Cocaine is a dual-acting, two-in-one drug: an anesthetic that numbs whatever body tissue it touches and a stimulant that lights a fire in the brain. The psychological payoff that cocaine provides is so powerful that users are drawn to it again and again.

Common Names: C, Charlie, coke, snow, toot, white

Appearance: Cocaine is a white powder usually sold in grams. It is usually sniffed up the nose (snorted). It can also be smoked and injected.

Effects: People who take cocaine usually feel wide-awake and confident. It raises body temperature – making people get very hot and makes the heart beat faster. The effects are powerful but don’t last very long, fading within an hour. This means that people usually want to take more and more of it, which can be dangerous. Cocaine can be very addictive and people will crave it if they don’t have any. Cocaine can cause heart attack, stroke, and overdose in otherwise healthy users. Using cocaine regularly can cause depression, panic attacks, damage to the nose, upset stomachs and stomach ulcers and mood swings.