Who uses the drug?

What are the risks?

Individuals of all ages use 

cocaine—data reported in the National 

Household Survey on Drug Abuse 

indicate that an estimated 27,788,000 

U.S. residents aged 12 and older used a 

form of cocaine at least once in their 

lifetime. (Slightly more than 6 million of 

these individuals used crack cocaine.)

Powdered cocaine use among high 

school students is a particular concern. 

Seven percent of high school seniors in 

the United States used the drug at least 

once in their lifetime, and 2 percent 

used the drug in the past month, 

according to the University of 

Michigan’s Monitoring the Future 

Survey.

Powdered cocaine is a powerful 

central nervous system stimulant. 

Individuals who use the drug may 

become restless, irritable, and anxious. 

Use of powdered cocaine also can result 

in constricted blood vessels and 

increased temperature, heart rate, and 

blood pressure. Heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, and seizure also 

may result from cocaine use. Using 

cocaine at the same time as alcohol is 

consumed is particularly dangerous 

because it heightens the cocaine’s 

euphoric effect and potentially 

increases the risk of sudden death.

Cocaine is a very addictive drug. 

Chronic users risk developing tolerance 

What is powdered cocaine?

What does it look like?

How is powdered cocaine abused?

Powdered cocaine (cocaine hydrochloride) is a stimulant that is 

extracted from the leaves of the coca 

plant, which is native to South 

America. In the late 19th century 

cocaine was used as an anesthetic, 

but the availability of safer drugs 

rendered many of its medical applications obsolete. Today powdered 

cocaine is abused for the intense 

euphoric effects it produces.

Cocaine typically is sold to users as 

a fine, white, crystalline powder.

Powdered cocaine typically is 

snorted (inhaled through the nose), 

although it may be dissolved in water 

and injected. When snorted, the drug 

is absorbed into the bloodstream 

through the nasal membranes. The 

drug reaches the brain—and produces 

its euphoric effect—within 3 to 5 

minutes. When injected, the drug is 

released directly into the bloodstream 

and reaches the brain within 15 to 30 

seconds.

to cocaine’s effects. Many addicts 

report that as tolerance develops they 

fail to achieve the positive effects they 

experienced when they first began 

using the drug; thus, they begin to use 

cocaine with greater frequency and in 

larger doses.

Cocaine users who inject the drug 

expose themselves to additional risks, 

including contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and 

C, and other blood-borne viruses.

The most common names for powdered cocaine are blow, nose candy, 

nose powder, powder, and white powder. (Please see the Street Terms text 

box below for additional names.)

What is it called?

Who uses the drug?

What are the risks?

Individuals of all ages use 

cocaine—data reported in the National 

Household Survey on Drug Abuse 

indicate that an estimated 27,788,000 

U.S. residents aged 12 and older used a 

form of cocaine at least once in their 

lifetime. (Slightly more than 6 million of 

these individuals used crack cocaine.)

Powdered cocaine use among high 

school students is a particular concern. 

Seven percent of high school seniors in 

the United States used the drug at least 

once in their lifetime, and 2 percent 

used the drug in the past month, 

according to the University of 

Michigan’s Monitoring the Future 

Survey.

Powdered cocaine is a powerful 

central nervous system stimulant. 

Individuals who use the drug may 

become restless, irritable, and anxious. 

Use of powdered cocaine also can result 

in constricted blood vessels and 

increased temperature, heart rate, and 

blood pressure. Heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, and seizure also 

may result from cocaine use. Using 

cocaine at the same time as alcohol is 

consumed is particularly dangerous 

because it heightens the cocaine’s 

euphoric effect and potentially 

increases the risk of sudden death.

Cocaine is a very addictive drug. 

Chronic users risk developing tolerance 

What is powdered cocaine?

What does it look like?

How is powdered cocaine abused?

Powdered cocaine (cocaine hydrochloride) is a stimulant that is 

extracted from the leaves of the coca 

plant, which is native to South 

America. In the late 19th century 

cocaine was used as an anesthetic, 

but the availability of safer drugs 

rendered many of its medical applications obsolete. Today powdered 

cocaine is abused for the intense 

euphoric effects it produces.

Cocaine typically is sold to users as 

a fine, white, crystalline powder.

Powdered cocaine typically is 

snorted (inhaled through the nose), 

although it may be dissolved in water 

and injected. When snorted, the drug 

is absorbed into the bloodstream 

through the nasal membranes. The 

drug reaches the brain—and produces 

its euphoric effect—within 3 to 5 

minutes. When injected, the drug is 

released directly into the bloodstream 

and reaches the brain within 15 to 30 

seconds.

to cocaine’s effects. Many addicts 

report that as tolerance develops they 

fail to achieve the positive effects they 

experienced when they first began 

using the drug; thus, they begin to use 

cocaine with greater frequency and in 

larger doses.

Cocaine users who inject the drug 

expose themselves to additional risks, 

including contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and 

C, and other blood-borne viruses.

The most common names for powdered cocaine are blow, nose candy, 

nose powder, powder, and white powder. (Please see the Street Terms text 

box below for additional names.)

What is it called?

Aspirin

Aunt

Birdie powder

Bolivian marching 

powder

Bouncing powder

Candy sugar

Devil’s dandruff

Fast white lady

Flake

Flave

Foolish powder

Friskie powder

Happy powder

Joy powder

Marching powder

Pariba

Powder diamonds

Shake

Shrile

Soft

Star-spangled 

powder

Sugar boogers

Uptown

White boy

White dragon

Yao

Street Terms for Powdered Cocaine
DEA

Cocaine

Fast Facts

Powdered

www.usdoj.gov/ndic

Other products of interest:

For more information on illicit drugs 

check out our web site at:

www.usdoj.gov/ndic

, Huffing—The Abuse of Inhalants

, Prescription Drug Abuse and Youth

, Drugs,Youth, and the Internet

National Drug Intelligence Center

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Johnstown, PA 15901-1622

Telephone: 814-532-4601

FAX: 814-532-4690

NDIC Washington Liaison Office

8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1001

McLean, VA 22102-3840

Telephone: 703-556-8970

FAX: 703-556-7807

NDIC publications are available on the following web sites:

ADNET http://ndicosa

LEO home.leo.gov/lesig/ndic

RISS ndic.riss.net

INTERNET www.usdoj.gov/ndic

Call 814-532-4541 

to request NDIC products

Is powdered cocaine illegal?

Yes, powdered cocaine is illegal. 

Powdered cocaine is a Schedule II 

substance under the Controlled 

Substances Act. Schedule II drugs, 

which include PCP and methamphetamine, have a high potential 

for abuse. Abuse of these drugs 

may lead to severe psychological or 

physical dependence. 

Cover photo © PhotoDisc

Check out Fast Facts on:

, Crack cocaine

, Crystal methamphetamine

, GHB and analogs

, Heroin

, Inhalants

, Jimsonweed

, Ketamine

, Khat

, LSD

, Marijuana

, MDMA

, Methamphetamine

, PCP

, Prescription drugs

, Yaba NDIC Product No. 2003-L0559-004

National Drug Intelligence Center

a component of the 

U.S. Department of Justice

051503

Questions 

and 

Answers