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Recreational Use: Carbonic Acid Carbon Dioxide

Crack cocaine is produced by dissolving powder cocaine with baking soda and water, heating the mixture, and allowing it to dry into a rock-like form. Crack vaporizes at a lower temperature than powder cocaine, allowing it to be smoked and absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream within seconds. This leads to a quick intense high that lasts 5-10 minutes, after which feelings of depression and craving for more cocaine occur due to plummeting dopamine levels in the brain. Crack can also be dissolved and injected intravenously like powder cocaine.

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352 views2 pages

Recreational Use: Carbonic Acid Carbon Dioxide

Crack cocaine is produced by dissolving powder cocaine with baking soda and water, heating the mixture, and allowing it to dry into a rock-like form. Crack vaporizes at a lower temperature than powder cocaine, allowing it to be smoked and absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream within seconds. This leads to a quick intense high that lasts 5-10 minutes, after which feelings of depression and craving for more cocaine occur due to plummeting dopamine levels in the brain. Crack can also be dissolved and injected intravenously like powder cocaine.

Uploaded by

Sean C
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • Recreational Use: Explores the recreational use of crack cocaine, including methods of consumption and psychological effects such as euphoria.
  • Chemical and Physical Properties: Describes the chemical reactions and physical characteristics involved in the production and effects of crack cocaine.

Crack cocaine is frequently purchased already in rock form,[3] although it is

not uncommon for some users to "wash up" or "cook" powder cocaine into
crack themselves. This process is frequently done with baking soda
(sodium bicarbonate), water, and a spoon. Once mixed and heated, the
bicarbonate reacts with the hydrochloride of the powder cocaine, forming
free base cocaine and carbonic acid (H2CO3) in a reversible acid-base
reaction. The heating accelerates the degradation of carbonic acid
into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. Loss of CO2 prevents the reaction
from reversing back to cocaine hydrochloride. Free base cocaine separates
as an oily layer, floating on the top of the now leftover aqueous phase. It is
at this point that the oil is picked up rapidly, usually with a pin or long thin
object. This pulls the oil up and spins it, allowing air to set and dry the oil,
and allows the maker to roll the oil into the rock-like shape.
Crack vaporizes near temperature 90 °C (194 °F),[1] much lower than the
cocaine hydrochloride melting point of 190 °C (374 °F).[1] Whereas cocaine
hydrochloride cannot be smoked (burns with no effect),[1] crack
cocaine when smoked allows for quick absorption into the blood stream,
and reaches the brain in eight seconds.[1]
Crack cocaine can also be injected intravenously with the same effect as
powder cocaine. However, whereas powder cocaine dissolves in water,
crack must be dissolved in an acidic solution such as lemon juice
(containing citric acid) or white vinegar (containing acetic acid), a process
that effectively reverses the original conversion of powder cocaine to crack.
[8]
 Harm reduction and public health agencies may distribute packets of
citric acid or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) for this purpose.[9]

Recreational use

A woman smoking crack cocaine.


Crack cocaine is commonly used as a recreational drug. Effects of crack
cocaine include euphoria,[10] supreme confidence,[11] loss of appetite,
[10]
 insomnia,[10] alertness,[10] increased energy,[10] a craving for more
cocaine,[11] and potential paranoia (ending after use).[10][12] Its initial effect
is to release a large amount of dopamine,[3] a brain chemical inducing
feelings of euphoria. The high usually lasts from 5–10 minutes,[3][10] after
which time dopamine levels in the brain plummet, leaving the user
feeling depressed and low.[3] When (powder) cocaine is dissolved
and injected, the absorption into the bloodstream is at least as rapid as the
absorption of the drug which occurs when crack cocaine is smoked,[10] and
similar euphoria may be experienced.

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