Cocaine and crack users compared

Abstract

Because crack use is such a recent phenomenon, little is known about users of this highly addictive drug, the harmful effects of which have been widely publicized. This study hypothesized that crack users would be more depressed and more alienated from family, friends, and school staff than would cocaine users, and would consider as less important reasons not to use crack and cocaine. The authors compared 411 users of cocaine (but not crack) to 156 crack users, all but 22 of whom had also used cocaine. The sample was derived from a larger random survey of 7th- through 12th-grade students in North Carolina. Results indicated that crack users were younger than cocaine users, made poorer grades, were more depressed, and were more likely to be alienated from family and friends. However, cocaine and crack users were equally unlikely to confide in anyone in their school if they had a drinking or drug problem. Further, crack users were more likely to have talked once to a teacher or counselor in the past year about their problems. The implications of these seemingly inconsistent findings are explored. Crack users appear to be a particularly vulnerable population.