800-COCAINE: origin, significance, and findings.

Abstract

1-800 COCAINE has provided assistance to over two million callers to date. It has supplied epidemiologic data regarding cocaine use, with increasing proportions of female users since 1983, decrease in average age and income of callers since 1983, and numerous social and medical consequences of use. In addition, it has provided data regarding timing of the progression of cocaine abuse and confirmation that cocaine abuse is an addictive illness for those calling to seek help. It has corroborated other studies in documenting the psychosocial and medical consequences of addiction and has been a source of insight into trends in cocaine addiction. 800-COCAINE is, by its existence and name recognition, a primary prevention project.