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Crack Addiction
Crack cocaine is a
volatile, highly addictive drug. It is usually
smoked through a glass or metal pipe and can
have a person hooked after just one use. Some
addicts say it is like experiencing a “full body
orgasm” but the feeling is fleeting, lasting
only a few seconds.
Crack is a varied form of
powdered cocaine. In the 60’s, 70’s and early
80’s, addicts found that smoking cocaine in a
base form or “free-basing” was a more intense,
satisfying high than snorting. Free-base cocaine
is a far more pure form of cocaine than average
powdered cocaine. It is processed with water and
ether to remove all impurities which yields a
more powerful product. It is then smoked through
a glass pipe. It is a dangerous process and
sometimes causes the cocaine or the ether
container to catch fire and explode.
The comedian, Richard Pryor, was on a
free-basing binge in the early 80’s when he was
hospitalized for burns after an ether explosion.
The fire completely covered him in flames and
the doctors gave him a one to three chance of
surviving. He did survive and his mishap is
probably the most famous example of free-basing
accidents. Throughout the years, many people
have died processing free-base cocaine.
As
the early1980’s rolled in, on its heels came a
new drug called crack. Crack is more crude form
of free-base cocaine. Leaving the impurities in,
crack is a culmination of most everything that
free-base cocaine isn’t. It is “safer” to
produce and smoke. But this doesn’t make it any
less lethal.
Crack addiction is similar to free-base
addiction, the user will try to get the drug by
any means possible and continue to smoke it
until close to death. It is an all encompassing
addiction that holds no regard for its user or
those affiliated with them. One “hit” off a
glass pipe filled with crack can get anyone
addicted. There is no such thing as a “casual
crack smoker” and no one is immune from its
addictive grips.
Crack is usually smoked through a glass pipe or
metal tubing. Car and radio antennas are used
frequently. In many convenience stores, little
flowers in glass tubes are sold. You may have
seen them. These are made specifically for
smoking crack. Pieces of metal wool like brillo-pad
or chore-boy pads are stuffed in one end of the
pipe. The metal wool serves as a filter and
collector, holding the crack rock in place while
catching any residual. This way, every bit of
the crack rock is smoked. When a pipe is
“pushed”, the metal wool is pushed from one end
of the pipe to the other, catching any remaining
crack residue inside the pipe. A crack pipe may
be burnt from both sides and is sometimes
cracked or broken. A crack user may have burnt
fingertips or lips from smoking a hot pipe.
Crack is absolutely lethal, causing horrible
damage to the body and mind. The intensity of
the addiction is well known. If you know someone
who is smoking crack, try to get them help as
soon as possible. A crack addict may die before
they are ready to give up the drug. They will
use any means possible to continue their
addiction. Unlike other drugs, a crack user’s
“rock bottom” is usually far lower than other
drug users. But crack addicts can and do
recover. It happens all the time so there is
hope for you or the addict close to you. But
waste no time in getting help. There may not be
another chance.
By: Patrick McLemore
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