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Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain.
While cocaine is one of the oldest known drugs, it has become increasingly popular and more extensively used in the past two decades. In the freebase form, cocaine is smokable, as it has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. It can also temporarily decrease the need for sleep and food. The duration of the immediate euphoric effect of the drug depends on how it is administered. The high from snorting is relatively slow in onset and may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking is faster but may only last 5 to 10 minutes.