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Crack Cocaine is a more powerful drug than Cocaine powder and creates a 'high' much more quickly. This is because in this form it enables the user to smoke the drug, which comes in the form of small rocks (a rock is a small square piece - see picture above), each about the size of a raisin. Smoking crack is less complicated than snorting or injecting and therefore, people have switched to this form of drug taking. It is called crack because of the sound it makes when it is smoked.

Crack Cocaine is available in many parts of the UK, and has become more affordable to young people. Thin pieces of Crack are sometimes sliced off a 'rock'(a rock is a small square piece - see picture above) and sold at a lower cost. In some areas, the availability of Cocaine powder has been reduced because of the amount of Cocaine that is being converted to Crack Cocaine.

Crack Cocaine is similar to Cocaine in its effects, although Crack Cocaine is much more intense and extreme in its effects. The effects of Crack Cocaine can be felt by the user almost immediately and last for about 10 minutes. Feelings of well-being, exhilaration, a loss of appetite, increased confidence and an indifference to pain and fatigue are experienced by the user. However, the Crack user often experiences hallucinations and paranoia.

After the 'high', feelings of nausea, restlessness, sleeplessness and exhaustion are common. This is referred to as 'crashing', where the user falls into a depression. The user may crave another 'hit' to overcome these feelings. Heavy users sometimes take Heroin to dull the craving caused by use of Crack Cocaine.

Crack Cocaine is highly addictive, however reports that crack is instantly addictive are false.

Possibility of a brain seizure

Strokes

Convulsions

Heart attack

Rise in body temperature

Paranoid or violent behaviour

Loss of interest with friends and family

Loss of appetite

Decreased sex drive

No interest in usual activities, sports, hobbies etc.

Headaches

Dizziness

Insomnia

Various media have reported stories of 'Crack Babies', babies born addicted to Crack Cocaine and lacking the will to live. However, evidence indicates that such reports are exaggerated and that a baby will recover from the addictive effects of Crack Cocaine within a few weeks. Babies do have withdrawal symptoms and in some cases are given medication to counteract the symptoms. A more severe problem is the high incidence of birth defects associated with the use of Crack Cocaine. If a woman uses Crack Cocaine regularly while she is pregnant, the baby may be born with heart and lung problems.

In rare cases, users have died from overdose. An overdose can cause spasms and the user may lose consciousness or fall into a coma, which can be fatal if medical help is not provided.

Prolonged use of Crack Cocaine can affect the nervous system, causing constriction of blood vessels, irregular heart beat and dilation of the pupils.