Get Smart About Cocaine and Crack

Book excerpt: Learn the basic facts behind cocaine and crack, including their history and changing legal status, medical uses, signs of abuse and dependence, treatment options, prevention tools for parents, and much more.In a relatively short period, cocaine went from a low-level stimulant used by indigenous South Americans to a high-powered narcotic that’s affected nearly every major city. In this Hazelden Quick Guide, expert resources and information come together in an engaging and accessible e-book short. Topics include:• What cocaine is, where it comes from, and how crack cocaine developed• The history of cocaine and crack’s use and abuse• Changing cultural, social, and legal factors• Definitions of normal use, abuse, and dependence, with information on prevention and advice for parents• How cocaine works, including its legitimate medical uses, and what makes it so prone to abuse and dependence• Intervention and effective treatment methods• Relapse prevention tools for recovering dependents and addicts