The Drug
Crack is the infamous, highly addictive derivative of powdered cocaine that became an epidemic in the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s. It is cheap to produce and easily accessible and the instant high it produces makes it easily abused. Violence and other criminal activity are often associated with the use and sale of crack cocaine. The following statistics compiled from several reputable sources will give you a much clearer picture of the dangers associated with this deadly drug. Please do not take them for granted. Read and pass it on to those you love most. Parents should be aware of any and all information that may affect their children. This information can save lives if taken seriously and used properly.
According to the DEA;
- Crack cocaine is a Schedule II substance. Schedule II substances have a high potential for abuse, according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
- According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), crack, which may be as much as 90 percent pure, is five to six times stronger than the cocaine normally purchased on the street.
According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM II),
- The crack cocaine market is the second most active drug market (behind marijuana) in all but three sites.
- The ADAM II report also reveals that crack availability has not changed significantly since 2007.
- Crack remains primarily a cash and open air or more public market. (ADAM II)
The National Drug Intelligence Center’s (NDIC) National Drug Threat Assessment of 2003 revealed that;
- 24.9 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide identify crack cocaine as their greatest drug threat.
- The NDIC also reveals that law enforcement reports that rivalries between dealers, which may include gangs, account for the majority of crack related violence. This can include increases in homicides and assaults. Users may be involved in armed robberies and petty theft.
The Users
Crack is used among both genders, all ages and across various ethnic groups in the United States. Although, the use of crack cocaine had declined since the 1980s, statistics reveal that this drug still poses a great threat in the United States, particularly for youth and low income users. According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), nearly 8.5 million Americans 12 years old or older reported smoking crack cocaine at least once during their lifetimes. That’s about 3.4 percent of the population aged 12 or older. More data from the same survey reveals that more than 1 million people (0.4%) reported using crack cocaine in the past year and 359,000 (0.1%) admitted to using it in the past month. If this information is shocking and difficult to except there is more.
According to the 2009 Monitoring the Future Study Crack Statistics, among high school students surveyed, 2.1% of eighth graders, 2.3% of tenth graders, and 3.2% of twelfth graders reported lifetime use of crack cocaine. In 2008, these percentages were 2.6%, 4.6%, and 6.0%, respectively. And in a 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was found that approximately 68 percent of eighth graders, 75 percent of tenth graders, and 65 percent of high school seniors surveyed see smoking crack cocaine occasionally as a ”great risk”. Furthermore, more than 1% of college students and nearly 4 percent of young adult from 19-28 surveyed in 2007 admitted to lifetime use of crack cocaine, according to University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future survey. But it doesn’t stop there. The statistics continue.
According to the Arrestees Drug Monitoring Abuse Program reports (ADAM II), the average number of days of crack use in the prior 30 days varied from 6 days at the Washington DC site to 20 days in Atlanta. ADAM II reports that crack use is highest in Atlanta and Chicago (23%) and lowest in New York (7%).
The Dealers
In 2008, there were more than 6,200 Federal defendants sentenced for crack cocaine-related charges in U.S. Courts. About 96% of these cases involved crack cocaine trafficking. Less than 1% of the crack cocaine cases involved simple possession. And, according to the United Stated Sentencing Commission, the low-level crack dealer and first-time offender convicted and sentenced for trafficking crack cocaine receives an average sentence of 10 years and six months. Crack cocaine is the only drug for which the first offense of simple possession can trigger a federal mandatory minimum sentence. Possession of just 5 grams of crack will trigger a 5 year mandatory minimum sentence, as stated by the US Sentencing Commission. As you can see, whether you are a user or a dealer your life ends with Crack Cocaine literally.
Treatment
Treatment for crack addiction includes counseling, therapy, and support. Treatment gives the abuser resources and tools to avoid stressors, triggers, and the temptation to use. In recent years the number of people seeking treatment for crack addition has increased. This can mean that the number of people using the drug had increase or indicate reason for the declining numbers.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) highlights that from 1997 to 2007, the number of individuals admitted to treatment facilities, where crack was the primary drug of choice, decreased from 174,900 in 1997 to 167,914 in 2007. The same data reveals that the average age of those admitted to treatment for crack cocaine abuse during 2007 was 39 years. Also in 2007, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that 72 percent of individuals who sought treatment for cocaine abuse were crack users and 10 percent of publicly-funded drug abuse center admissions in 2006 were for crack cocaine.
In conclusion, the statistics clearly prove that Crack Cocaine is a drug that should be avoided at all cost. Narconon of Georgia and its team of experienced counselors and drug rehab specialists are committed to task of helping those addicted to drugs and alcohol break the chain. Get the facts, get help and get your life back.
