"In the late 1970s, crack first came on the scene in the form of cocaine freebasing. Many of its..."

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In the late 1970s, crack first came on the scene in the form of cocaine freebasing. Many of its users were stockbrokers and investment bankers, rock stars, Hollywood types, and a few pro athletes. Some of them began to get in trouble with this form of cocaine use, showing up in hospital emergency rooms and police stations. Congress passed new laws to extend health insurance coverage to include drug treatment. The treatment industry expanded the number of beds available.

In the mid 1980s, crack use spread into America’s inner cities among impoverished African Americans and Latinos. Some of them began to get in trouble with this form of cocaine use, showing up in hospital emergency rooms and police stations. Congress passed new laws to extend the length of criminal sentences for crack offenses. The prison industry expanded the number of beds available.

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- Reinarman & Levine, 2004, as cited in Rosenblum & Travis, 2012 (via mycitynotforsaken)

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