Cocaine
From the Set The Young Adult Drug Library
Cocaine is an illegal stimulant that is refined from the leaves of the coca tree. It has a high risk of addiction, and those who abuse this drug can experience negative mental and physical side effects, and even death. In the U.S. alone, nearly 20,000 people die each year from a cocaine overdose. Cocaine is one of ten titles in the Young Adult Drug Library series. Nine titles spotlight a major drug or type of drug (such as painkillers); discuss the negative physical and mental effects of the addiction on the addict and the potential benefits of their use (for certain legal drugs); and provide an overview of treatment strategies for the addiction. The last title, Facts & Figures, provides readers with the "big picture" regarding drugs, including their pros and cons; how they are made, distributed, sold, and used; why they are abused or misused; and treatment options for those who become addicted. Stories of those who are battling drug addiction are also featured in the series in order to humanize these issues.