Drugs - Cocaine and Crack Essay -- Persuasive Argumentative Essay Exa

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Cocaine and crack are among the most addictive substances known to modern science, and they have already ruined the lives of millions of Americans" (Morganthau and Miller, 208). Cocaine and crack are both dangerous, harmful drugs. Though pleasurable effects can be obtained from these drugs, the use of crack and cocaine cannot be worth the actual consequences that are inflicted on mind and body. The bad effects of these drugs, by far outweigh the good. Because crack and cocaine are so closely related, it is important to have a firm understanding of both drugs. Cocaine (coke) is made from the Erythroxylon coca plant, a coca tree that grows high in the Andes Mountains of South America. The coca farmers' purpose is to pick and process the leaves into a paste from which cocaine is extracted (Edwards, 64). These Indians of Bolivia and Peru chew the coca leaves to obtain a mild stimulation, which helps fight fatigue that is caused by the high altitudes at which they work. Chewing the leaves does not see to harm the users, because the stimulating chemical extracted from them is in such small quantities. They stop chewing the coca leaves when they come down from the high altitudes because there is no longer any need for it (Edwards, 63). Cocaine is known as the most potent drug (Mickey, 2). It is an odorless powder, sometimes crystalline, and sometimes fluffy white. Pure cocaine hydrochloride is so potent that a one-gram dose is lethal. Because very small quantities of cocaine induce euphoria, drug dealers "cut" the pure powder of cocaine with adulterants such as mannite, dextrose, lactose, tartaric acid, and sodium bicarbonate (Edwards, 65). From cocaine comes crack, a very powerful drug that is an approximately 75... ...t?" Works Cited Beschner, George and Alfred S. Friedman. Teen Drug Use. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Health and Company, 1986. Edwards, Gabrielle I. Coping With Drug Abuse New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1990. Knowles, Gordan James M.A. "Dealing Crack cocaine: A View From The Streets of Honolulu." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin July 1996: 1-8. Mickey, Dr. Robert. "Angel Dust, Crack, Grass, Ice, Junk." Christian Social ActionJune 1990: 8+. Morganthau, Tom and Mark Miller. "Tougher Law Enforcement Will Win the War Upon Drugs." War on Drugs. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, 1990. Schroder, Donald D. "Cocaine Use Is Not Sensationalized." Chemical Dependency. St. Paul, Minnesota: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1985. Zonderman, Jon and Laurel Shader M.D.Drugs and DiseaseNew York, New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Drugs - Cocaine and Crack Essay -- Persuasive Argumentative Essay Exa   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Cocaine and crack are among the most addictive substances known to modern science, and they have already ruined the lives of millions of Americans" (Morganthau and Miller, 208). Cocaine and crack are both dangerous, harmful drugs. Though pleasurable effects can be obtained from these drugs, the use of crack and cocaine cannot be worth the actual consequences that are inflicted on mind and body. The bad effects of these drugs, by far outweigh the good. Because crack and cocaine are so closely related, it is important to have a firm understanding of both drugs. Cocaine (coke) is made from the Erythroxylon coca plant, a coca tree that grows high in the Andes Mountains of South America. The coca farmers' purpose is to pick and process the leaves into a paste from which cocaine is extracted (Edwards, 64). These Indians of Bolivia and Peru chew the coca leaves to obtain a mild stimulation, which helps fight fatigue that is caused by the high altitudes at which they work. Chewing the leaves does not see to harm the users, because the stimulating chemical extracted from them is in such small quantities. They stop chewing the coca leaves when they come down from the high altitudes because there is no longer any need for it (Edwards, 63). Cocaine is known as the most potent drug (Mickey, 2). It is an odorless powder, sometimes crystalline, and sometimes fluffy white. Pure cocaine hydrochloride is so potent that a one-gram dose is lethal. Because very small quantities of cocaine induce euphoria, drug dealers "cut" the pure powder of cocaine with adulterants such as mannite, dextrose, lactose, tartaric acid, and sodium bicarbonate (Edwards, 65). From cocaine comes crack, a very powerful drug that is an approximately 75... ...t?" Works Cited Beschner, George and Alfred S. Friedman. Teen Drug Use. Lexington, Massachusetts: D.C. Health and Company, 1986. Edwards, Gabrielle I. Coping With Drug Abuse New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1990. Knowles, Gordan James M.A. "Dealing Crack cocaine: A View From The Streets of Honolulu." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin July 1996: 1-8. Mickey, Dr. Robert. "Angel Dust, Crack, Grass, Ice, Junk." Christian Social ActionJune 1990: 8+. Morganthau, Tom and Mark Miller. "Tougher Law Enforcement Will Win the War Upon Drugs." War on Drugs. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, 1990. Schroder, Donald D. "Cocaine Use Is Not Sensationalized." Chemical Dependency. St. Paul, Minnesota: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1985. Zonderman, Jon and Laurel Shader M.D.Drugs and DiseaseNew York, New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.