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The potent drug was first prescribed as an anesthetic and a painkiller by doctors who believed that it was a safe substitute for morphine. The drug is a white, crystalline compound that has been processed from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca), a t ....

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.... it is sniffed. It is readily absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal mucous membranes, but it acts as an irritant to constrict blood vessels and sometimes causes ulcerations in the nasal cavity. Cocaine is also injected in solution into veins or may be smoked in chemically treated forms known as free base and crack. Any method of ingestion produces compulsive use, and drug dependency may develop in a relatively short time. Users are attracted at first when small amounts of cocaine decrease their fatigue and increase their mental awareness. When taken in larger amounts, cocaine may also produce digestive disorders, weight loss, sleeples ....