Cocaine Information
Cocaine and Crack both have a very large impact in the U.S. and
Canada as being one of the most used illegal drugs.
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that comes from coca
leaves. There are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: the hydrochloride
salt and the “freebase.” The hydrochloride salt, or powdered form of
cocaine, dissolves in water and, when abused, can be taken intravenously (by
vein) or intranasally (in the nose). Freebase refers to a compound that has not
been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. The freebase form
of cocaine is smokable.
Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white,
crystalline powder, known as “coke,” “C,” “snow,”
“flake,” or “blow.” Street dealers generally dilute it with
such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such
active drugs as procaine (a chemically related local anesthetic) or with such
other stimulants as amphetamines.
Crack Information
Crack is the street name given to a freebase form of cocaine that
has been processed from the powdered cocaine hydrochloride form to a smokable
substance. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound heard when
the mixture is smoked. Crack cocaine is processed with ammonia or sodium
bicarbonate (baking soda) and water, and heated to remove the hydrochloride.
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.
Crack cocaine remains a serious problem in the United States. The
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated the number of current
crack users to be about 567,000 in 2002.
Get Rehab Help for Cocaine or Crack Addiction
Please fill out the form below or cal us toll-free at
1-877-276-3962 to speak with someone right away.
