Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that can lead to drug addiction. The drug is made from the coca leaves that grow in South America. It is smuggled into the United States in powder form and then altered by drug dealers into crack cocaine before it is sold to consumers. The process of cooking crack cocaine alters the drug's physical properties, causing it to break into small rocks that can be smoked for an intense high.
Cooking crack cocaine involves modifying powdered cocaine hydrochloride into a freebase version of the drug. The freebase version of the drug looks like small, off-white, crystalline rocks. Unlike powder cocaine, which dissolves in water or alcohol, the freebase version of the drug can be smoked and delivers a massive dose of the drug to the user's lungs within seconds.
Drug users who smoke crack may also add other substances to it, including other drugs that enhance its effects and potent opioids like fentanyl. These additions can make the drug more dangerous to take and increase the risk of an overdose. In addition, the smoking of crack may damage a person's throat and lungs, and can result in long-term problems with cardiovascular health.
To cook crack, a person can use a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or tin foil. It is important to line the pan well, because if the baking dish isn't well lined with foil or parchment, the crack will stick to the baking dish and won't come off easily. After lining the baking dish, a person should place saltine crackers in a single layer. Next, a person should add butter and brown sugar to the pan. After the mixture comes to a boil, it should be poured over the crackers and baked in the oven until the sugar is bubbly. After the mixture cools, it should be topped with chocolate chips.