Cocaine is mischievous

[FringGustavo]

It's a psychostimulant that isn't the most powerful, has a fairly short duration of effect and encourages continuous use.

It's less dopaminergic than many other stimulants, which are far less addictive - quite a paradox.

In my opinion, it's the worst stimulant when you take into account its benefits and drawbacks.

 

[Paracelsus]

That's a really sharp take.

Cocaine works by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin—especially dopamine—in the nucleus accumbens, a core area involved in reward. But unlike amphetamines (which cause release of these neurotransmitters), cocaine just inhibits their reabsorption. That should, in theory, make it less intense than meth or even methylphenidate. But in practice, it's more addictive for a lot of people. Why?

1. Short duration + rapid onset (especially when smoked as crack or injected): Effects hit fast and hard (especially smoked), but fade within 30–45 minutes. This creates a brutal craving–crash–repeat cycle.
2. Psychological rollercoaster: The comedown from cocaine can feel sudden and emotionally raw—anxiety, dysphoria, paranoia. People re-dose just to stop that.
3. Dopamine spikes vs. sustained elevation: Cocaine causes a sharp, short spike in dopamine. That rapid change may be more reinforcing than slower or sustained increases (like with Ritalin).
4. Social & contextual factors: Cocaine is often used in binge patterns, in party or nightlife contexts. That social reinforcement strengthens the habit loop. It’s glamorized, expensive, and tied to specific identities—which also affects the psychology of use.

Addiction isn't just about raw dopamine levels—rate of onset, context, route of administration, neuroadaptation, and individual differences in neurobiology all matter. Some argue that the pattern and rhythm of stimulation (e.g., sharp peaks and valleys) might be more important than the total amount of dopamine.

So yes—paradoxical, but not irrational.

As for whether it's the best or the worst—that's ultimately a subjective judgment. With enough interest, anyone can find arguments both highlighting its appeal and exposing its itchiness.

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

If you are buying some quality powder for an extended sniffing session with a close friend, that is one way to enjoy it. If you are scraping together your moms last $17 from the change jar for a $20 piece to smoke - it is quite a miserable way to exist if that is what motivates you. I can't seem to make sense or understand why people choose to live in poverty and depression just to experience these extremes at both ends, day after day. From the rush of intense euphoria and stimulation to a few moments later being paranoid, dysphoric, anxious and without money and craving more. After the initial novelty of the experience fades away there isn't much left. There are much better highs to experience at a much lower cost, and all around better things to do, even for a hedonist, but to each their own.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

As someone who was killed by cocaine, but just hasn't died yet. It's the triple reuptake inhibition it inhibits all 3 major neurotransmiters at a dose thatdoesn't kill you, not many drugs do that, they inhibit one or 2 far stonger than another, plus, it makes you so fucking cool and good looking...There are lots and lots and lots of people who say they don't understand the appeal. Let me say I've bought coacine from at least 15 fifferent vendors and paid from $100 to $360 for 3.5 grams, and none of it has been worth a damn. The highest rated venders! Some of it has been decent actually, a couple of sellers, but I can call a guy who can call a guy and somewhere within 20 miles of me in every direction I can get some stuff that is an order of magnitude stronger, more sour, grosser. Shit that makes you look like a pterodactyl when it drips in the back of your throat. I've never sold everything I own, but I've lost a lot of good stuff for sure. Being the guy with the bomb ass cocaine and a generous mentality makes you about 17 feet tall. The last stuff I bought about sent me to the hospital. turned my feet black for $350. Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on me, fool me5 times, fuck, when will I learn? Cocaina and heroin (I hear, i don't partake) can't be found on the internet in top grade.

 

[SoldadoDeDrogas]

When I sniffed my first rail of fish scale at 16, a few moments later my face was numb and I was bathing in euphoria and that was my "Aha! I know why they do it now" moment. I've spent my time with coke. However, something I don't quite understand also, actually, is how cocaine from the street is a lot better then the "%90+ pure" stuff I've seen sold from DNM. It is much cheaper on the street also. So what gives?

I would like to experiment with the different salts, that would be interesting I think.

 

[Osmosis Vanderwaal]

I think it's so deep and convoluted it would take100 pages to begin to tell you. Cocaine doesn't do well in heat or oxygen. Good cocaine becomes not very good cocaine, but a test can't tell you that. People isist cocaine should be $170/ball or it's too much but good cocaine costs $106/g according to the government (that is purety/price adjusted, $170 8 ball has 1.6 grams of actual cocaine, on average, statuistically, not in reality, over an average test group of like 1000 representative samples) What it's cut with makes all the difference, some people think meth is the best cocaine they ever tried, others prefer caffiene. yet other think the best cocaine is lidocaine and some tropacocaine