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• Drug Info:

Crack

What is it?
A rock of crack is about the size of a raisin and is white/creamy coloured. It’s usually smoked in a pipe, glass tube, plastic bottle or in foil. Most people take it this way and it’s known as ‘freebasing’. Crack is occasionally injected.

Also known as:
Crack is also known as rocks, wash, stones, freebase and pebbles.

What does the law say?
Crack is a class A drug, illegal to possess, give away or sell. Possessing crack can get you up to 7 years in jail. Supplying someone else with it can get you life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

What are the effects?

• The effects are immediate, peak for about two minutes and last for about 10 minutes.
• Crack temporarily makes users feel exhilarated, confident and wide awake. It kills all feelings of pain, tiredness and hunger.
• Crack has the same short lived effects as cocaine but it is much, much stronger.
• The high can include hallucinations.

What are the risks?

• Crack is a very powerful drug and users have died from overdose.
• Cocaine in any form, including Crack, can be bad news for people with high blood pressure or a heart condition.
• Too much smoking Crack can cause breathing problems and chest pains.
• Using a lot can bring on a seizure or a fit.
• Crack can cause serious problems with anxiety and paranoia. It has also been known to cause panic attacks.
• Because Crack is so addictive there is a strong link to crime as users need to fund their habit.
• Large or frequent use of Crack tends to reduce your desire for sex.
• Taking Crack when you are pregnant can damage your baby.
• If you have had any previous mental health problems Crack could bring those problems to the surface again.
• Injecting any drug, including Crack, can cause vein damage, ulcers and gangrene. Dirty or shared needles and sharing other injecting works can help the spread of HIV and Hepatitis.
• It’s easier to overdose from injecting.

Can you reduce the risks?
Drugs can severely damage your physical and mental health. They can get you in to trouble with the law and even kill you. But if you do decide to use drugs, find out as much as you can about the drug, the effects and the dangers and how you can reduce the risks as much as you can – and then think again whether it’s really worth it.

If you do decide to use drugs keep these points in mind:

• Mixing drugs and alcohol can be fatal.
• The smaller you are the less drugs you need to get the same effect, but where you are and the mood you are in will also affect the way you’ll react.
• Don’t score off strangers.
• Never drive if you have had drugs.
• Always carry a condom; never risk unprotected sex.
• Never take drugs on your own or with strangers.
• Make sure the people you are with know what you have taken and how much.
• If you’re dancing, wear light clothing.

First Aid

• If a person taking drugs collapses or appears to be in trouble, get help – call 999.
• Get help to put them into the recovery position.
• Tell the medics what they have taken – IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIFE.

This information leaflet has been put together by:
FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service, and an initiative of the Gwent Council on Alcohol and Drug Misuse.

The information on this leaflet is correct at the time of going to press.

Contact details and links

Name: Dan 24/7 – Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline
Web: www.dan247.org.uk/
Email: On website.
Tel: 0800 6 33 55 88 (Freephone)
Text: ‘DAN’ to 81066
Info: A free and bilingual telephone drugs helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information or help relating to drugs or alcohol.

Name: FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service
Web: www.fusion-online.org.uk/
Email: admin@fusion-online.org.uk
Tel: 0800 731 4649
Info: Fusion is a free and confidential service for anyone aged between 11 and 24 who lives in the Gwent area and is concerned about their own drinking or drug use, or that of a friend or family member. FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service, an initiative of the Gwent Council on Alcohol and Drug Misuse.

Name: Talk to Frank
Web: www.talktofrank.com
Email: Online form (you don’t have to give a name)
Tel: 0800 77 66 00
Text: 82111
Info: The website offers a huge amount of info on all aspects of alcohol and drigs. The infoline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer FREE info on drugs. Set up by the UK government.

Name: NHS Direct Wales
Web: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
Tel: 0845 46 47
Info: NHS Direct Wales is a health advice and information service available 24 hours a day, every day.

Name: The Samaritans
Web: www.samaritans.org
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Info: Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

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