Cocaine is the second most commonly used illegal drug (following marijuana) in the United States. It’s the fourth most commonly used illicit drug overall, coming in after prescription painkillers and prescription tranquilizers. An estimated 0.7% of Americans, or 1.9 million people aged 12 or older, were using cocaine in 2019 according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This article includes photographs, many from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), of cocaine and crack cocaine in various forms and stages. It also explains how each type is used and the effects it can have on the body. This photo shows bright green coca leaves from the Erythroxylum coca plant before they are harvested and dried. To produce cocaine, the dried leaves are soaked in solvents like gasoline to extract the cocaine chemicals. The leaves are then drained and the liquid is mixed with sodium bicarbonate or ammonia to make a cocaine base. Because it has not gone through further processing, this raw cocaine is stronger, which means it poses a higher risk of causing heart damage if used in this pure form. After the powder cocaine is produced, it’s commonly cut with other substances such as sugar, cornstarch, vitamins, or even flour to stretch the product further. This dilution can occur as often as each time it changes hands along the illicit supply chain. Powdered cocaine is often wrapped in plastic bags or condoms for ease of transport. When sold by street dealers, it is typically packaged in tiny baggies in the amount of the drug that the buyer can afford. Such baggies can be discretely exchanged and easily discarded. Powdered cocaine can be snorted, but it can also be dissolved in water and injected, which is the most common method of use. Injecting the drug leads to an almost instantaneous high that produces a euphoric rush. Snorting cocaine produces a less intense high. Cocaine is also often mixed with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It is also extremely dangerous and is a major cause of both fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Crack cocaine results from dissolving raw cocaine hydrochloride in a mixture of baking soda and water and heating it until the cocaine forms an oily substance, which is then cooled into the rock-like substance. Like powdered cocaine, crack creates a strong sense of exhilaration. People generally feel invincible, carefree, alert, euphoric, and energized. Crack cocaine is often packaged in small baggies when it is sold by street dealers. The rocks are placed in a pipe and smoked. Like powdered cocaine, crack cocaine might be cut or diluted with other substances like ammonia or baking soda. Using cocaine even once can also lead to stimulant use disorder (more commonly referred to as cocaine addiction). The more you use it, the more your body gets used to it, creating the need for bigger doses and using the drug more often in order to get the same effect. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
