Cocaine abuse and addiction is not only a problem for California but has been a consistent problem all across the United States since the early 1970's. Compounding this is the rise of Crack to national attention in the mid 1980's. What exactly is the difference between cocaine and crack and what is meant by each of these terms?

There are basically two chemical forms of cocaine: the hydrochloride salt (powder) and freebase (crack). The powdered form is water soluble and can be taken intravenously or intranasally (snorted). Freebase refers to a compound which is not a hydrochloride salt. The freebase or crack form of cocaine is smokable.

"Crack" is the street slang given to freebase cocaine and refers to the crackling sound which is heard when it is smoked. It is processed and heated to remove the hydrochloride. When crack is smoked intense effects are felt in less than 10 seconds as compared to 10 or 15 minutes for cocaine powder, which account for its almost instant rise to popularity. It is also generally cheaper to obtain

In the United States, including California, there were a reported 2.4 million cocaine users in 2006 with an astounding 1.7 million reporting abuse, dependence, or addiction. Cocaine is addictive whether taken by snorting, smoking, or shooting and can lead to other health consequences. There is NO "safe" method to using cocaine. In 2006 there were approximately 2700 people daily using cocaine for the first time. This translates to roughly 985,000 people yearly using cocaine or crack for the first time, and does not take into account all those individuals already abusing and addicted to cocaine or crack.

Cocaine and crack to be among the most common illegal substances when it comes to abuse and addiction with 31% of all treatment admissions reporting cocaine as a substance of abuse and crack cocaine accounting for 72% of all primary cocaine admissions in 2005. Crack, in 2005, was the third most common illicit drug responsible for treatment admissions!

The following additional data is presented for cocaine and crack use in the United States for the year 2006:

Cocaine use in  lifetime, last year, and last month
2006	Used in lifetime	Used in last year	Used in last month
Total	35,298,000	6,069,000	2,421000
Ages 12-17	570,000	411,000	110,000
Ages 17-25	5,130,000	2,259,000	729,000
Ages 26 and older	29,598,000	3,399,000	1,582,000
Cocaine use by gender
Male	20,668,000	3,953,000	1,624,000
Female	14,630,000	2,116,000	797,000

Crack use in  lifetime, last year, and last month
2006	Used in lifetime	Used in Last year	Used in last month
Total	8,554,000	1,479,000	702,000
Ages 12-17	128,000	73,000	12,000
Ages 18-25	1,176,000	293,000	72,000
Ages 26 and older	7,250,000	1,113,000	618,000
Crack use by gender
Male	5,584,000	1,026,000	520,000
Female	2,970,000	453,000	182,000

 

As far as California is concerned specifically the following date is presented representing treatment admissions with cocaine or crack as the primary drug of abuse for the years 1995, 2000, and 2005

California statistics show a breakdown for primary cocaine admissions for 2005 as follows:

Admissions by primary substance of abuse - 2005
California
Cocaine	3,230
Crack	15,422

Help for cocaine and crack addiction often seems far away and out of reach. Frustrated families and loved ones reach the breaking points on a regular basis when it comes to dealing with addiction. Both the addict and the family are all to often in a state of hopelessness about truly beating the demon of cocaine or crack addiction especially when there have already been one or more failed attempts at rehabilitation.

There are actual mechanics to the downward spiral of use, addiction, failed rehabilitation, relapse and further addiction. This does NOT have to be how it goes. The mechanics of addiction can be understood and true lasting rehabilitation for a lifetime is not only possible but it the rule rather than the exception at Narconon Arrowhead.

Click on Healing Addicted Lives to download this free booklet and read about the mechanics of addiction. You will be able to dispel some preconceived ideas you may have concerning addiction, treatment, and actually achieving a drug free productive life.


Narconon Arrowhead is one of the largest and most successful drug rehabilitation and education programs in the country and it uses the drug-free methodology developed by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.

People seeking rehabilitation at Narconon Arrowhead often have tried more traditional treatment methods and have failed, thus leaving them with little hope that they could beat their addiction. However, the Narconon® Drug Rehabilitation Program repeatedly achieves a success rate of approximately 70% for helping people permanently recover from their addiction.

No one needs to tolerate or live with the debilitating effects of Cocaine and Crack. You can put an end to it if you are abusing or addicted to Cocaine and Crack. You can also get real effective help for a loved one, if that is your situation. Effective drug rehab and addiction treatment is at hand!

ACTIONS TO TAKE NOW!

1.    Call 1-800-468-6933 to speak with one of our counselors now. These are experienced, trained, and fully qualified counselors who have been there themselves and have freed themselves from the traps of addiction or alcoholism, as well as helping thousands of others to do the same.

2.    If you prefer, fill out the GET ANSWERS NOW! form on this page and submit it, one of our counselors will contact you.

3.    Click on Healing Addicted Lives to download the booklet and read about the mechanics of addiction. You will be able to dispel some preconceived ideas you may have concerning addiction, alcoholism and their treatment.

NARCONON ARROWHEAD SAVES LIVES!

1-800-468-6933

The statistics used on this page come from the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.  Photo of crack cocaine is from DEA files.