COCAINE

This chapter introduces the pharmacology of crack cocaine to help readers evaluate the claims that have been made regarding its danger to individual users and society. Because, materially and pharmacologically, crack is cocaine, most of what is known about cocaine applies to crack as well. The fact that crack is smoked—rather than sniffed, swallowed, or injected—is significant. Our review of the evidence indicates, however, that its importance has been exaggerated. Clearly, using either …

…most people can consume a fairly high dose of cocaine with out serious harm, even a low dose can be dangerous for people with preexisting central nervous system or cardiac abnormalities (Isner et al., 1986; Mittleman and Wetli, 1987). People with enzyme deficiencies that interfere with cocaine's biotransformation may also be at higher risk (Devenyi, 1989). There is recent evidence that consuming alcohol with cocaine may be risky, especially for persons with heightened sensitivity to cocaine's effects (Karch, 1992).[23]