Snow, Flake, Blow, Crystal, Nose Candy, Rock, or Freebase, Cocaine has many names they change according to what’s in vogue. One thing that doesn’t change is the devastation caused by cocaine abuse.

WHAT IS COCAINE?

Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxlon coca) which grows in South America. In the late 1800’s medical science desperately searched for something to relieve the pain associated with surgery; something more than a swig of liquor. Cocaine was discovered and became widely used as an anesthetic. The virtues of this miracle drug quickly spread until there were thousands of products, including Coca-Cola, that had varying amounts of cocaine as an ingredient. No wonder people used patent medicines, they were getting high on cocaine; thousand died. The Harrison Narcotic Act was passed to prevent further abuse of cocaine.

Cocaine appears in several different forms. Cocaine hydrochloride (salt) is the most available from of the drug. It is usually sniffed or snorted into the nose, although some users inject it or smoke a form of the drug known as “freebase or crack.”

When cocaine is snorted, the effects begin within a few seconds, peak within fifteen to twenty minutes and disappear within an hour. Users describe the “high” As a pleasurable and intense feeling similar to sexual orgasm. The physical effects include dilated pupils and increase in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature. The user may have a sense of well-being and feel more energetic or alert, and less hungry.

WHAT IS FREEBASE OR CRACK?

These are street names for a from of cocaine that is processed using highly volatile solvents like Ether. The solvents dissolve the hydrochloride (salt) making the drug more suitable for smoking. Smoking freebase produces a shorter and more intense “high” than most other way of using the drug; smoking is the most direct way to get the drug to the brain. Because larger amounts of the drug are getting to the brain more quickly, smoking also increases the risks associated with using the drug.

These risks include confusion, slurred speech, anxiety, and serious psychological problems. The duration of the freebase high is very short.

To prevent the withdrawal symptoms, cocaine smokers find themselves using more and more of the drug to maintain the high.