Final answer:
Cocaine produces arousal and euphoria by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, leading to elevated levels of the neurotransmitter in the brain which stimulates the pleasure centers. It does not degrade neurotransmitters; rather, it disrupts their removal from the synapse, which contributes to the drug's addictive properties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cocaine causes its effects of physiological arousal and feelings of euphoria, not by degrading neurotransmitters, but by disrupting their normal recycling process. Specifically, cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine by nerve cells in the brain, which is the process that usually removes the neurotransmitter from the synapse. By inhibiting this mechanism, cocaine ensures that dopamine accumulates and remains active in the synaptic cleft.
High levels of this neurotransmitter lead to an enhanced stimulation of the brain's pleasure centers, which is responsible for the drug's euphoric high. The drug's stimulant properties are related to this effect on the dopamine system. However, after the effects of the drug subside, the dopamine is quickly depleted, leaving the user in a state of low pleasure and often leading to cravings for more of the substance to regain the euphoric sensation. This cycle contributes to the highly addictive nature of cocaine.