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Crack Cocaine Use in the UK

It has recently been reported in the national press that the use of crack cocaine is on the rise, and that this has resulted in an increase in drug related crime. While cocaine is viewed as the drug of choice for the more affluent, crack is linked with social exclusion and deprivation in disadvantaged areas. The British Crime Survey’s most recent statistics for 2003/04 suggest that crack use is more prevalent than heroin use with an estimated 79,000 crack users compared to around 64,000 heroin users.

Crack, as it is known on the street, is cocaine that has been processed from the hydrochloride form into a substance that can be smoked. Being cheap to produce and buy, its popularity has increased in recent years. Once processed into rock form, crack can be sold for as little as £10.

Part of the appeal of crack is the drugs fast acting effects. Because it is inhaled as smoke, it reaches the brain much faster than the snorted powder cocaine which is absorbed more slowly. The crack user experiences a high in less than ten seconds with feelings of exhilaration or euphoria. These effects do not last long however, and have usually dissipated within 15 minutes.

The dangers of crack cocaine are well documented and it is widely accepted that the drug can cause a strong psychological dependence in the user. Those who take it even a small number of times run the risk of respiratory problems, heart attack, stroke and acute mental illness.

Despite the rising number of crack users in the UK, far fewer are in treatment compared to heroin addicts. This is a problem for the whole of society as it impacts not only individual communities but has also resulted in a rise in drug related crime. There are now calls for treatment to be more widely available within the community and the criminal justice system. In comparison to heroin, crack cocaine is a relatively new arrival to drug culture and therefore drug services need time to catch up. Nevertheless, a rethink of the current system is needed if the increasing numbers of crack users are to be helped.