Crack cocaine is a form of cocaine base that is derived from the powder called cocaine. Unlike the creation of freebase cocaine, changing powdered crack cocaine into crack cocaine does not involve any flammable products. Cocaine as a powder is dissolved into sodium bicarbonate and water, then boiled down and a solid material separates from the liquid. The substance, called crack, is then extracted and allowed to dry. It is then cut into rocks which typically weigh from 1/10 to ½ a gram. One gram of cocaine powder can convert down to 0.89 grams of crack cocaine, and the DEA estimates that all crack rocks are only about 75% to 90% pure cocaine.
Crack cocaine is smoked and users experience a high within just 10 seconds. The immediate effects and the very low cost of the drug make it a popular drug.
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