Cocaine is produced in the fields of South America. Bolivia, Peru and Colombia are top coca leaf producing countries. Colombia is the world’s top coca leaf processor, with more processing taking place in Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Argentina. From South America, shipments move north, coming into the US by small plane, truck, car or boat. Along the US-Mexico border, Mexican drug cartels are largely responsible for moving the drugs, but in large Eastern cities, a wide variety of ethnic groups transport these drugs. Once the drugs hit US soil, they are usually distributed to gangs and criminal groups that break the large shipments into smaller packages. From there, these small packages find customers with cravings and addictions.
Powder cocaine is often diluted or “cut” with white powders that have a similar consistency. Cornstarch, flour, talc, procaine (a local anesthetic), levamisole (a veterinary de-worming medication), powdered sugars, even coffee creamers, vitamin B12 and baby formula may be used.
To make crack cocaine, the powder form of the drug is dissolved in hot water and baking soda is added. It is boiled until the water is nearly gone, and then the solids are filtered out. What remains after drying is a hard rock of concentrated cocaine that is then smokable.
Some quantity of cocaine is used everywhere in the US, but rates of use are higher in metropolitan areas from Florida through Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, the Great Lakes cities and in between.
For crack cocaine:
Cocaine and marijuana:
Cocaine and meth:
Cocaine and PCP:
Cocaine and heroin:
Cocaine and Ecstasy:
Cocaine, LSD and Ecstasy:
Heroin and Tobacco:
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