Overview
Cocaine (variously called C, coke, snow, nose) is a fine, white crystalline powder often diluted with sugar, cornstarch, talcum powder, or a substance that imitates its numbing effects, such as benzocaine. The drug can be sniffed (or absorbed through other mucous membranes such as the mouth), smoked or injected. "Crack" is a smokable, freebase form of cocaine that is made by adding baking soda to a cocaine solution and allowing the mixture to dry. Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the South American coca bush. It is still used as a local anesthetic for some surgery, but has been largely replaced by less toxic substances.
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Selected Readings
Crack Cocaine [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), revised June 2006
The Basics: Cocaine/Crack [PDF]
Addicitons Foundation of Manitoba (AFM), 2005
Do You Know Cocaine [PDF]
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 2004
Cocaine Use: Recommendations in Treatment and Rehabilitation [PDF]
Health Canada, 2000
Portrait des consommateurs de cocaïne contemporains au Québec [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), May 2000
(This document is available in French only)
Straight Facts About Drugs and Drug Abuse [PDF]
Health Canada, 2000
Cocaine and Crack: The ABC's [PDF]
Alberta Health Services (AHS), 1999