Crack vs Powder Cocaine: Unjust Prison Sentences of Two Races For decades the United States has experienced an imbalance sentencing problem between African Americans and White Americans who use crack cocaine and powder cocaine respectively. Although both of these drugs are similar to one another, African Americans have been incarcerated more often than White Americans. According to the NAACP, from 1980 to 2008, the number of prisoners in America increased from about 500,000 to 2.3 million. Today, the US makes up about 5% of the world population and has almost 25% of the world prisoners (NAACP). Out of the 2.3 million prisoners who are in U.S. prisons, nearly 1 million of those locked up are African Americans (NAACP). African Americans are
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Although this may be true both of these drugs have different forms, side effects, prison sentencings, and people who use them. We start with crack cocaine, which is a basically powdered cocaine mixed with water and sodium bicarbonate or baking soda (American Addiction Centers). After being baked crack takes on a rock-like form and has a white, cream, or tan color (American Addiction Centers). Unlike powder cocaine crack cocaine is a smokeable form of cocaine (American Addiction Centers). It’s also more psychologically addicting because it’s more highly concentrated. The one major difference between the drugs is the high that is produced. In fact it takes under a minute to get that feeling and lasts from 30-60 minutes (American Addiction Centers). Crack cocaine is absorbed through the membranes of an individual’s lungs, then enters through the bloodstream and into the brain within 10-15 seconds (American Addiction Centers). Therefore the risk for overdose is extremely high and could lead to convulsions, coma, and even death. Crack cocaine is much less expensive than it’s powder cocaine and therefore much easier to sell (American Addiction Centers). If someone has at minimum of 28 grams of crack they get a sentence of at least five years (American Addiction Centers). On average, a person sent to prison for possession of crack cocaine served about 117 months compared to 87 for powder cocaine (American Addiction
Although this may be true both of these drugs have different forms, side effects, prison sentencings, and people who use them. We start with crack cocaine, which is a basically powdered cocaine mixed with water and sodium bicarbonate or baking soda (American Addiction Centers). After being baked crack takes on a rock-like form and has a white, cream, or tan color (American Addiction Centers). Unlike powder cocaine crack cocaine is a smokeable form of cocaine (American Addiction Centers). It’s also more psychologically addicting because it’s more highly concentrated. The one major difference between the drugs is the high that is produced. In fact it takes under a minute to get that feeling and lasts from 30-60 minutes (American Addiction Centers). Crack cocaine is absorbed through the membranes of an individual’s lungs, then enters through the bloodstream and into the brain within 10-15 seconds (American Addiction Centers). Therefore the risk for overdose is extremely high and could lead to convulsions, coma, and even death. Crack cocaine is much less expensive than it’s powder cocaine and therefore much easier to sell (American Addiction Centers). If someone has at minimum of 28 grams of crack they get a sentence of at least five years (American Addiction Centers). On average, a person sent to prison for possession of crack cocaine served about 117 months compared to 87 for powder cocaine (American Addiction