Drug and Alcohol
Freebase Cocaine: What Is Freebasing, and Why Is It So Dangerous?
Freebasing cocaine is less common these days, but it's still a dangerous and highly addictive form of cocaine abuse. Read our blog to learn more.
Freebasing cocaine involves converting the drug into its base form to be smoked, resulting in a faster-acting and more intense high. This method is particularly risky due to the use of harmful chemicals, as well as the increased potential for addiction and overdose. While freebasing is most commonly associated with cocaine, other substances like nicotine and morphine can also be freebased.
Learn more about the process of freebasing and dangers of freebase cocaine, including addiction and overdose, so that you or a loved one can seek help if needed.
What Is Freebasing?
“Freebase” or “freebasing” refers converting drugs into their base form so that they can be smoked. The process involves chemically altering the drug to remove impurities and boost its potency, resulting in a faster-acting and more intense high. Although free basing is most commonly associated with cocaine, it can be applied to other substances too, such as nicotine and morphine. Free base drugs are particularly risky because it involves harmful chemicals, and increases the risks of addiction and overdose.
What Is Freebase Cocaine?
Freebase cocaine is the consumable base form of the substance, or cocaine in its solid state. In short, free basing cocaine involves changing it from its natural salt form into a smokable substance. Unlike crack cocaine, which is made by mixing cocaine with water and baking soda, freebase cocaine is made by using ammonia to extract the base.
This form of cocaine is almost pure as it contains very little of the additive hydrochloride. This is because free basing turns powder cocaine into cocaine sulfate, which is nearly 100% pure and melts at a low temperature, making it easy to smoke. However, freebase cocaine doesn’t dissolve in water, so it’s hard to melt and inject.
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Short and Long-Term Effects of Freebasing Cocaine
Freebasing cocaine can have serious impacts on your health, both immediately and over time, including:
Immediate Effects
Freebase cocaine effects are felt almost immediately. When smoked, it enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain within 10-15 seconds, causing an intense feeling of euphoria followed by a high that lasts about 30 minutes. However, this high is often followed by a crash, leaving the user feeling extremely tired, depressed, anxious, irritable, and paranoid. Short-term physical effects of freebase cocaine include:
Excessive sweating
Nausea
Small pupils
Trouble sleeping
Headaches
Decreased sexual function
Long-Term Effects
Long-term use of freebase cocaine can lead to significant mood changes, irritability, restlessness, depression, anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. Smoking the substance can also cause serious health issues like respiratory problems, lung and mouth damage, and an increased risk of various cancers, and chronic use can damage all body systems, leading to heart palpitations, heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, seizures, asthma, and other respiratory issues.
Users also risk burns to the face or fingers from glass pipes, matches, or lighters, and are more prone to injuries from accidents or violence while under the influence.
Addiction to Freebase Cocaine
Freebase cocaine is highly addictive because of its strong and quick effects. When smoked, it quickly enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain, creating a powerful feeling of euphoria within seconds. This fast and intense pleasure makes it easy for users to become psychologically dependent on the drug. The high from freebase cocaine doesn’t last long, so users often take more to keep feeling good, which can lead to a cycle of heavy use.
Psychological Dependence
An addiction to freebase cocaine can have serious consequences. Users often experience strong cravings and may focus on drug use over other parts of their lives, neglecting responsibilities and relationships. This can lead to significant problems in both daily life and overall well-being.
Health Consequences
Long-term use of freebase cocaine can cause major health issues, including breathing problems, heart damage, and mental health disorders like anxiety, paranoia, and depression. The risk of overdose is also high because the drug is so potent, leading to dangerous levels of use.
Treatment and Recovery
Overcoming addiction to freebase cocaine usually requires professional help. Treatment often includes detoxification, therapy, and support groups to address both the physical and mental aspects of addiction. With the right support, recovery is possible, so that individuals can regain control of their lives.
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Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
Cocaine withdrawal can be difficult to manage, posing a range of both physical and mental symptoms. When someone stops using cocaine, they might feel very tired, hungry, and have vivid, unpleasant dreams. They can also feel restless, anxious, and depressed. These symptoms can start quickly and be very intense.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Fatigue
Increased appetite
Vivid, unpleasant dreams
Agitation and restlessness
Anxiety and irritability
Depression
Strong cravings for cocaine
Paranoia
Difficulty making decisions
Excessive sleep
Formication (sensation of crawling skin)
Managing these symptoms often requires professional help, including medical support and therapy, to ensure a safe and effective recovery.
The Risks of Overdose
Due to the purity and potency of freebase cocaine, it poses a higher risk of overdose compared to other forms.
When smoked, it quickly enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain, causing a rapid and intense high. This fast-acting effect can make it easy to accidentally take too much, leading to an overdose.
Additionally, users who are used to other forms of cocaine, like crack or powdered cocaine, might not know how much freebase cocaine is safe to use, which further increases the risk of overdose.
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Other Free Base Substances
Freebasing isn’t limited to cocaine; other drugs can also be converted into their base form for smoking. Examples include nicotine, morphine, and meth.
Nicotine
Freebasing nicotine involves converting it into its base form, which can then be vaporized and inhaled. This process allows for rapid absorption into the bloodstream, providing a quicker and more intense effect compared to other methods.
Morphine
Freebase morphine is created by converting the drug into its base form, which can then be smoked. This method increases the drug’s potency and allows for faster absorption, leading to a more immediate and intense high.
Methamphetamine
Freebase methamphetamine, often referred to as “ice” or “crystal meth,” is a highly potent form of the drug that can be smoked. This method provides a rapid and intense high, increasing the risk of addiction and other health issues.
Heroin
Freebase heroin, also known as “chasing the dragon,” involves heating the drug and inhaling the vapors. This method increases the drug’s potency and allows for rapid absorption, leading to a more immediate and intense high.
Freebasing these substances significantly increases their potency and the speed at which they affect the brain, leading to a higher risk of addiction and severe health consequences. It’s important to raise awareness about the dangers associated with freebasing to help prevent substance abuse and promote recovery.
Closing Thoughts
As you now know, freebasing is a method of converting drugs into their base form for smoking, which significantly increases their potency and the speed at which they affect the brain. Freebase cocaine, in particular, is nearly 100% pure and provides an intense, immediate high, but also poses severe health risks and a high potential for addiction. Cocaine also isn’t the only drug that can be free based. Other substances, such as nicotine and morphine, can also be purified for smoking.
Regardless of the form, be it powdered, crack, or freebased cocaine, this highly addictive and harmful substance carries significant risks, including dependence and overdose. If you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine dependence, remember that help is available to support your recovery and regain control of your life.
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We’ll Help You Break Free From Cocaine Addiction
At The Edge Treatment Center in Santa Ana, CA, we specialize in cocaine addiction treatment. If you or someone you know is battling cocaine abuse and addiction, our team of treatment experts and mental health professionals can guide your recovery with a range of therapies.
Call us today to learn more and take the first step if cocaine addiction has taken hold of your life.
We’re Here To Help You Find Your Way
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, there is hope. Our team can guide you on your journey to recovery. Call us today.
Written by
Monty MontgomeryContent Writer
Reviewed by
Jeremy ArztChief Clinical Officer
Drug and Alcohol
March 3, 2023
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Freebasing is a method of consuming drugs by converting them into their base form so they can be smoked. This process involves chemically altering the drug to remove impurities and increase its potency, resulting in a faster-acting and more intense high. Freebasing is most commonly associated with cocaine but can be applied to other substances as well.
Freebasing cocaine involves converting the drug from its natural salt form into a pure base form, making it suitable for smoking. This process removes the hydrochloride component, resulting in nearly 100% pure cocaine. When smoked, freebase cocaine reaches the brain quickly, producing an intense and immediate high, but also significantly increasing the risk of addiction and overdose.
Freebase cocaine is a purified form of cocaine that is smoked, while crack cocaine is a solid form made by processing cocaine with baking soda. Both deliver intense highs but differ in production and effects.
Freebasing is particularly dangerous due to the use of volatile and flammable chemicals in the process, which can lead to accidents and explosions. Additionally, the high potency of freebase drugs increases the risk of overdose. The rapid and intense effects of freebase cocaine can also lead to severe health issues, including respiratory problems, heart attacks, and mental health disorders.
While freebasing is most commonly associated with cocaine, other substances can also be freebased. These include nicotine, morphine, meth, heroin, and certain other alkaloids. The process involves converting these drugs into their base form to be smoked, which increases their potency and the speed at which they affect the brain, but also heightens the risks associated with their use.