.

Click here to read more on Cocaine Abuse from the NIDA