• Affects neurons in the brain’s “pleasure pathways” (limbic system)
• Binds dopamine transporters and prevents the reuptake of dopamine
• Dopamine survives longer in the synapse and fires pleasure pathways more and more
• Causes extreme physical dependence
• Postsynaptic cells become increasingly desensitized to dopamine.
• Overdosing can cause seizures and cardiac and respiratory arrest.
• Long-term cocaine abuse causes brain damage.