Crack cocaine is a drug made from powder cocaine in a process called freebasing. To make crack, powder cocaine is dissolved in a mixture of water and either ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The mixture is then boiled to separate out the solid and it is cooled. The solid is then dried out and cut up into small nuggets or “rocks.” Most users smoke crack cocaine, although in rare cases, they may also inject it. To smoke crack cocaine, the user places the drug into a small glass pipe. When the rock is heated, it produces a vapor or smoke, enabling the user to inhale the vapor into his/her lungs. From there, the drug is taken up into the person’s bloodstream. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound that is heard when the mixture is smoked.

When it gets into the body, crack acts upon a part of the brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Crack interferes with a chemical messenger in the brain called dopamine, which is involved in the body’s pleasure response. Dopamine is released by cells of the nervous system during pleasurable activities such as eating or having sex. Once released, dopamine travels across a gap between nerve cells called a synapse and binds to a receptor on a neighboring cell. This sends a signal to the nerve cell, which produces a good feeling. Crack interrupts this cycle by attaching to the dopamine transporter preventing the normal reabsorption process. As dopamine builds up in the synapse, it continues to stimulate the receptor, creating a lingering feeling of euphoria.

Because crack is inhaled as a smoke or vapor, it reaches the brain much faster than inhaled powder cocaine. As a result, a high is typically achieved in 10-15 seconds compared to the 10-15 minutes it may take before a high is achieved by snorting cocaine. The crack cocaine high typically lasts approximately 10-15 minutes.

As a result of this quick, easy high, many people who take crack cocaine become physically and psychologically dependent on it rather quickly. They find they cannot control their cravings. Because the crash that usually follows this euphoric state can become so overwhelming with symptoms such as depression, lethargy and irritability, the user usually remains focused on when they can achieve their next high in order to relieve the symptoms of the crash. After taking crack for a while, the user finds that they must take more and more of it in order to achieve the desired effect. They find they cannot stop taking the drug because their body has been rewired to need the drug in order to function.

The effects of crack addiction may include:

• Changes in blood pressure, heart rates, and breathing rates
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Convulsions
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite leading to malnutrition and weight loss
• Cold sweats
• Swelling and bleeding of mucous membranes
• Restlessness and anxiety
• Damage to nasal cavities
• Damage to lungs
• Possible heart attacks, strokes, or convulsions

Although the amount of time it takes to become addicted to crack cocaine varies from person to person; the end result is the same as with any other addictive substance. The user finds that they cannot function without the drug and spend more and more time focused on when they can take the drug again, leading to crack abuse and ultimately, addiction.