Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug made from the leaves of the South American coca plant. Cocaine is a nervous system stimulant that has the appearance of small, irregularly shaped chunks of a whitish solid. Cocaine can be snorted while in the powered form, injected into the veins after dissolving in water, or smoked. It is also used to produce crack, which is smoked, producing a short, intense high.

Cocaine has two main pharmacological actions. It is both a local anesthetic and a central nervous system stimulant—the only drug known to possess both of these properties. The effects experienced in the early stages of cocaine use include a generalized state of euphoria in combination with feelings of increased energy, confidence, mental alertness, and sexual arousal.