O crack is obtained through a mixture of coca paste or cocaine hydrochloride with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).
Coca paste is a coarse product, with many impurities, which is obtained from the first stages of extracting cocaine from the leaves of the plant. Erythroxylon coca, when treated with strong bases, sulfuric acid and organic solvents. Cocaine hydrochloride is the most stable form of this substance, which can be displaced through weak bases such as sodium bicarbonate.
Crack is marketed in the form of small porous stones. It is not soluble in water, but users smoke the crack heating these stones in makeshift “pipes”, as this substance passes from a solid state to a vapor at a relatively low temperature, at 95°C.
Crack rocks (left) and crack user smoking this drug with a "pipe" (right)
The released cocaine fumes are absorbed by the lungs almost immediately, as the lung is an intensely vascularized organ with a large surface area. Thus, cocaine is sent to the bloodstream and reaches the brain within 15 seconds.
Because it is smoked, this drug produces far more devastating effects than cocaine. For example, its effect wears off in just 5 minutes and this causes the user to increase the smoked dose, which leads to addiction more quickly.
In addition, this drug decreases appetite, making the user lose about 10 kg in just one month. See an example below, of how a crack user's face withered in photos taken on the occasions when she was arrested, from 29 to 37 years old.
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Soon the crack user loses all notions of hygiene (acquiring a deplorable look) and feels constantly unpleasant feelings (such as intense depression, general lack of interest, tiredness, paranoia, distrust, fear and aggression).
Most users use crack because it is cheaper; a minority say they do this to prevent the use of syringes, which are used in other injectable drugs, such as cocaine; in order to avoid catching sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, when people use crack, it is common for them to whoring, under the effect of the craving, to get more drug. And not using any prevention method, it ends up being exposed to STDs, including AIDS.
The recovery of crack users is one of society's greatest challenges, as there are studies that indicate that this rehabilitation is practically nil. In addition to leading to the total degradation of people, until their death, the consumption of this drug also supports an illegal trade linked to crime, that moves billions of dollars a year.
So pay attention to this information and be smart, do not use drugs or even try them, because, in the first drag, you can already become addicted.
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FOGAÇA, Jennifer Rocha Vargas. "Chemistry of Crack"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/quimica-crack.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
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