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- Crack Cocaine -

Crack Cocaine

Cocaine base, or crack, is a vapor form of cocaine that can be smoked. It reaches the brain even faster than the injected form, with shorter and more intense effects. Due to the short, intense nature of the smoked form, crack is extremely addictive. Street names for crack cocaine include: rock, crackers, smoke, Bebe, bings, and French fry.

Types

Crack cocaine consists of dried shavings of cocaine combined with baking soda or ammonia in water. A freebase form is made with ether.

Methods of Use

Crack cocaine is smoked as a vapor.

Effects on the Central Nervous System

Cocaine acts on the nervous system almost immediately. It works as a stimulant and induces a feeling of wakefulness, high energy, and euphoria. It also increases heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Intoxication

Cocaine intoxication may produce hallucinations and other perceptual disturbances, racing heartbeat, agitation, panic, paranoia, impulsive and aggressive behavior, and poor judgment. In some cases, cardiac or respiratory distress can cause death.

Acute stimulant intoxication is often very similar to symptoms shown by schizophrenic or otherwise psychotic individuals. When these symptoms subside, the user may "crash" and experience depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, along with a craving for more of the drug.

Life Risks

Long-term use of crack cocaine has been associated with personality changes, especially in adolescents. The manufacture of crack cocaine in drug labs often results in dangerous, accidental explosions because of a flammable compound (ethyl ether) that is used in the process. Free-basing the drug is also dangerous due the flammability factor.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal from crack cocaine may be accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms:

Apathy
Depression
Disorientation
Irritability
Oversleeping

Warning Signs

A person who is addicted to crack cocaine may:

Change the circle of friends and withdraw from non-using family and friends
Borrow or steal money to buy the drug
Compulsively seek crack and dwell on the next use
Experience personality changes, poor judgment, and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
Become evasive or lie about activities or whereabouts

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