What Kind of Drug Is It?

Cocaine is a natural substance that comes from the leaves of the coca (pronounced KOH-kuh) plant. This plant should not be confused with the cocoa (pronounced KOH-koh) plant, which is the source of chocolate. Cocaine acts as both a STIMULANT and an ANESTHETIC.

Overview

The coca plant grows in only one part of the world: the northwestern and central regions of South America. A huge portion of the great Andes Mountain system lies along the western coast of the continent. The warm, humid air and rich soil found among these mountain highlands are well suited for the growth of coca. More than a third of the world's supply of coca leaf is grown in Colombia, a South American coastal nation surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the north. The rest is grown in the nearby...