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Crack Epidemic

Crack epidemic refers to the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine in the United States during the early 1980s. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability; its immediate euphoric effect, which helped individuals escape their social and economic dilemmas; and its high profitability, which provided opportunities for some to move up the “economic ladder.” The relevance of the crack epidemic to the topic of race and crime lies in the increase of addictions, deaths, and drug-related crimes that took place mostly within the African American community of the inner city. This entry discusses crack cocaine, its arrival in America, its effects on crime in the African American community, and the efforts made to curtail its use.

Crack Cocaine

Cocaine is a fine white crystallized powder substance that is referred to by numerous names, including “coke,” “snow,” “freeze,” and “blow.” Before the dangerous effects of powdered cocaine were known, it was often used as a painkiller in the fields of medicine and dentistry. Once powdered cocaine was legally restricted and banned from soft drinks and medication, its price increased tremendously, ranging from $50 to $100 per gram.

As the demand for cocaine increased, so did the availability of supplies, which caused a substantial decrease in pricing. As a result, drug dealers discovered a way to convert powdered cocaine into a smokable form that could be sold in smaller portions but distributed to more people. This addictive version of cocaine became known as “crack.” The name crack is attributed to the crackling noise that is made when the substance is smoked. Crack was produced by dissolving cocaine hydrochloride into water with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which precipitates solid masses of cocaine crystals. Unlike powder cocaine, crack was easier to develop, more cost efficient to produce, and cheaper to buy, which made it more economically accessible. Crack sold for anywhere between $5 and $20 per vial (a small capsule that contains pebble-sized pieces of crack that were approximately one tenth of a gram of powdered cocaine). Crack cocaine was noted for its instantaneous and intense high, which kept users craving for more, thus causing an upsurge in crack cocaine addictions. In 1985 alone, the number of cocaine users increased by 1.6 million people. Crack cocaine causes weight loss, high blood pressure, hallucinations, seizures, and paranoia. Emergency room visits due to cocaine incidents such as overdoses, unexpected reactions, suicide attempts, chronic effects, and detoxification increased fourfold between 1984 and 1987.

Arrival in America

Cocaine hydrochloride or powdered cocaine was a major cash crop for South American countries, especially Columbia. Up until the 1960s, very few people knew about cocaine, and the demand was very limited. As the desire for the drug increased, Colombian trafficking organizations, such as the Medellin cartel, instituted a distribution system of cocaine imported from South America into the U.S. market through the Caribbean and the South Florida coast. The successful trafficking of cocaine was aided by South American and Cuban refugees who smuggled the illicit drug by sea and air. Trafficking organizations oversaw all operations, including the conversion, packaging, transportation, and the first-level distribution of cocaine in the United States.

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