Cocaine, especially crack cocaine, became prevalent in the mid-1980s and received massive media attention due in part to sudden deaths resulting from the use of cocaine. Cocaine powder is derived from coca paste, which is in turn derived from the leaves of the coca plant. Crack cocaine is made by taking cocaine powder and cooking it with baking soda and water until it forms a hard substance. These "rocks" can then be broken into pieces and sold in small quantities. Each gram of powder produces approximately .89 grams of crack. Crack was portrayed as a violence inducing, highly addictive drug mostly used in inner city areas. Due in part to the media's strong coverage, congress passed two mandatory minimum sentencing laws concerning crack cocaine. These laws that give harsher penalties to users of crack cocaine than to users of powder cocaine are extremely unfair.
Defendants convicted of selling 500 grams of powder cocaine or five grams of crack cocaine receive five-year sentences. For five kilos of powder cocaine and 50 grams of crack, the penalty is 10 years. Thus there is a 100:1 ratio. These numbers are ridiculous, because of how easy and cheap it is to create crack. The sentences should not be that much different even if the effects of crack cocaine are more severe than powder cocaine.
The psychotropic and physiological effects of all types of cocaine are the same, but the intensity and duration of the high differ according to the different forms of cocaine. Crack is always smoked and gives a fast, intense high. Powder cocaine is usually snorted, which gives a slower and less intense high. Some supporters of the law believe that crack is more likely to be abused because the high is short, which causes users to desire more of the drug. But when powder cocaine is injected it produces a fast, intense high similar to crack. This shows that the user can get the same reaction with either kind of cocaine.
Cocaine Is it just a mental addiction? ... Most people today are aware of the dangers of cocaine addiction, but still more individuals are using cocaine frequently and in greater amounts. ... Cocaine hydrochloride is the scientific name for the powdery white form of cocaine that is used intranasally or intravenously" (Weiss 169). ... "Cocaine is a stimulant drug. ... Why is cocaine a major pleasure drug? ...
The drink coca cola was developed in 18886 by John Pemberton, this drink contained cocaine and caffeine, but in 1906 the cocaine was removed from this drink. In the Harrison Narcotic Act in 1914 cocaine was made illegal. ... Short term affects of cocaine Short term affect of cocaine is that you feel a rush of pleasure and well-being, you also have more energy and are more alert. ... What cocaine is: Cocaine is formed by a white crystalline powder. ... Most cocaine addicts do not have jobs and turn to crime to gain this money. ...
Cocaine Abuse Cocaine is a substance that has been around for thousands of years and still remains highly abused today. ... Cocaine is used in various forms. ... The second form is crack cocaine or "freebase" which is the solid form of cocaine and is smoked. ... Cocaine has a big effect on society. ... The second solution for cocaine abuse is by acquainting young people with the dangers of cocaine. ...
Cocaine Use During Pregnancy Speech Outline What is Cocaine? Cocaine is a drug extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. ... What are the effects of Cocaine? ... How does cocaine hurt an unborn baby? Cocaine is the most dangerous drug to use when pregnant. ...
Cocaine is prepared from a loaf of coca bush, which grows in Peru. ... This excitement was soon replaced when documented reports began to circulate of fatal cocaine poisoning and cocaine addiction. ... Cocaine is usually sold on the street as a salt. ... Cocaine in the form of powder is "snorted". ... Large amounts of cocaine could cause violent behavior. ...
Cocaine is an alkaloid obtained from leaves of the coca plant and used medically as an anesthetic. ... Cocaine is classified as a narcotic for legal purposes by the United States government. ... More rarely, cocaine is injected into a vein. ... Cocaine was first isolated in 1855 and came to be used widely as an anesthetic in minor surgery. ... To help cure the addiction to cocaine, scientists have found a way to maybe prevent highs when using cocaine. ...
Cocaine is an alkaloid obtained from leaves of the coca plant and used medically as a local anesthetic. ... Cocaine has long been known as a drug of abuse, but it projected in the late 1970s and the 1980s. ... More rarely, cocaine is injected into a vein. ... It was not until 1844 or later that cocaine was first isolated in pure form from coca leaves. ... Presently, cocaine has limited therapeutic uses because of its toxicity and potential for abuse. ...
The topic of this paper and the item of discussion in our sections is the question of whether the penalties for crack and powder cocaine should be the same or should they stay the way they are now. Right now possession of five hundred grams of powder cocaine has the same penalty as possession of five grams of crack cocaine. The critics view is that this law is discriminative to African Americans because African American drug dealers prefer crack to powder cocaine, therefore causing harsher penalties for African Americans who deal crack and Caucasian Americans who deal cocaine. This is a hum...
Crack is the street name of the freebase form of cocaine it is maden from the powdered cocaine hydrochloride to a smokable form. ... The cocaine addict must give up not only cocaine, they must give up using alcohol and marijuana because other drugs can create a strong desire for cocaine. ... Cocaine addicts should be strongly encouraged yo participate 12-step program of Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or alcoholic anonymous (AA). Self-help meetings are an invaluable source for cocaine treatment. ... addiction types 1st paragraph why people become addicted to drugs ...
