cocaine

Introduction

cocaine kōkānˈ, kōˈkān [key], alkaloid drug derived from the leaves of the coca shrub. A commonly abused illegal drug, cocaine has limited medical uses, most often in surgical applications that take advantage of the fact that, in addition to its anesthetic effect, it constricts small arteries, lessening bleeding. There are many street names for cocaine, including coke, C, toot, flake, and snow.

Sections in this article:

Introduction
History of Cocaine Use
Production and Distribution
Treatment
Modes of Administration; “Crack” Cocaine
Effects and Addictive Nature
Bibliography

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