CRACK COCAINE
Facts About The Drug
What It Is
Names: Crack, rock, "readyrock, " "french fries" (three-inch sticks).
Type: Central nervous system stimulant.
Forms: Dried chunk or shaving of cocaine combined with baking soda or ammonia in water. A freebase form less pure than freebase prepared with ether.
Combinations: With heroin, "dynamite," "speedball," or "whiz-bang." With morphine, also "whiz-bang."
Usage: Smoked as a vapor.
Legal Status: Illegal.
Other Forms: Leaf or coca bush (ritual form). White crystalline powder or lump ("rock") as cocaine hydrochloride. Vapor as cocaine freebase. Solution diluted in water. For medicinal purposes, used in solution as a surface anesthesia.
What It Feels Like
Immediate and overwhelming high or euphoria lasting three to five minutes, followed by intense low with depression, worry, inability to concentrate.
What It Does
To Your Mind: Stimulates intense alertness and excitement.
To Your Body: Speeds up all systems, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, constricts blood vessels, alters breathing, creates dry mouth, dilates pupils, exaggerates movements.
Special Characteristics: Increased risk of overdose due to uncontrollable, higher concentration in bloodstream. Increased risk of heart failure in otherwise healthy users. Severe breathing and lung effects. Liver damage, malnutrition, overstimulation of all body systems, destruction of brain neurotransmitters.
How It Can Hurt You
Shaking, muscle twitches, seizures, severe anxiety, compulsive repetition of actions with no meaning. Paranoia, psychosis, heart related effects, nausea and vomiting, changes in breathing, increase in body temperature. Cold sweat, dramatic mood swings, hallucinations, sensation of insects crawling under skin and other continuing psychotic effects. Eating and sleeping disorders, impaired sexual performance. Extreme social problems can develop from irritability, depression and financial difficulties.
Death from overdose is common, as are suicide, homicide, fatal accidents while under the influence. Snorting can be fatal in itself. Breathing is often stopped when combined doses of cocaine and heroin are taken. Lethal doses vary by individual and are not predictable.
Dependence occurs as a psychological craving and physical dependence is developed with even occasional low doses.
Street purchases are commonly substitute or diluted drugs. The unsuspecting buyer risks having no knowledge of what such he or she is taking are or what the effects may be.
When To Get Help
- Do you use crack?
- Do you use it in the morning or at regular intervals?
- Do you think about crack often?
- Do you lie about how much you use?
- Are you spending more on crack than you can afford?
- Are you having problems at work, school, with family and friends?
One "yes" and your common sense tells you it's time to get smart about drugs and the rest of your life.
Fact:Cocaine may be the most addictive drug of all for everyone.
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