NCJ Number
188904
Date Published
May 1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on cocaine abuse and addiction, medical consequences of abuse, and treatments.
Abstract
The hydrochloride salt, or powdered form of cocaine dissolves in water and, when abused, can be taken intravenously or intranasally. The freebase form refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. The freebase form of cocaine is smokable. Crack is the street name for the smokable form of cocaine. It is processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water, and heated to remove the hydrochloride. According to the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse an estimated 1.5 million Americans were current cocaine users in 1992. The report describes the short- and long-term effects of cocaine, medical consequences of cocaine abuse, cocaine abusers' risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C, and the effect of maternal cocaine use. It also describes treatments for cocaine abusers, including pharmacological approaches and behavioral interventions. The report includes Internet and other sources for further information. Figures, glossary, references