The basics
What is cocaine?
A powerful stimulant derived from the South American coca plant. Class A in the UK — up to 7 years for possession, life for supply. Street names include charlie, coke, gear, powder, grams, white. Dealers commonly use tops for cocaine and bottoms for heroin. This list isn't complete, and it changes from area to area. If you've never seen it and wouldn't know what to look for, start here.
Powder cocaine
cocaine hydrochlorideAppearance
White or off-white powder. Sometimes yellowish or pinkish, depending on what it's cut with. Fine and dusty if it's heavily cut, a bit shiny and clumpy if it's stronger. Sold in wee snap bags, cling film wraps, or folded lottery tickets.
How it's taken
Snorted — most common. Lines racked up on a flat surface using a card, inhaled through a rolled note or straw. Gummed — rubbed on gums for slower effect. Injected — rising in Scotland (60% of injectors). Bombed — wrapped in paper and swallowed.
Duration
The high lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. That's why people keep going back for more all night.
Crack cocaine
freebase, rocks, washAppearance
Small, hard, irregularly shaped lumps — off-white, cream, or yellowish. Waxy, crystalline, or chalky. Pea to thumbnail sized. Sold in small bags, foil, or cling film.
How it's made
Powder cocaine cooked with bicarbonate of soda and water. Some users make it at home ("washing up"). Signs: bicarb in unusual places, burnt spoons, small glass vials with oily residue.
Why it's different
Reaches the brain in 8–10 seconds. Lasts only 5–10 minutes. The rapid high-crash cycle makes it one of the most compulsive drugs known. Dependence develops extremely quickly.
Freebase
ammonia-processed, less commonWhat it is
Cocaine cooked up with ammonia instead of bicarb. Purer than crack, but making it is more dangerous: the chemicals catch fire easily. Smoked the same way as crack. You don't see it much in Scotland.
Low purity — "council" / "bash"
~10–30% cocaine
Cut with loads of filler, like creatine, glucose, boric acid, caffeine or paracetamol. Fine and dusty. Doesn't clump. This is what most people get on the street. You need more to feel it, so you take in more of the rubbish it's cut with.
Medium purity — "gucci"
~30–60% cocaine
Still cut, but noticeably stronger. More likely to clump with a slightly shiny appearance. Pronounced gum numbing. Most recreational users in Scotland sit in this range. Still contains cutting agents.
High purity — "flake" / "fishscale"
~60–85% cocaine
Flaky, a bit oily or pearly-looking. Clumps easily and dissolves fast. Stronger coke means more strain on your heart with every line.
Important: the "fishscale" shine doesn't mean it's pure. Levamisole — found in ~80% of UK cocaine — has a natural fishscale-like shimmer. Dealers add it to fake the look of premium product. Boric acid is also used. You cannot tell purity by appearance.
Very high / uncut — "prop"
85%+ cocaine
You rarely see this on the street. It often comes as a hard pressed block. Deadly at a normal amount. Anyone going from weaker coke to uncut is at serious risk, especially on their own.
Any one of these can have an innocent reason. Several together, plus changes in how they're acting, tells a clearer story. Tap each one to find out more.
If you find something
Don't panic. Don't go in all guns blazing. Don't bin it. Take a photo of it. Then read our conversation guide before you say anything. The first chat sets the tone for everything after.
Not sure what you've found? Call us on 0141 887 0880. You don't need to give your name.