Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jun 2002
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Nick Hopkins, The Guardian
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

GROWING IMPACT OF DRUG FROM ABROAD

Crack cocaine is a smokable, highly addictive, form of cocaine. It is sold 
in crystals - rocks - which cost between UKP20 and UKP25 each.

A single rock has the same effect as cocaine powder, but the "hit" is more 
intense. The initial high lasts about 30 minutes, but it is followed by 
tiredness and depression that can last up to two days.

Crack cocaine swept American cities such as New York in the mid-1980s, and 
a leading officer from the US drug enforcement agency came to London 13 
years ago to warn that it would soon be causing havoc here.

The number of crack users in the UK is not known, but the drugs charity 
Turning Point believes there has been a rapid increase in the past five 
years, particularly in the south of the country.

Lord Adebowale, the charity's chief executive, told the home affairs select 
committee: "Five years ago, 1% of [drug] users in the southern region were 
crack cocaine users; it is now 12%."

Ten London boroughs have reported significant rises in crack users being 
seen by their drug teams since September 2000.

Last year, 21 people were murdered in drug related shootings; all the 
victims were black. In addition there were 67 attempted murders. Nearly all 
were related to turf wars between rival drug dealers.

Steve Pilkington, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset, has blamed the 
77% increase in street robberies in Bristol over the past year on an 
increase in the availability and use of crack.
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