| Crack
cocaine, a form of cocaine base, is derived from
powder cocaine. Unlike the processing of freebase
cocaine, converting powder cocaine into crack cocaine
does not involve any flammable solvents. The powder
cocaine is simply dissolved in a solution of sodium
bicarbonate and water. The solution is boiled and
a solid substance separates from the boiling mixture.
This solid substance, crack, is removed and allowed
to dry. The crack cocaine is then broken or cut
into "rocks," each typically weighing
from one-tenth to one-half of a gram. One gram of
pure powder cocaine will convert to approximately
0.89 grams of crack cocaine. The DEA estimates that
crack rocks are between 75% and 90% pure cocaine.
Because crack is smoked, the user experiences
a high in less than 10 seconds. This rather immediate
and euphoric effect is one of the reasons that
crack became enormously popular in the mid 1980s.
Another reason is that crack is inexpensive both
to produce and to buy.
Source: NIDA Research
Report, "Cocaine Abuse and Addiction,"
May 1999
The crack epidemic dramatically increased the
numbers of Americans addicted to cocaine. In 1985,
the number of people who admitted using cocaine
on a routine basis increased from 4.2 million
to 5.8 million, according to the Department of
Health and Human Service's National Household
Survey. Likewise, cocaine-related hospital emergencies
continued to increase nationwide during 1985 and
1986. According to DAWN statistics, in 1985, cocaine-related
hospital emergencies rose by 12 percent, from
23,500 to 26,300; and in 1986, they increased
110 percent, from 26,300 to 55,200. Between 1984
and 1987, cocaine incidents increased fourfold.
Source: DEA Museum, "DEA
History: 1985-1990: The Crack Epidemic"
The effects of Crack are similar to those of
Cocaine, although since Crack is smoked, additional
risks exist. General effects include constricted
blood vessels and increased temperature, heart
rate, and blood pressure, restlessness, irritability,
anxiety, and with long term use, violence and
paranoia are noted. Additional risks of smoking
crack include respiratory problems such as shortness
of breath, chest pains, lung trauma and bleeding.
As with cocaine, crack is highly addictive. Evidence
shows that when cocaine and crack are smoked (as
opposed to other methods), there is increased
risk of compulsive cocaine-seeking behavior.
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