Cocaine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant that comes from the South American coca bush.
The cocaine bought on the street is a mixture of pure cocaine and other substances such as talc, flour, laxatives, sugar, local anesthetics and other stimulants or powders that are added to stretch the supply and increase the seller's profit. Often, cocaine is snorted through the nose. It is formed when powdered cocaine is melted in a glass tube with water. When the liquid cools, it is mixed with baking soda and cold water and cut into small pieces, which then harden. Since it enters the system directly through the lungs, smokeable cocaine reaches the brain faster than when cocaine is snorted, and causes a more intense reaction.