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 Crack Cocaine Information
What is Crack Cocaine?
Crack Cocaine: What it is the chemical cocaine hydrochloride is
commonly known as cocaine. Some users chemically process cocaine in
order to remove the hydrochloride. This process is called
"freebasing" and makes the drug more potent. Crack is a solid form
of freebased cocaine. It is called "crack" because it snaps and
cracks when heated and smoked. Since crack is an already prepared
form of freebased cocaine, the user does not have to buy the
equipment or be exposed to the explosive chemicals associated with
freebasing. Crack is most often packaged in vials or plastic bags
and sold in small quantities, usually 300-500mg or enough for two to
three inhalations. Traditionally, cocaine was a rich man's drug,
due to the large expense of a cocaine habit. Now, crack is being
sold at prices low enough that even adolescents can afford to buy
it. But, this is misleading, since once a person is addicted to
cocaine, tolerance rises, the habit need increases, and so does the
expense. How is crack cocaine used?
The same way that freebase is used, by placing the substance in a
glass pipe (or hash pipe) with a fine mesh screen under it, then
heating it and inhaling the vapors. The vapors of the freebase are
absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and transported to
the brain within 10-15 seconds. One inhalation will produce a degree
of intoxication usually lasting 10-15 minutes. What are crack cocaine's adverse effects?
As with any street drug, what is sold may not be what it is
claimed to be. Predicting side effects is difficult when the actual
contents are not known. Life-threatening reactions have been
reported whether it's the first, the 100th, or any other time crack
is used. You do not have to overdose on crack to die from it. In
addition, if the initial experience leads to continued use, other
adverse effects include the rapid development of tolerance,
addiction, and all the social problems that can come from an
expensive drug habit. For help with drug abuse phone
1-800-785-4962.
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