Cocaine & Crack: What Parents Need To Know

What Are Cocaine & Crack?

Cocaine is a white powder that comes from the dried leaves of the coca plant, which is found in South America. Crack cocaine is a form of the drug that gives a very quick, intense high.

Crack is made by cooking cocaine powder with baking soda, then breaking it into small pieces called rocks. It got its name because it crackles when it is heated and smoked.

Crack cocaine looks like white or tan pellets (sort of like gerbil or dry cat food). Both cocaine and crack are very addictive — and very, very dangerous.

What Else Are They Called?

Cocaine and crack are also known by many different slang or street names, such as:

• Coke
• Rock
• Snow
• Blow
• White
• Toot
• Nose candy
• Base
• Flake
• Powder
• Basa
• Smack

How Are They Used?

Cocaine is inhaled or snorted through the nose or injected into a vein. Crack is smoked in a pipe.

What Do They Do?

Cocaine is a stimulant, which means that it produces a fast, intense feeling of power and energy. Then it wears off (crack wears off very quickly) and the user feels depressed and nervous and craves more of the drug to feel good again.

Dangerous Effects

Cocaine is so addictive that someone can get hooked after trying it just once.

Snorting cocaine can damage the septum between the nostrils, causing a hole in the middle of the nose.

Cocaine makes the heart beat faster and blood pressure and body temperature go up. It also can make the heart beat abnormally. Cocaine is so dangerous that using it just one time can cause a heart attack, stroke, or even death.

Where Can I Find Help?

If you think your child may be addicted to drugs, know that recovery is possible. To find a drug treatment center in your area, search online, check out the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Locator, or ask a doctor or counselor for advice.

You also can get more information and support from SAMHSA’s national helpline:

• call 800-662-HELP (4357) or
• go to the SAMHSA website