Appearance and use of cocaine

 

Cocaine is a white powder, however its colour can vary from off-white to pink according to the adulterants. It can be injected or snorted.

 

Crack cocaine is the free base form of cocaine and can be smoked due to a lower melting point. Its colour can vary from white, to yellow, to light brown according to the adulterants. The texture of the powder can be crumbly, oily or crystalline depending on its method of manufacture

 

Smoking gives a greater CNS effect due to the large surface area of the alveoli, but it is most commonly snorted as the hydrochloride salt, which can cause necrosis of the nasal septum after frequent snorting. Cocaine tends to have a stimulant action of approximately 30 minutes.