CRACK/ROCKS/WHITE

What is it?

Crack is a smokable form of cocaine and is a stimulant. Ordinary cocaine powder (cocaine hydrochloride) can also be smoked but this is ineffective due to the powderís high melting temperature. Cocaine powder is therefore usually snorted up the nose or injected.

Crack derives from a production process known as ëfreebasingí. This originated in the USA in the early 1970s, when users started treating cocaine with chemicals which freed the cocaine base from the hydrochloride and lowered the temperature at which the cocaine powder melted. This technique was initially used by dealers to test purity. It also enabled the Cocaine to be smoked far more effectively. Cocaine treated in this way is known as freebased cocaine.

Crack is a ëready to useí form of freebased Cocaine which is easily and inexpensively produced. It is so named because, when heated for smoking, the trapped carbon dioxide left in the bicarbonate crackles.

what does it look like?

Crack comes in the form of small off-white ërocksí or lumps, slightly waxen in complexion.

how is it used? No special apparatus is required to smoke Crack, although a purpose-made pipe is considered preferable. It can be smoked in a handmade pipe or heated on tin foil and the fumes inhaled. Crack can also be prepared for injection by adding water and an acidifer.

what are the effects?

Freebased cocaine (or crack) takes effect within seconds of being inhaled. It is a very efficient way of delivering cocaine to the brain. There is an initial rush of highly pleasurable feelings lasting for two or three minutes. This is followed by an intense high lasting for about ten minutes.

As the effects of the drug wear off there are some unpleasant after-effects. It is common for the user to feel tired, depressed and anxious. The head and body may ache and there may be increased sensitivity to light and noise. Users may feel irritable, paranoid and may experience panic attacks. In order to avoid these effects, users often take more crack as their last dose wears off.

Smoking crack causes the brain to release adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. Adrenaline governs the bodyís ëfight or flightí response. Serotonin and dopamine are the bodyís mechanisms to reinforce pleasurable feelings and enhance mood. One problem in crack use lies in the huge amounts of dopamine released by smoking it. This stimulates breathing and raises blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature, whilst suppressing appetite and tiredness.

what are the side effects?

Where large doses of crack are inhaled by pipe smoking, the respiratory system is immediately put under great strain, which can lead to chest infections and breathing difficulties.

Injecting can put users at risk of contracting blood borne viruses such as Hepatitis C and HIV, as well as creating a risk of other infections and injection site injuries. As cocaine is a local anaesthetic, the damage may not be apparent until the effects begin to wear off.

Crackís pleasurable high, followed by the unpleasant after-effects, encourages repeated and compulsive use to avoid the ëcrashí. Tolerance also develops which leads to greater amounts being taken in an attempt to attain the same results.

This means that crack use and freebasing carry a greater risk of overdose than simple cocaine snorting, as these methods of use may encourage users to keep using more (in greater quantities) than they would if they were snorting cocaine. Excessive doses can cause death from respiratory or heart failure. This is rare but the risk increases with prolonged and heavy use.

The ëcrashí can be extremely unpleasant and can often lead users to turn to substances such as alcohol, opiates, cannabis and prescription drugs like diazepam to cope with the ëcome downí effects.

Crack may on occasion make users aggressive, violent or manic and unapproachable. Although these effects may manifest themselves when the user is up on the drug, they are more often associated with the user ëcoming downí and craving more.

Crack and Heroin

Heroin is increasingly being used in association with crack, either taken at the same time or used as a way to deal with the come down effects. This is called ëspeedballingí or ësnowballingí

Whether the user has come to crack through heroin, or heroin through crack, using these two substances together can magnify and exacerbate the problems encountered by the user.

Treatment services are becoming better skilled and equipped for working with problematic crack use, although there are still many gaps in service provision.

what is the legal position?

Crack is a form of cocaine and is therefore a Class A drug. It is illegal to possess, supply or produce crack.

It is illegal for occupiers of premises, or anyone concerned in the management of premises, to allow those premises to be used for production or supply of crack.

Being unfit to drive under the influence of any intoxicant, including crack, is an offence which is likely to lead to the loss of your driving licence. Getting your licence back and obtaining insurance after losing it are likely to be difficult.

Sentences, especially for supply (including giving or selling to friends), can be heavy. Possession of even a small quantity of crack can lead to a charge for intent to supply. Sentences for drug offences depend upon the quantities involved, previous convictions and other relevant circumstances.

For further clarification of the current legal position please call our legal helpline or consult your solicitor.