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Cocaine: an overview of current issues
Abstract:
A period of ascendancy of cocaine use has had implications in matters of science, public health, and national and international politics and has been the subject of numerous reviews. The present paper provides a critical overview concerning use and prevalence, and addresses a range of current issues of interest. Patterns of use, dose, tolerance, sensitization, routes of administration, and hazards of use are considered based on laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical data. Aspects of treatment are discussed. The need for developing a model of drug abuse recognizing pharmacological-neurochemical-behavioral-environmental interactions is noted. Suggestions are made concerning future directions of policy and research. The need to develop scientific goals and public policy vis-à-vis cocaine, and other stimulants, based on a historical perspective as well as current concerns is emphasized.
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Stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine enhance brain activity, leading to increased alertness, attention, and energy. These drugs typically raise heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. While they can induce feelings of euphoria, their misuse can result in severe health...
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Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...

