Chemical Name: 2-beta-carbomethoxyl-3-beta-benoxytropane

Category: Schedule II

Street Names: Crack, crack cocaine, and freebase rocks, rock

Usage: Smoked, usually in a pipe or water pipe

Description:
Crack is crystallized cocaine sold in the form of ready-to-smoke “rocks.” Baking soda and heat are used to convert cocaine into a solid form of freebase. The name “crack” comes from the crackling sound the rocks make as they are smoked. Crack looks like small lumps or shavings of soap with the texture of porcelain.

Immediate effects:
Central nervous system stimulant. More intense and rapid euphoria than cocaine. High usually lasts about 5 minutes, and is followed by a rapid crash with irritability, agitation and intense craving. Increase in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature.

Long-term effects:
Extremely addictive. As tolerance develops, so does depression, paranoia, and agitation. Can cause lung damage, dangerous changes in blood pressure. Loss of appetite, insomnia. Crack used during pregnancy can cause premature delivery, irritable or unresponsive infants, infant seizures, strokes, or heart attacks.

Overdose:
Hallucinations, respiratory failure, convulsions, heart attack, death

Withdrawal:
Apathy, irritability, depression, lethargy, disorientation, paranoia, insomnia, intense craving

Signs & Symptoms:
Tremor, dramatic mood swings, dilated pupils, and irritability

Did you know?

• Crack is almost instantly addictive

• Crack abusers have a higher rate of income from crimes like burglary than do cocaine powder users.

• The first use of crack can result in convulsions or heart attack leading to death.