Brief Description
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. It produces short-term euphoria, energy, and talkativeness in addition to potentially dangerous physical effects like raising heart rate and blood pressure. Learn more
Street Names
Coke, snow, flake, blow
Effects
Cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric and energetic, but also increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Users risk heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, abdominal pain, and nausea. In rare cases, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly afterwards.
Statistics and Trends
| Drug |
Time Period |
8th- Graders |
10th- Graders |
12th- Graders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocaine | Lifetime | 1.9 | 3.3 | 4.9 |
| Past Year | 1.2 | 2 | 2.7 | |
| Past Month | [0.5] | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
|
Crack Cocaine |
Lifetime | [1] | 1.4 | 2.1 |
| Past Year | [0.6] | 0.8 | 1.2 | |
| Past Month | [0.3] | 0.4 | 0.6 |
* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.
| Drug |
Time Period |
Ages 12 or Older |
Ages 12-17 |
Ages 18-25 |
Ages 26 or Older |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocaine | Lifetime | 14.3 | 1.3 | [12.4] | 16.3 |
| Past Year | [1.5] | 0.9 | 4.6 | [1] | |
| Past Month | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | |
|
Crack Cocaine |
Lifetime | [3.2] | 0.3 | [2.1] | [3.7] |
| Past Year | [0.2] | 0.1 | [0.3] | 0.2 | |
| Past Month | [0.1] | 0.0 | [0.1] | 0.1 |
* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.
Related Publications
Related Resources
NIDA Therapy Manuals for Cocaine Addiction (Archives):
- Manual 1: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach: Treating Cocaine Addiction
- Manual 2: A Community Reinforcement Approach: Treating Cocaine Addiction
- Manual 3: An Individual Drug Counseling Approach to Treat Cocaine Addiction: The Collaborative Cocaine Treatment Study Model
- Manual 4: Drug Counseling for Cocaine Addiction: The Collaborative Cocaine Treatment Study Model
- Manual 5: Brief Strategic Family Therapy for Adolescent Drug Abuse
Emerging Trends
Get more information on Emerging Trends, we will update this page with the latest research findings as they develop.
Looking for Treatment?
Use the SAMHSA Treatment Locator or 1-800-662-HELP.
Research Report
Cocaine: Abuse and Addiction
Describes the latest research findings on cocaine, exploring the scope of abuse in the U.S., its potential long- and short-term health effects, maternal cocaine use, and treatment approaches.
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Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
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