Cocaine use is the fastest growing drug problem in America. Most
alarming is the recent availability of cocaine in a cheap but potent
form called crack or rock. Crack is a purified form of cocaine that is
smoked.
. _Crack is inexpensive to try._ Crack is available for as little
as $10. As a result, the drug is affordable to many new users,
including high school and even elementary school students.
. _Crack is easy to use._ It is sold in pieces resembling small
white gravel or soap chips and is sometimes pressed into small
pellets. Crack can be smoked in a pipe or put into a cigarette.
Because the visible effects disappear within minutes after
smoking, it can be used at almost any time during the day.
. _Crack is extremely addictive._ Crack is far more addictive than
heroin or barbiturates. Because crack is smoked, it is quickly
absorbed into the blood stream. It produces a feeling of extreme
euphoria, peaking within seconds. The desire to repeat this
sensation can cause addiction within a few days.
. _Crack leads to crime and severe psychological disorders._ Many
youths, once addicted, have turned to stealing, prostitution,
and drug dealing in order to support their habit. Continued use
can produce violent behavior and psychotic states similar to
schizophrenia.
. _Crack is deadly._ Cocaine in any form can cause cardiac arrest
and death by interrupting the brain's control over the heart and
respiratory system.