Feb 12, 2015
Cocaine basics
a. Derived from coca plant b. Soaked and mashed to produce paste i. Inca chew the leaves (even today) c. Base form is soluble in alcohol = freebase i. Inhaling the fumes = “freebasing” ii. Crack cocaine is base form mixed with baking powder 1. Stronger and quicker than snorting 2. Powder insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol 3. Heating converts into a stable vapor d. Salt form is most common (powder form) i. Water soluble salt ii. most commonly snorted, but may be dissolved in water for injection