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Free-basing is the method by which cocaine is converted into its base form with the intent of making cocaine a smokeable drug. First it is heated into a liquid solvent and its fumes inhaled through a pipe. This technique is physically dangerous as the solvent tends to ignite. Due to the dangers and inconvenience of this method another a more convenient method of producing smokeable free-base became popular. This was the miracle drug crack. To obtain crack-cocaine, ordinary cocaine hydrochloride is concentrated by heating the drug in a solution of baking soda until the water evaporates. This type of base-cocaine makes a cracking sound when heated; hence the name crack. Freebase was developed in the mid 70's, crack appeared on the street in 1985 and took off in 1986 with the media dubbed 'crack epidemic' which transcended all social and economic barriers finding its way into all walks of life due to its surprising low cost.
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