The Emergence of Crack Cocaine AbuseCocaine was once considered the elite's drug, with a price so high that only the very wealthy could afford it, and thought by many to be 'safe'. But during the 1980s, a dangerous and cheap derivative began appearing on the street. This drug, crack, is a cocaine free-base produced relatively safely and easily. Because of its low production costs, crack became popular among the lower classes, leading to an epidemic in the late 1980s, with estimates that over one million people used crack cocaine. The drug's name became synonymous with gangs, crime, and violence. Because of the intensity and apparent suddenness of the crack crisis, people began to wonder if there were any warning signs public officials missed and how exactly crack spread across the nation. Some even floated the theory that agencies like the CIA and FBI encouraged the use of crack in inner cities. No matter where it came from, crack is a menace that, though no longer 'epidemic', must be combated along with all other illegal drugs. This book makes a close examination of the development, responses to, and effect of the crack cocaine crisis in the United States. Included are descriptions of cocaine, crack, and the free-basing process. Also examined are the health questions surrounding the abuse problems and the allegations that governmental authorities had advance knowledge of crack. With the war on drugs a perpetual and critical battle in America, the facts and analyses presented here are of paramount importance to the understanding of a major issue of society's safety. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 3 | |
The Evolution of Smokable Cocaine to SocialRecreational Use | 7 |
Warning Signs of Possible Harm from Cocaine Freebase Abuse | 11 |
Medical Community Alerted | 13 |
The US Congress Alerted | 14 |
Press Coverage About the Hazards of Using Cocaine Freebase | 17 |
The Richard Pryor Incident | 18 |
Congressional and Executive Response to the Cocaine Problem | 55 |
Executive Branch Response to Drug Abuse Particularly Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Abuse | 65 |
Conclusions and Observations | 71 |
Scientific Research on Cocaine and Smokable Cocaine Conducted in the 1970s | 79 |
Preclinical Laboratory Studies on SmokableCocaine Abuse | 81 |
Clinical Studies of Possible Smokable Abuse | 82 |
Chronology of Events in the Emergence of Crack Cocaine Abuse in the United States | 85 |
Warnings About Smokable Cocaine | 88 |
Common terms and phrases
Abuse and Control addiction Administration America Angeles appeared areas arrestees base became believed California called cocaine abuse cocaine freebase cocaine powder Cocaine Smoking Committee on Narcotics concern conducted Congress considered crack cocaine crack cocaine abuse created Crips dangers Department discussed drug abuse drug paraphernalia early effects efforts emergency Enforcement epidemic examine experience federal Furthermore groups hearings held hospital House Select Committee Ibid illicit drugs included increase indicated initial involved issue Journal July June Justice legislation Los Angeles March measure Medical method Miami Narcotics Abuse National Drug National Institute nationwide NIDA November observed occurred Office persons Policy population prepare prevention problem programs reported response rock School Services Siegel smokable cocaine smoking cocaine South spread street gangs substance Survey tested trafficking treatment United University users warning York City