Crack is a cheap, easily manufactured form of free-base cocaine. It is a super-potent, rocklike chunk of cocaine made by mixing the drug in water with baking soda or ammonia. When heated, the water dries, leaving a hard paste that's cut into chips or rocks. Crack, also known as "rock", produces a 5 to 15 minute rush when smoked. 2 or 3 chunks, enough for several doses, typically sell for $10 to $20.

Crack, or free-base cocaine, has 2 properties users want:

	1. It has a lower melting point than cocaine powder.
	2. Can easily be heated in a glass pipe without losing its psychoactive properties so that     crack reaches the brain faster.

Crack, like powdered cocaine, is a central nervous system stimulant. Because crack is more fat soluble that powdered cocaine, the fatty brain tissue more readily absorbs it, thus causing a more intense reaction. It is usually smoked or injected rather than sniffed, reaching the brain within seconds. The high lasts approximately 5 to 15 minutes. As a stimulant, crack sharply increases heart rate and blood pressure along with body temperature. The immediate effects include feelings of alertness and excitement along with increases talkativeness, and decreased appetite. The powerful crack high is quickly followed by an equally intense low characterized by depression, anxiety, and impaired concentration.

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of crack usage is the high risk of overdose. Since crack is more potent that street cocaine, it enters the bloodstream more quicker and in higher concentrations. This is particularly risky since smoking the drug makes it difficult to estimate dosage. The most frequent overdose that people experience when smoking crack cocaine is on the mild side and is felt as very rapid heart beat and hyperventilation. These reactions are often accompanied by a feeling of impending death. Although most people survive, several thousand are killed by cocaine overdose every year. All forms of cocaine use have been linked with heart failure in users, even healthy users.

Len Bias and Dan Rogers, two well-known athletes in perfect health with no history of heart disease, died from heart failure linked to overdoses of cocaine.

Cocaine smoking is also linked to respiratory problems. Some users have reported:

	heavy congestion
	black spetum
	severe coughing
	pain in the lungs and throat after use.
	extreme suspiciousness and fear
	chronic nervousness
	irritability
	insomnia
	weight loss

For additional information concerning crack, contact HealthWorks Peer Education Program at (814) 863-2500, or stop by room 201 Student Health Center between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Community Help Centre, a drug education, crisis intervention, and referral agency is located at 236 South Allen Street and is accessible 24 hours a day. Their telephone number is (814) 237-5855.

Students at campuses other than University Park should consult their Campus Health Office or the human services section of their local phone book for local referral information.