Drugs come in many forms and can be administered in many different ways. Marijuana is a plant that is dried up and can be smoked. But it also comes in solid, paste, oils, and probably other ways invented right now. Heroin comes from a plant, as well. Again it can be smoked, injected, and snorted.
Cocaine also originates from a plant and differs in the forms and ways it can be ingested. Regular cocaine, which is a powdered form, and crack, which is a solid form. They are both cocaines, so they are the same, but they look different, feel different, depending on the administration, and are sometimes viewed differently socially, so is one more dangerous?
The Difference Between Cocaine and Crack
Cocaine is a stimulant drug that is often abused, and it comes from the coca plant. It can be made into powdered or solid rock forms. The powdered form of cocaine is called that cocaine or coke. The solid form of cocaine is called crack or crack cocaine. Cocaine, while widely abused, has been used in many medical situations for years. Some physicians and dentists, to numb areas during surgeries, may still use it today.
Cocaine, in its natural form, is a hydrochloride salt when it is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. This can be made into a powdery white substance, snorting, injected, or smoked. When the powdered form is snorted, the high hits gradually, usually within 3 to 5 minutes, and lasts up to 30 minutes. Many users start using cocaine as a “party drug” and counter the side effects of drinking: drowsiness, slurred speech, mobile impairment, etc. Vice versa, if you do too much cocaine, you can sometimes become too high and feel mentally, verbally, and physically “paralyzed”; therefore, you need a downer to counter the effects of the cocaine, which usually leads to another drink. So you can see how this can become a revolving habit.
When the powder form of cocaine is mixed with a base, such as baking soda or another substance, and then boiled in water, separated to form a solid, it is then referred to as crack or crack-cocaine, which is used to smoke achieve a high. Crack is significantly different in price, and crack is usually $10-25 for 1/10 gram, whereas cocaine is $120-150 for 3.5 grams. This is why you hear that crack is generally used for the less fortunate because you don’t need much money to get high on crack.
Crack and cocaine are the same chemically just once; crack is more concentrated since the salt is taken out, which has no effects on a person. The name crack comes from the cracking sound it makes when smoked through a pipe or cigarette. When it comes to the high, it is instant and potent but lasts only up to 10 minutes, resulting in repeated cycles of banging and crashing, which can lead to a quick addiction to the drug. Though crack and cocaine are the same and have the same effects, more or less intense and last shorter or longer depending on the administration, is one more dangerous? If so, which one?
What Is More Dangerous?
This is a difficult question because all drugs all dangerous period. Cocaine, when snorted, can be hazardous because enough use can cause your nasal structure to deteriorate, and the stimulant effects can lead to cardiac problems. When injected, the same goes for cardiac issues, but also you have injected cocaine with a mix of who knows what additive and not to mention you are at a higher risk of getting Hepatitis C and HIV.
The dangers of crack are similar to cocaine with cardiac problems but can also affect the esophagus due to smoke inhalation. But there is more chance of addiction and overdose due to the cycle of repeated use. The bottom line is both drugs are dangerous, and it’s a roll of the dice as to what and how it happens, but we at Allure Detox can help you end your addiction because your life isn’t a game.
Our cocaine detox center in West Palm Beach, Florida, embraces the updated mindset that treats addiction as a disease of the brain. People who are addicted to cocaine require empathy and respect. There is not one addict who can say they intended to become addicted to cocaine or other drugs. Addiction happens over time and after the drug has altered the normal functioning of the brain. Cocaine addicts are often the first to admit they need help. We have successfully been helping cocaine addicts detox off cocaine and methamphetamine, helping countless individuals achieve long-term recovery.
Get the Help You Need with Allure Detox
Allure Detox is available for men, women, and young adults. The admission process begins when we have been contacted directly by you or your loved one. We’re waiting for your phone call around the clock, and our treatment team is standing by to provide a confidential assessment.