by Christine Sandra Sanchez

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 23, 2009

Today's society is undeniably more uninhibited than our forefathers. In the 1950's and earlier, only a certain few would experiment with drugs, or drug abuse, but today's users come from all walks of life, from the poor inner city youth, to the rich stockbroker. The number one drug of choice is cocaine, and more disturbingly, crack cocaine.This particular byproduct of cocaine is more dangerous and easier to obtain than the powdered cocaine, which was once accepted by society. Crack cocaine is processed from powdered cocaine mixed with various substances, many of which could be toxic, including baking soda, ether, ammonia, even dish detergent, and cooked until the powder coagulates and hardens. The addict of today is very resourceful in finding new ways to cook crack cocaine. But the addict is also playing Russian Roulette with his or her life in doing so. To ignore this dangerous addiction would be a grave mistake for society, for crack cocaine addiction leads to the destruction of the family as all are affected by its terrible consequences.

In the 1970's crack cocaine became popular because of the inexpensive cost and more than a few cocaine users experimented with the idea. Freebasing cocaine was not as popular, but crack cocaine was a new way to smoke the product. With the easy opportunity for quick money, soon dealers would push this new product to their buyers and the idea took off. Instead of "snorting" a few lines, the cocaine addict could "smoke" up the cocaine mixture for a quick euphoric blast.

The euphoria of the crack cocaine "high" lasts only a few minutes, therefore the addict is apt to spend much more money on the drug. There are users of all ages, from teen to the elderly, and this makes the addiction that much more deadly. Not only does the drug affect personality, mood and heart rate, it could lead to seizures, heart attacks, paranoia, violence, and death. The addict will undoubtedly do anything to get the next "high" including selling personal items, cars, jewelry. Nothing is out of bounds. They will often resort to stealing money and possessions from family members, clean out bank accounts, and even in some cases prostitution. Crack cocaine is a dangerous drug that affects not only the user, but the entire family. Crack cocaine is one of the most difficult drugs to quit for an addict because of the widespread availability, and the best way to make people aware of the dangers of crack cocaine is to inform employers, parents, teachers, school counselors, and family members of the telltale signs of the crack cocaine addict in order to prevent disaster and aid in recovery. Help is available, and every effort should be made to help the crack cocaine user recover from the addiction and live a normal, rewarding life.

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