The illicit practice of smoking COCAINE is generally referred to as freebasing. The hydrochloride form of cocaine (powder) is highly soluble in water and, therefore, is efficiently absorbed by the mucous membranes when taken intranasally (snorted) or via blood when injected intravenously (shot up). This form of cocaine is, however, destroyed when it is heated to the temperatures required for smoking it. Therefore, the cocaine alkaloid, called "CRACK" or "freebase," is the form that is smoked. Although not always differentiated, freebase actually refers to cocaine in the base state with all the adulterants removed (Inciardi, 1991). Cocaine hydrochloride is combined with an alkaline substance, such as sodium hydroxide or ammonia, to remove the hydrochloride. The free cocaine base is then dissolved in ether, and pure cocaine-base crystals are formed. It has been estimated that approximately 560 milligrams of cocaine freebase can be extracted from one gram of street cocaine hydrochloride...