Each paper on cocaine was reprinted from NIDA’s research newsletter, NIDA NOTES. The collection of papers address the genetic and social determinates of vulnerability to drug taking behavior and responses to cocaine; the effects of cocaine on the brain; the myriad of other health and social outcomes associated with cocaine use; the development of both medicinal and behavioral treatments for the addiction of cocaine; and the development and evaluation of effective policies to deter youth from cocaine abuse. More specifically, one paper reports research findings regarding the harm caused by prenatal exposure to cocaine, while another paper ponders the protective effects of ADHD medications on the risk of later substance abuse. The 11th paper asserts that an altered cellular activity may be the trigger to the progression to cocaine addiction, while the 13th article suggests that even modest cocaine use can lead to brain changes that may contribute to addiction. Subsequent papers deal with the predictive factors leading to cocaine abuse and addiction; the coping skills of patients attempting to overcome addiction; and brain region activation with the use of cocaine. Also discussed are new strategies to neutralize cocaine in the bloodstream and to immunize rates against the effects of cocaine. Other papers report that 31 percent of New York murder victims had cocaine present in their bodies during their study period and that the voucher system in an effective strategy for the treatment of cocaine addiction. Figures, tables, sources