During the tumultuous early 1980s in dimly lit corners of American urban streets, the drug we’ve come to know as “crack cocaine” began to sink its dark roots in modern culture. Since the 80s it has left an indelible mark on communities and families worldwide and like all drugs that have shaken economic and social landscapes, sometimes we sadly forget the real people behind the stark statistics. Over almost five decades, millions have fallen prey to the allure of this notorious drug, leading to the metaphorical floor being ripped away from under their feet.
What exactly is crack cocaine?
Cocaine in its crack form is a profoundly addictive variant of standard cocaine. Powdered cocaine is combined with mixing agents like ammonia or baking soda, and is then heated or boiled until a crystal-like substance is formed. The solid crystals are then removed from any remaining liquid, dried and broken down into smaller “rocks” that are sold as crack cocaine.
Crack rocks are usually white (or off-white) in appearance and vary in size and shape. It is nearly always smoked and its name originates from the distinct “crackling” sound when it’s heated before being inhaled.
Over the past 50 years, crack cocaine addiction has grown in prevalence worldwide. In English-speaking countries, it has been sold under countless names by street dealers driven to stay ahead of the drug enforcers and crime agencies.
Some of its more common street names include:
- Boulders
- Bone
- Casper
- Dice
- Fish scales
- Freebase
- Gravel
- Moon rock
- Pebbles
- Rock
- White girl
Slang, of course, varies between countries and cultures but knowing some of these code words for the substance might mean the difference in determining whether a loved one is in the midst of the drug’s vicious thrall.
Is crack cocaine more addictive than powder cocaine?
Despite their similar chemical makeup, powder cocaine and crack’s effects vary. So why is crack so addictive? Crack is inhaled after being heated, resulting in a quicker and more intense high compared to snorting or injecting cocaine. Let’s explore the differences and their addiction potential.
| Feature | Powder cocaine | Crack cocaine |
| Physicality | Fine white powder | “Crystalline” or blocks |
| How it’s ingested | Snorted (sometimes injected) | Inhalation of smoke |
| Rate of onset | Fast, between 1 – 5 minutes | Less than a minute |
| Length of the “high” | Typically 15 to 30 minutes | Shorter, between 5- 15 minutes |
| Potential of addiction | High | Very high due to faster onset and intensified effects |
The history and development of crack cocaine
The story of crack cocaine’s development spans across generations, and the devastating path of destruction it left behind is still felt today. Starting with its conception, we’ll observe the peak of crack cocaine addiction and analyse how its effects still damage societies today.
Late 70s and early 80s origins
Crack cocaine originated in the late 1970s and early 1980s, amid shaky social and economic changes in the US. Powdered cocaine was already a popular drug among the affluent. As the desire for the drug increased, sellers capitalised on the higher profitability of crack cocaine.
Crack cocaine first appeared in Miami, where dealers from countries that frequently supplied the US with powdered cocaine began teaching sellers the crude process of changing powdered to crack cocaine. In 1981, reports of crack use spread to southern areas of the United States, like L.A., San Diego and Houston, as well as in the Caribbean. It wasn’t long until crack started to work its way from southern border states and get its grips further around to areas like New York and Detroit.
Development into the ‘crack epidemic’ of the mid-to-late-80s
With this rise in consumption, a transformation started to take shape, changing crack from a street drug to a national crisis called the “crack epidemic.” DEA reports show crack selling in the mid-80s with a street value of as little as $5 a rock. This started to shake the foundations for people in less affluent communities across the country and between 1984 to 1987, cocaine-related hospital incidents across the US increased fourfold.
With this dramatic increase, lawmakers of the time enacted harsh anti-drug legislation aimed to curb the spread of crack cocaine. Policies like the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 brought in harsher mandatory minimum sentences for crack-related offences (significantly harsher than those for powdered cocaine). The drug continued to ravage the country over the next few years and left torn families in its wake.
Heading into the 90’s
As the whirlwind of crack cocaine spread, poverty-stricken areas suffered the most. Higher demand for crack cocaine created lucrative and dangerous drug markets in poor US areas in the 90s, and it’s dark tendrils began to spread across the globe.
Despite the grim realities of this growth, the 90s saw a shift in public perceptions regarding the crack epidemic. Studies have highlighted the impact crack had on the UK’s sex industry in the 90s. People became more aware of the devastating impact the epidemic had, spurring calls for more compassionate approaches to drug addiction. People called for shifts from punitive measures to treatment-based approaches and social intervention.
An increase in the number of drug courts came with these pushes, which took more of a public health approach to criminal drug offences. We can be thankful for these changes from punitive measures to acts of heightened compassion.
Where we stand now
Understanding crack’s growth helps explain its lingering impact post-2000. Public reflections in the 00s led to questions as to why African Americans from poorer areas were disproportionately affected. Children born from adults of the “Crack Generation” are avoiding the use of crack but face major deficits from their difficult childhoods.
Similar patterns throughout the 00s emerged in the UK, with cities like London, Manchester and Liverpool continuing to be ravaged by crack cocaine’s poisonous barbs. From the years between 2011 and 2017, an average increase of 8.5% (from 166,640 to 180,748) has been reported by UK National Statistics.
While the peak of the epidemic has passed, families still torn and battling with crack’s addictive nature are left in its wake. The UK government has published estimates of around 47,000 users of crack between 2019 and 2020.
New adoptions of trauma-informed care in the UK are helping us better understand the damage of and the solutions to, crack cocaine across the country. Integrated care with addiction treatment is being coordinated with mental health services across the country, which is where we step in.
Is crack cocaine affecting your life? We’re here for you
As we continue to take lessons from past drug epidemics and apply them to the context of modern-day realities, we know that commitment and compassion are the guiding lights needed for recovery. The effects of crack cocaine addiction still impact millions of families today.
Here at UKAT, we’re committed to providing holistic and scientific care for you or a loved one who needs support getting through addiction. Our rehab programme encompasses crack cocaine detox with holistic support for the patient and loved ones going through it with them.
If your life is affected by crack cocaine, taking the first step with us is the beginning of a journey that leads to a happier, safer and drug-free life. Contact us now.
