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It could heighten your senses.

Here is an interesting fact, Coca-Cola contained actual cocaine at one point....

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp

You need to be seeking information for your paper somewhere more reliable than Yahoo! Answers. I mean, really, you might as well just cite "Random Stranger" as the source of information.

O___o From what I've heard, it does cause one to be more alert, but I really can't imagine how that's bad. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be a major part of the high- you know, the reason people actually DO the drug.

Also, just curious, but this report has you covering the positive effects of cocaine as well as the negative, right? I mean, humans have been using cocaine for a long time. I'm not one for hard drugs or anything, but I AM one for balanced perspective- that is, covering an entire subject, not just the part that one wants to be covered.

Anyway, here are a few links to help you out...

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/cocaine.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/cocaine.html

The intensity and duration of cocaine's effects, which include increased energy, reduced fatigue, and mental alertness, depend on how it is taken. The faster cocaine is absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to the brain, the more intense the high. Injecting or smoking cocaine produces a quicker, stronger high than snorting.

One the down side cocaine constricts blood vessels, dilates pupils, and increases body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. It can also cause headaches and gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea. Because cocaine tends to decrease appetite, chronic users can become malnourished as well.

It is highly addictive and your body tends to want more and more. If you already use it please quit before it ruins your life. If you haven't started, don't!

Yep! Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration.

The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of discomfort and depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Sexual interest and pleasure can be amplified. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, which usually increases with frequent usage.

Cocaine can cause mental alertness, which in itself is not a bad thing. . however, at higher doses mental alertness becomes paranoia, which is a bad thing. Cocaine can also cause psychosis, formication. . insomnia. . .when one is coming down off of cocaine one can become very depressed, lethargic, anhedonic, etc. . . hope that helps.

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It does cause mental alertness and its a negative because you aren't able to sleep and it sucks, you are a little TOO alert I'd say... and its bad bad bad for you.

The mental alertness turns to paranoia- I know I used to do alot of it- NO MORE

It's negative because it's highly addictive BECAUSE it causes such mental alertness.

No, it causes mental numbness, it numbs the brain. Who told you that? Cocaine, Novocaine, and lidocaine, are all agents that deaden nerve cells.