| Abstract: | Cocaine use in the United States has currently reached epidemic proportions. This has resulted in syndromes of intoxication, overdose, and withdrawal, meeting all DMS-III criteria for a substance that can cause dependence as well as abuse syndromes. This paper reviews the current epidemiology of cocaine, its history and pharmacology with major focus on clinical syndromes. This is followed by a review of the current knowledge of the relationship between cocaine and violence and the forensic-psychiatric issues surrounding cocaine. |
