A SLAVE TO COKE

Always One Hit From Disaster, Says Crack Addict

Cocaine has a reputation as a glamorous drug used by the rich and
beautiful. The truth is far darker, says a reformed drug user.

"People have a romantic affair with the word cocaine," said the recovering
addict who asked to only be identified as Frank. "They associate the word
with luxury and power."

Frank is familiar with the seductive power of cocaine -- and the ravages of
a life of addiction.

"The worst mistake in my life journey was learning how to make crack
cocaine," Frank said. "Crack has taken everything that I had from me except
me."

Frank, 45, said he first tried cocaine 15 years ago. It didn't take long
for him to become addicted, he said.

"When you do a hit of crack, the intensity is immediate," said Frank, who
blew away a good career and never thought he would become an addict. "This
drug has no respect for creed, colour, or economic status."

'Pure Hell For Family'

The memory of the pain his addiction caused those close to him is never far
from his thoughts, he said.

"It was pure hell for my family. They had to watch someone they loved waste
away."

Although Frank said he has been clean for six months, he said resisting the
urge to pick up a crack pipe is a daily struggle.

"I'm always only one hit away from disaster," he said.

Rick Drennar, a residential supervisor at the Addictions Foundation of
Manitoba, said stories like Frank's are common.

"We see a lot of cocaine addiction coming through our doors," he said.
"It's been growing over the last 10 or 15 years. You can get almost
anything in the city, but most frequently it's cocaine."

Drennar said crack addiction can happen to anyone.

"There's no geographic boundaries to cocaine addiction," he said. "It's a
highly addictive drug. But it's not the addiction they're looking for, it's
the euphoric feeling that cocaine gives them."

Quitting the drug is extraordinarily difficult, Drennar said.

"Cocaine is a stimulant. The rebound is exactly the opposite. As high as
you get, you crash just as low."

Frank said kicking the habit is even harder when products used to make the
drug are available at the corner store.

"Baking soda is the main ingredient for turning cocaine into crack. It's
pretty standard equipment," he said. "It separates the impurities out."