The 5 types of cocaine (and differences in addiction)

A very dangerous drug that can be consumed in different forms.

Cocaine is one of the best known drugs, and the most consumed hard drug in many countries.

According to the ranking of drug consumption in Spain, which uses data from the seizures of the National Police, the Civil Guard and the Customs and Excise Department, about 2.2% of Spaniards use cocaine, about 2.2% of Spaniards are familiar with this substance.. The Valencian Community, the Canary Islands and Galicia are the regions with the most seized kilos of this drug.

The most common form of cocaine consumption is cocaine hydrochloride, which is known as coca powder, i.e. "cocaine stripes". However, there are other forms of However, there are other forms of consumption that produce different effects and different types of cocaine and addiction.snorting stripes is not the same as smoking crack.

Cocaine: a highly addictive drug

Cocaine is a highly addictive drug and can be very dangerous.. In the West, coca powder is the most commonly consumed form of this substance, although there are other ways of ingesting it. This makes the profile of the drug addict somewhat heterogeneous.

In Europe, the cocaine user is usually associated with someone with a medium-high socioeconomic status, as it is a substance that can be expensive. But this is not always the case, because there are other forms of addiction to this substance that are more economical.

In other words, they are consumed by people belonging to more disadvantaged social groups. Crack, for example, can be devastating for the user, who can end up in isolation in the slums of the city.who may end up isolated in marginalized neighborhoods. The myth that it is possible for the cocaine addict to live a normal life and live in upper-middle class neighborhoods can be restricted only to those who consume cocaine hydrochloride.

Consequences of cocaine use

As you can see, cocaine can be considered, erroneously, as the drug of the upper class, and has even come to be called the caviar of drugs. In powder form it can circulate on Wall Street and even on fashion runways, where some models have come out to claim that they are or have been addicted to the substance. But while cocaine may be surrounded by glamour**, the reality is that this drug hits hard on the health of addicts**, as it has negative effects on the heart and brain.

In addition, when someone becomes addicted to the substance they have serious difficulties in quitting, since they become a prisoner of this drug both mentally and physically.

Types of cocaine and addiction

Not all forms of cocaine use produce the same effects on the body nor are they equally addictive. This substance is manufactured in three ways: powder, paste (basuco) and base (crack).

But, What are the types of cocaine and what are the characteristics of these three types of addiction?

1. Powder cocaine or cocaine stripes

Cocaine can be consumed in the form of stripes, known as cocaine hydrochloride, although it is also called powder or snow. Cocaine stripes (or clecas) are highly addictive psychoactive substances, but less so than other types of cocaine. This powder, which is usually snorted, can have different shades. For example, Yen" is purer (around 98%) and whiter, flakier and shinier..

However, there are other types of powder cocaine with less purity, in which its presentation is more powdery and with less brightness. This happens because for its commercialization a series of chemical substances are added that can be highly toxic. The fewer substances incorporated, the purer the coca is and the higher quality it is considered.

That is why it is necessary to be extremely cautious when someone buys coca in the street, because they do not really know what they are buying. The cocaine ray often contains between 5% and 40% of this substance, according to Diario de Galicia newspaper. Cocaine hydrochloride usually arrives in Spain with 80% purity, however, here it is "cut" to obtain greater economic gain.

The cutting is done with different substances, some of which are very dangerous.. Among these substances it is possible to find: amphetamines, chalk, almax (powder for stomach pain), detergent, speed, talcum powder or painkillers.

• You can learn more about cocaine stripes in our article: "Cocaine stripes: components, effects and dangers".

2. Chinese cigarette

Another way of consuming coca is by smoking it.. Although there are other ways to smoke it that do not have to be in its cocaine hydrochloride format, many users smoke it directly from the cocaine stripe. These individuals often dampen a cigarette so that they can then smear the coke stripe on the outside of the cigarette.

The effect is much less than that of the cocaine line, so it is often combined with the snorted dose. That is to say, when a user snorts it, he usually smokes the remaining part of the line or lines (if he uses it with other people). Cigarettes containing cocaine hydrochloride are called "Chinese".

3. Cocaine hydrochloride injection

Cocaine hydrochloride can also be injected once it has been diluted in water. This is one of the most addictive forms of cocaine because the drug is transported directly into the Blood thus increasing the intensity of its effect. It is the most dangerous form of use, with an immediate but short-lived effect. The user needs to inject more soon after, and it is easier to overdose..

4. Basuco or coca paste

Basuco (also bazuco, paco or coca paste) is an intermediate product in the manufacture of cocaine hydrochloride. It is also known as cocaine sulfate because it contains approximately 50% of this compound.

Coca paste is the result of a process that includes highly toxic and poisonous products such as sulfuric acid, methanol or kerosene. As with injected cocaine, it is highly addictive and causes physical and psychological deterioration.. It is usually mixed with tobacco or marijuana to be smoked, and it is cheaper because the cost of producing it is much lower since it is made with cocaine residues.

5. Crack or cocaine base

Crack or cocaine base is the result obtained by incorporating chemical elements such as ether, ammonia and baking soda to cocaine hydrochloride. It is known as the poor man's cocaine because it is up to 15 times cheaper than cocaine hydrochloride..

After being smoked, crack reaches the brain within seconds and its effects are stronger and more destructive than coca paste. It is also more addictive and the risk of death from its consumption is higher than other types of cocaine such as basuco. It is usually smoked in a pipe.

Pink cocaine: a drug of choice for the upper class

At present, a psychoactive substance has become very fashionable among the upper class.. It is what is known as pink cocaine, pink powder or 2CB, and is a synthetic drug with psychedelic and hallucinogenic effects, which alter all the senses and change the perception of the world. Its consumption produces very harmful effects for the person who takes it.

• You can learn more about this drug in our article: "Pink Powder (pink cocaine): the worst drug ever known".