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Types of Cocaine

There are a number of ways that a person can use cocaine. The method used for ingesting the cocaine can also affect how fast the high hits and how long it lasts. Understanding the different methods of cocaine use will give you an idea of what to look for if you suspect a loved one may be using cocaine, or other illegal drugs. Cocaine is made into a powder and can then be snorted through the nose, dissolved and injected with a needle, or heated and processed into a rock crystal – during which the vapors that are produced are inhaled into the lungs. Bags of white powder, needles, or spoons and portable heating devices can be signs that a person is using cocaine.

How Cocaine Is Used

There are many different methods for a person to use cocaine. Newly refined cocaine was found to dissolve readily in water or alcohol thus other routes of use became possible such as:

  • Drinking
  • Injection
  • Contact absorption
  • Smoking

cocaine

Cocaine Wine

In the early 1860’s cocaine wines became popular in France and Italy. In addition, a clever manufacturer and salesman, Angelo Mariani developed Vin Mariani, a cocaine wine, and promoted its use through the first celebrity endorsements with people like Thomas Edison and Pope Leo XIII. Thus, the first cocaine epidemic began. Then in the 1880’s patent medicines laced with cocaine and other drugs became a cure for any ailment.

Injecting Cocaine

The invention of the hypodermic needle in 1857 introduced the ability to use cocaine intravenously. The results produce an intense rush within 15-30 seconds. The rush is more intense than chewing the leaf, drinking cocaine wine or snorting cocaine hydrochloride. Injecting Cocaine produces the highest blood cocaine level, and therefore the largest crash.

Snorting Cocaine

During the early 1900’s a new form of cocaine usage developed, snorting the powder into the nostrils, this method is called:

  • Tooting
  • Blowing
  • Horning
  • Snorting

Snorting cocaine places the drug into the nasal membranes and then into the brain within 3 to 5 minutes with peak effects taking a few more minutes to manifest. Therefore snorting cocaine is a self-limiting method of use. In fact, the more cocaine that is snorted the slower the absorption. In addition, when the constricting effects of snorting cocaine wears off, the nasal tissues swell causing the nose to run and sniffle. Chronic snorters can kill nasal tissues and in some cases, the nasal septum dividing the nostrils is perforated.

Smoking Cocaine

In 1914, Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals introduced cigarettes that contained refined cocaine. However, the high temperature needed to convert cocaine hydrochloride to smoke destroyed many of the psychoactive properties. Then in the mid-1970’s street chemists converted cocaine hydrochloride to freebase cocaine, this lowered the vaporization point and allowed the drug to be smoked without loosing the psychoactive effects. This method of converting cocaine into a smokable form of the drug is known as “basing” or “baseballing” and leaves behind pure cocaine crystals that are highly combustible.

In the mid-1980’s an easier method of making freebase cocaine was found. This method known as “cheap basing” or “dirty basing”, involves dissolving the cocaine into a solution of baking soda and water then heating the solution until crystals form. The chunks of smokable cocaine made by this method are called “crack”, so called because of the crackling sound that occurs when it is smoked, or “rock” because the product looks like little rocks. This method does not remove as many impurities as does the freebasing method. Names of smokable cocaine besides “crack” “rock” or “freebase” include:

  • Paste
  • Base
  • Basay
  • Hubba
  • Gravel
  • Roxanne
  • Girl
  • Fry
  • Boulya

It is important to know that crack and freebase are just different chemical forms of smokable cocaine and contains four chemical properties that users seek:

  1. A lower melting point, allowing it to be heated easily in a glass pipe at a lower temperature as to not destroy the psychoactive properties with the heat.
  2. It reaches the brain in as little time as 5-8 seconds.
  3. Is more readily absorbed by the brains fat cells, causing a more intense reaction.
  4. Users obtain a much higher dose of cocaine in their systems over a shot period of time

In addition, crack cocaine produces a much more powerful craving than freebase cocaine. Crack blocks out the ability to function normally and causes a rapid downslide.

Cocaine has several forms. The types of cocaine in general are:

  1. Basic (aka “freebase”) – In 1886 there were actually coca-cigars that were smoked to get the desired intoxication. The freebase or “crack” cocaine is usually smoked but there are other methods of getting it into the system. It works extremely fast and is highly addictive. The drug gives a false sense of power and well being. Truly a high that is very short lived. The user then needs a “hit” (more cocaine) to regain the feeling. The drug is so highly addictive that addicts can remain high for over three days before “crashing”.  All regard to the things that matter in their lives become second to getting their next “hit”.
  2. Chewing leaves – this was actually the original way that cocaine was used and how the cocaine effects were found. South Americans were chewing on the leaves hundreds of years ago. The leaves are also made into tea that is supposedly good medicinally for stomach upset. While it seems to give better effects over all with less side effects than coffee, it is a scary road to go down as the addiction level is so high and hard to overcome.
  3. Sulphate – (pasta, basa or paste) is very low grade that appeals to lower social classes. The paste that is made is usually smoked with tobacco.
  4. Hydrochoride – (crystal) This is a white powder with no odor. It has a bitter taste but is usually snorted. The absorption rate is not good, making it is a very complicated process.

Source:

  • Uppers, Downers All Arounders, Darryl S Inaba ‘Executive officer Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, San Francisco CA.’, William E. Cohen, ‘Haight Ashbury Detox Clinic’
  • DrugAbuse.gov

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