Final answer:
Cocaine and crack increase dopamine in the brain to stimulate pleasure centers, causing euphoria and addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cocaine and crack produce a euphoric rush by preventing the reuptake of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, by nerve cells in the brain.
This action leaves high levels of dopamine available to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain, resulting in the intense sensations associated with these substances. However, as a stimulant, cocaine's euphoric effects are short-lived and dopamine levels are rapidly depleted, leaving users in a state of low pleasure and often causing cravings for more of the drug to regain the pleasurable sensation.
Like many other stimulants, cocaine impacts the dopamine neurotransmitter system which is closely linked to reward and craving, thus explaining its addictive properties.