Crack is a highly addictive and potent form of cocaine that is made by mixing cocaine powder with water and baking soda, then heating it until it forms a solid rock-like substance. Crack is so named because it usually makes a cracking noise when heated. Crack cocaine is typically smoked, which allows the drug to reach the brain more quickly and produce a more intense high. Smoking crack can lead to a range of negative health effects, including respiratory problems, heart attack, and stroke. Crack is a base that does not dissolve in water and needs to be smoked to be absorbed. Crack is nearly always white or off-white and is available as rocks that vary in size and shape. Crack emerged as a drug of abuse in the mid-1980s and is abused because it produces an immediate high and because it is easy and inexpensive to produce, rendering it readily available and affordable. Crack is highly addictive, and users often find themselves chasing the initial high, leading to a cycle of binge use to maintain the high.