A history of cocaine use is presented, production processes are described, and the scope of the cocaine problem is discussed. Major routes of administration are considered including intranasal, smoking, and intravenous. The general physical effects of the drug on the body are described, including immediate and long-term effects and those associated with an overdose. Cocaine-related mortality also is examined. Medical complications associated with the drug itself, drug paraphernalia, and adulterants also are described. Complications due to the lifestyle and psychiatric symptoms of cocaine abusers are delineated. Basic elements of brain function are reviewed, and the effects of cocaine use on nerve cell junctions and brain function are described, including long-term behavioral implications and adverse reactions. A case study is used to highlight the factors contributing to cocaine dependence and the development of dependence. Also considered are the hazards of cocaine use in the workplace. Methods of treating cocaine abuse are described, and guidelines for choosing among treatments are provided, together with general rules for abusers wishing to quit. A question-and-answer section addresses issues of concern to the general public, the occasional and dependent user, treatment providers, and family members of abusers. Appendixes include a cocaine dependency self-test and a State-by-State guide to treatment facilities. Index and 67 references.