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Abstract
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Cocaine is extracted from the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca). It is abused by smoking, ingestion, injection and 'snorting' intranasally. Users, body-packers and those who swallow the drug to avoid being found in possession of it ('stuffers') are at risk of poisoning.
Cocaine hydrochloride ('street' cocaine, 'coke') is a water-soluble powder or granule that can be taken orally, intravenously or intranasally. 'Freebase' or 'crack' cocaine comprises crystals of relatively pure cocaine without the hydrochloride moiety; it is obtained by dissolving street cocaine in a solution of sodium bicarbonate and then heating the mixture in a water bath. Cocaine base precipitates out and forms small pellets or 'rocks' when the water is cooled. Crack cocaine is heat stable and has a lower melting point than the hydrochloride salt, and is more suitable for smoking. It can also be heated on foil and the vapour inhaled.
Other drugs (e.g. cannabis, conventional hypnotics and sedatives) are often taken with cocaine to reduce the intensity of its less pleasant effects. Heroin and cocaine may be injected together as a 'speedball'. |