Crack

In the early 1980s, the majority of cocaine that was being shipped to the United States was coming in through the Bahamas; soon, there was a massive glut of cocaine powder throughout the islands, which caused the price of the drug to drop by as much as seventy percent. As drug dealers were confronted with dropping the prices for their illegal product, they made a shrewd marketing decision to convert the powder to "crack," which is a form of cocaine that could be smoked. Crack cocaine was cheap, relatively easy to produce, and a highly profitable product for drug dealers to develop. Crack most often appears as off-white colored chips, rocks or chunks; in purer forms, crack cocaine resembles a hard brittle plastic that snaps when it is broken. The most popular route of administration for crack cocaine is through inhalation; using this method, the drug is smoked in glass pipes, through which the user inhales the cocaine-laden fumes.

Crack cocaine can create many negative health effects, which can include causing the heart to beat much more rapidly, in which case the blood vessels in the body can begin to constrict; this can result in the demand for a greater supply of blood. As narrowed blood vessels may be unable to deliver this volume of blood, the risk of cardiovascular incidents, such as stroke or a heart attack, can increase significantly; in many instances, these effects have proven to be fatal. Other long term side effects of chronic crack cocaine use can include respiratory problems, seizures, and an elevated body temperature, which could result in an uncontrollable fever. Crack cocaine use has also been reported to cause brain cells to die; damage to the brain from the use of this potent, highly addictive drug, could possibly be irreversible.

One of the many dangers of smoking this toxic drug can occur when an individual binges on crack cocaine, as they can become delusional, highly paranoid or have even been reported to suffer from acute toxic psychosis. Crack cocaine use is also commonly associated with incidents of hyperactive violence; some crack cocaine users have committed unspeakable crimes against society, while being high on this toxic drug.

The most common signs of crack cocaine use will generally include; tremors, hyperactivity, paranoia, anxiety, talking rapidly, confusion, dilated pupils, altered motor skills, and rapid breathing and pulse rate. One of the most common signs that is related to crack cocaine use is when an individual begins focusing more and more of their energy on acquiring the drug; once an individual has become addicted to crack cocaine, their mind and body will develop an obsession with the drug that can only be satiated when the drug is found and used. Another notable hallmark of a crack cocaine addiction is that when the effects of the drug begins to wear off, a deep level of depression, which is commonly referred to as a "crash" can set in; this "crash" often leaves the user feeling jumpy, fearful, and anxious.