Diagnosis Dictionary

Cocaine (Causes)

Cocaine abuse in the United States peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, but it remains an enormous problem today. The stimulant directly affects brain function, and long-term addiction leads to extensive physiological and psychological problems.

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Cocaine is an "upper" (stimulant) that gives its user a false sense of limitless power and energy. When users come down, they are usually depressed, edgy, and craving more. No one can predict whether he or she will become dependent and addicted, or whether the next dose will be deadly.

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