Crack Cocaine: A Short History
The use of coca leaves dates back over 3,000 years. Crack cocaine, the crystallized form of cocaine, was developed in the 1970s during the cocaine boom. Its popularity grew in the mid-1980s.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), by the late 1970s, there was a huge amount of cocaine powder being shipped into the US, causing prices to drop as much as 80 percent. To maintain profits, drug dealers converted powdered cocaine into crack, which could be smoked.
This form was sold in smaller, more affordable quantities, reaching more people and generating greater profits.
By the 1980s, reports of its use surfaced in cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Detroit and areas in the Caribbean.
The biggest surge in crack use occurred during the crack epidemic from 1984 to 1990, which saw a significant rise in cocaine addiction. In 1985, the number of regular cocaine users jumped from 4.4 million to 6 million.
By the end of 1986, crack was found in 28 states and Washington, DC. One year later, only four states were not reporting crack availability. Since then, crack use has spread over the Americas, Europe and beyond.
In 2002, the United Kingdom experienced its own crack epidemic, with the number of people seeking help for addiction increasing by nearly 50 percent that year. The UK reported a 74 percent increase in crack seizures between 2000 and 2006.
More recently, reports show the number of people using crack in the past month reached a 14-year high.
How much do you really know about crack cocaine?
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