Final answer:
Cocaine serves as both an appetite suppressant and an anesthetic, and it's known to be highly addictive with significant health risks associated with its use. As an agonist, it increases dopamine levels in the brain, contributing to its addictive qualities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cocaine is indeed an appetite suppressant and was also historically used as an anesthetic. Originating from the leaves of the Erythroxylon coca plant, which grows in the Andes Mountains, cocaine was the first local anesthetic to be discovered. This substance, when consumed, provides a sensation of wellbeing, largely as a result of its interaction with brain neurotransmitters. Cocaine effectively increases levels of dopamine in the synaptic cleft by preventing its reuptake and stimulating additional release, categorizing it as an agonist.
Despite these medicinal uses, cocaine is highly addictive and engages the brain's reward pathways. A tolerance to the drug's effects can build quickly after single-dose usage, leading to the likelihood of addiction after relatively short-term use. Withdrawal symptoms post-cessation in chronic users can include depression and subjective fatigue. Additionally, cocaine use is associated with a significant increase in the risk of various health issues, including diseases such as AIDS, and events like heart attack and stroke. Cocaine is often found mixed with substances that can lead to additional health risks when it's sold illicitly.