“Crack smoke” is a respirable aerosol of cocaine base

Abstract

The smoking of cocaine carbonate (“crack”) has emerged as a significant substance abuse problem. A detailed characterization of cocaine smoke is a prerequisite for studies of its pharmacokinetics, abuse potential and toxicity. Model pipes were used to generate cocaine smoke analogous to that inhaled by human “crack” abusers. Using procedures to minimize pyrolysis, cocaine base smoke determined to be 93.5% cocaine particles with the remainder being cocaine vapor. The average particle size generated from all model pipes was 2.3 μ which is small enough to ensure deposition into the alveolar region of the human lung. Although this particle size is eminently respirable by primates, a much smaller fraction will reach the alveolar region of rodents. Special generating procedures would therefore be required to expose rodents to meaningful doses of airborne cocaine that mimic the rapid absorption achieved by “crack” smokers.