Cocaine / Crack Addiction Facts

Cocaine, also known as coke, is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is acquired from the leaves of a coca plant.  Cocaine is a Schedule II drug meaning it can be easily abused but has some medical use.  Crack cocaine is a less pure form of cocaine that was nicknamed crack due to the sound made during its manufacture.  It is usually smoked and is less expensive than purer cocaine.

Cocaine Addiction

In the US, cocaine is the second most popular illicit drug in the US and the US is the world's largest consumer of cocaine.  It is estimated that about 8.4 million Americans (2.8%) have tried cocaine at least once and nearly 2.1 million people are currently using cocaine.

How is it Taken?

Cocaine can be:

• Orally
• Snorted
• Injected
• Smoking

Cocaine is taken orally by rubbing the powder along the gumline.  This is usually done with small amounts of leftover cocaine after snorting.

The most common form of consumption is snorting (known as sniffing or insufflation). The drug coats is absorbed by membranes in the nose.  It takes a little less than 15 minutes to reach the peak effects.  Bank notes, pens, straws, spoons, and long fingernails are usually used to snort cocaine.

Injection produces a high the quickest, about 3 minutes after consumption.  There are alot of dangers associated with the use of sharing or using unclean needles.

Smoking is associated with crack cocaine, a cheaper less pure form of cocaine.  The high usually occurs just 90 seconds after consumption.  Usually it is smoked in a joint, blunt, or pipe.  Due to being less expensive, it is often popular with lower income users.

Medical Use

Cocaine has been used as an anesthetic in surgey, usually eye or nose surgerys.  However, in recent times cocaine has been replaced by other forms of prescription medication.

Where does it come from?

How does cocaine make it to the US?  Drug trafficking organization smuggle cocaine into the US and Europe (the leading consumers of cocaine).  Most of cocaine comes from Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.  Most of the cocaine that gets into the US is smuggled through the US-Mexican border.  The methods to get cocaine into the country include:

• Drug Mules - cocaine is hidden in bags around the waist or in a body
• Air drops of 500-700 kg into the Bahamas/Puero Rico
• Boat-boat transfers of 500-2000 kg into the port of Miami

Cocaine is available at almost every major city in the US.

Common Demographics

Cocaine is commonly abused by several major demographics in the US.  In a 1999 survey, 2.3% of eight graders said they had used cocaine once in their lifetime.  Cocaine tends to be consumed by wealthier people while crack cocaine is generally consumed by lower income consumers.  The most common demographics to abuse cocaine was between 18-25.

Summary

Cocaine addiction is a serious problem in the United States and elsewhere in the world.  If you or someone you know is suffering from cocaine abuse please contact a cocaine rehab center for professional help in a safe environment.

Resources

• http://alcoholism.about.com/od/coke/a/cocaine.htm
• http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/cocaine.html

All Treatment does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.