Cocaine

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant. It is also called coke, snow, C, flake, or blow. It may be mixed (cut) with other substances, such as cornstarch, talcum powder, or sugar. It may also contain other drugs, such as fentanyl, procaine, or amphetamine.

Two forms of cocaine are:

• The white powder form. It can be sniffed through the nose (snorted) or dissolved in water and injected in a vein (intravenous, or I.V.). It can also be taken by mouth or rubbed onto the gums.
• The rock crystal, or freebase, form. It can be smoked. Freebase cocaine is called crack, chips, chunks, or rocks.

Small amounts of cocaine make a person feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert. It also decreases appetite and the need for sleep. Some people use cocaine and alcohol together, which can cause stronger, longer-lasting effects. When large amounts of cocaine are taken, the high is more intense. But large doses can cause strange or violent behavior. For example, the person may have tremors or muscle twitches or become paranoid.

After using cocaine, the person feels irritable, tired, and depressed. This is called a coke crash. If a person takes the drug at higher and higher doses (a binge), they can get more and more irritable, restless, and paranoid. This can cause a person to hear or see things that aren’t there (hallucinations).