Free-basing

Free-basing is the method by which cocaine is converted into its base form with the intent of making cocaine a smokeable drug. First it is heated into a liquid solvent and its fumes inhaled through a pipe. This technique is physically dangerous as the solvent tends to ignite. Due to the dangers and inconvenience of this method another more convenient method of producing smokeable free-base became popular. This was the popular drug crack.

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To produce crack cocaine, 1 part of cocaine HCl is mixed with 1-3 parts baking soda (depending on the purity of crack desired), with enough water to form the mixture into a thick paste. Heat is added until white precipitate ("rock") forms, and is applied until crystal formation ceases. The solution is then filtered and rinsed in water to purify the crack (cocaine base is not water soluble).

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Freebase was developed in the mid 70's, crack appeared on the street in 1985 and took off in 1986 with the media dubbed 'crack epidemic' which transcended all social and economic barriers finding its way into all walks of life due to its surprising low cost.

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Cocaine: Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, creating what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. Though most often used recreationally for...

Crack: Crack or cracking may mean:...

1985: :This article is about the year. For the song by Bowling for Soup, see 1985 (song)....

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