9781422270516

HEROIN

WHAT IS COCAINE? About Cocaine Cocaine is a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says that it “has a high potential for abuse.” Cocaine is extracted from coca leaves that are grown throughout South America. It is an addictive stimulant that increases cognitive function and produces extra energy in the body. It can be used in a few ways. The powdered form is commonly snorted because it produces a quick high, or it is injected to produce a longer-lasting effect. Some users may smoke a form known as “crack cocaine.” The effects occur within minutes of ingestion and can last several hours before disappearing. How Is Cocaine Made and Distributed? Cocaine goes through a long extraction process that includes purifying various chemicals within coca leaves and combining them with multiple substances to produce a powder, which

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