ther directly or indirectly, on a single pathway deep within the brain .... Activation of this pathway appears to be a common element in what keeps drug users taking drugs .... The addicted brain is distinctly different from the non-addicted brain, as manifested by changes in metabolic activity, receptor availability, gene expression and responsiveness to environmental cues .... That addiction is tied to changes in brain structure and function is what makes it, fundamentally, a brain disease" (Satel 1999: 60).
Unlike heroine and alcohol, cocaine does not produce such serious physical withdrawal symptoms. The heavy cocaine addict typically uses the drug in a driven, repetitive manner for 24 to 72 hours straight. Cocaine wears off very quickly and, as it fades, the yearning for more is overpowering. Each fresh hit quells the intense craving. The process winds down only when the addict becomes exhausted, runs out of money, or becomes paranoid, a potential effect of cocaine and other stimulants, such as methamphetamine. He
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