Cocaine Abuse Information, Cocaine History

Crack Abuse Information

Arrests & Sentencing

During FY 2003, cocaine was the primary drug involved in Federal arrests. There were 11,794 Federal drug arrests for cocaine in FY 2003. The DEA made 6,522 arrests for powder cocaine and 3,842 arrests for crack cocaine during FY 2003.

Between October 1, 2004 and January 11, 2005, there were 1,205 Federal offenders sentenced for crack cocaine-related charges in U.S. Courts. Approximately 95.2% of the cases involved crack cocaine trafficking. Between January 12, 2005 and September 30, 2005, there were 4,077 Federal offenders sentenced for crack cocaine-related charges in U.S. Courts. Approximately 95.3% of the cases involved trafficking.

Production & Trafficking

Crack is cocaine that has been processed from cocaine hydrochloride to a free base for smoking. Crack cocaine is processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water. It is then heated to remove the hydrochloride producing a form of cocaine that can be smoked.

Legislation

Cocaine (all forms) was first Federally-regulated in December 1914 with the passage of the Harrison Act. This Act banned the non-medical use of cocaine; prohibited its importation; imposed the same criminal penalties for cocaine users as for opium, morphine, and heroin users; and required a strict accounting of medical prescriptions for cocaine. As a result of the Harrison Act and the emergence of cheaper, legal substances such as amphetamines, cocaine became scarce in the U.S. However, use began to rise again in the 1960s, prompting Congress to classify it as a Schedule II substance in 1970.

Schedule II substances have a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States with severe restrictions, and may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. While cocaine can currently be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses, such as a local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries, there are currently no medical uses for crack cocaine.

Street Terms

Common Terms Associated with Crack
Term	Definition	Term	Definition
Bingers	Crack addicts	Oolies	Marijuana laced with crack
Geeker	Crack user	Rooster	Crack
Jelly beans	Crack	Tornado	Crack
Moonrock	Crack mixed with heroin	Wicky stick	PCP, marijuana, and crack