# Dollar bills and cocaine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880 "2011-05-14T05:34:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/21 "2011-05-14T18:04:09Z")
True. Some die first. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/22 "2011-05-14T18:14:14Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > True. Some die first. And some do it casually for 4 years while in college and come out the other side without any problems whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/23 "2011-05-14T18:40:44Z")
Incidentally - I don’t have a problem with cocaine use in general. If people can afford it, know it’s bad for them, and want to use it anyway, that’s their business. But good lord, am I the only one who’s just squicked out by it? I mean, the stuff goes up your nose. _shudders_ Forgive me, but that just sounds kind of gross. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/24 "2011-05-14T19:47:08Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > Which is why I’d question that’s going on … The only person I’m personally aware of who was engaged in illegal activities to finance a drug habit was using his ill-gotten gains to buy crack, not pure cocaine. > > As I said, I’m not in any way plugged in to the American drug culture. But I don’t see how you could effectively fund an expensive cocaine habit that way. I’d really expect cocaine to be a drug of the middle- and upper- classes, with the lower-class addicts sticking with cheaper drugs. Nor am I plugged in to the drug culture in any way. I just figured that people were committing crimes for cocaine - for one I thought that crack was the same as cocaine, and for another, I really can’t think of another drug (again, when in my mind crack and meth and a few others are the same as cocaine which is probably incorrect) that one would do anything for the money to get it, the only other drug that comes readily to mind is marijuana, and even I know that one doesn’t do B&Es and knock off a liquor store for weed money. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/25 "2011-05-14T20:11:07Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > Nor am I plugged in to the drug culture in any way. I just figured that people were committing crimes for cocaine - for one I thought that crack was the same as cocaine, and for another, I really can’t think of another drug (again, when in my mind crack and meth and a few others are the same as cocaine which is probably incorrect) that one would do anything for the money to get it, the only other drug that comes readily to mind is marijuana, and even I know that one doesn’t do B&Es and knock off a liquor store for weed money. Crack cocaine is a solid crystalline form of cocaine – it looks like white or off white chunks and is typically smoked. Powdered cocaine, what people usually mean by “blow”, is cocaine hydrochloride salt and is typically insufflated as powder. The cost , culture and dosage are different enough to completely stratify users – powdered cocaine hydrochloride is mostly a middle-to-upper class social drug and crack cocaine is mostly a street drug. Maybe this varies by area but I have never heard of anybody knocking over liquor stores to get blow money. Crack, meth, heroin and other opiates - yeah, I can imagine. My guess is that people sink to cheaper drugs before they completely run out of money. I would venture a guess that most people who actively consume cocaine hydrochloride currently have good day jobs or are in a university. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/26 "2011-05-14T21:05:31Z")
1. Okay, so cocaine’s not dirty. Carry on. 🙂 2. As for the phone dialer, perhaps it was mostly solid but with a tiny shaft in the very center, like an hourglass. The one in **postcards** ’s second link seems to have a narrow strip in the center; perhaps it’s light showing through the hollow area. 3. Yeah, cocaine has always been the high-roller drug. Crack is ghetto/trailer park. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/27 "2011-05-14T21:27:37Z")
Question: **groman** states that crack cocaine is a ‘solid crystalline form of cocaine’ and ‘blow’ is cocaine hydrochloride. Does this mean that crack is ‘pure’ cocaine and that ‘blow’ is a different chemical? Suppose a user were to grind crack into a powder and inhaled it nasally. Would the effect be the same as doing the same with powdered cocaine? If so, and assuming crack is less expensive than powdered cocaine, why would users of powdered cocaine (I almost said ‘powdered cocaine users’, which brings up a couple of different images) buy powder when it would be more economical to buy crack and turn it into a powder themselves? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/28 "2011-05-14T22:24:38Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Incidentally - I don’t have a problem with cocaine use in general. If people can afford it, know it’s bad for them, and want to use it anyway, that’s their business. But good lord, am I the only one who’s just squicked out by it? I mean, the stuff goes up your nose. _shudders_ Forgive me, but that just sounds kind of gross. It is sort of gross. But nothing compared to shooting up. I don’t mind having blood drawn when I need to, but having a metal thing deep inside your body when you don’t need to is just Squicky McSquickville. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/29 "2011-05-14T23:21:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Question: **groman** states that crack cocaine is a ‘solid crystalline form of cocaine’ and ‘blow’ is cocaine hydrochloride. Does this mean that crack is ‘pure’ cocaine and that ‘blow’ is a different chemical? Crack is the free base form, powdered cocaine is a salt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone insufflate drugs with currency in real life. (Although only a small percentage of the drug-snorting I’ve observed has been cocaine.) A drinking straw cut short, or clean paper. I suppose a bill would do in a pinch if there was absolutely nothing else around (as in a club) but most of the times when the powdered drugs came out it was in a home, and you could do better than that. Pizza flyers (or 20lbs bond) are more hygienic than photogenic. ---
**Author:** ![Dufus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Dufus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dufus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/30 "2011-05-15T00:42:20Z")
Powdered cocaine is water soluble and dissolves once it has been snorted. It does not readily smoke when heat is applied to it. Crack cocaine is not water soluble, so it cannot be snorted. But it gives off lots of smoke when gently heated. Powdered cocaine is chemically converted into crack. Meth is a home made cheap substitute for crack. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/31 "2011-05-15T00:58:54Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Bank notes roll more easily than paper, because they’re made of cotton rather than regular wood pulp paper. Right. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It’s not Hollywood. IME, the most common tube is a rolled up bill of whatever denomination is handy. I’ve never seen anyone use the barrel of a ballpoint pen. The barrel of a ballpoint pen works very well. Or so I’ve heard. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > I really don’t think that’s the reason. As someone who did plenty of it in college, I’ll agree with what a poster upthread said. > Take a dollar bill and roll it up, now take a piece of paper and roll it up. Not only is the dollar bill much easier to roll up, keep tightly rolled, pass around without it unrolling, it’s also likely the only thing you have laying around that’s the right size. A random piece of paper will have to be cut down and then you’ll still be fumbling with it. I’d prefer to use a straw, but it’s usually easier for someone to find a dollar bill then a straw. Or the barrel of a ballpoint pen. If you have a straw (or ballpoint barrel) handy, sure those would be used. But if you don’t (or are unwilling to take apart your pen), the dollar bill works wonderfully. Or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/32 "2011-05-15T10:07:46Z")
Where to start… For starters, a rolled up bill is probably the easiest to acquire (not everyone has plastic drinking straws, laying around) and the most commonly used, in lieu of the aforementioned. Although, I have known more than one user, that preferred “plastic, instead of paper”.😃 Among chronic/habitual users there can be a preference of one over the other. The reasons given, have ranged from: Don’t like bills, they can become moist and the powder will stick to it. Don’t like straws because, to get caught with a short piece of plastic straw, is indicative of drug use. Which can consequently lead to closer scrutiny,:eek: by law enforcement personnel. :dubious: As for the different forms of cocaine… The types and methods of ingestion have a somewhat different “high”, for each. Inhaling (snorting) powdered coke is generally a gradual “high”, injection (shooting, banging) of powdered cocaine is an intense, almost instantaneous “high”. The difference between the two methods and the high produced, being quite dramatic and pronounced. Crack is made thru a process of mixing powdered cocaine, baking soda and water. The mixture is heated till they “mix”, then cooled. The procedure is somewhat difficult to accomplish with small amounts, with larger amounts being no less difficult, due to the fact that proper quantities of each are required, as well as the amount and duration, of heat applied. Smoking crack produces a “high” similar to snorting, the main difference being in the rapidity or onset, and intensity of the “high”/sensation. (Both of which, are not **nearly** as rapid and intense, as injection.) ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/33 "2011-05-15T10:19:12Z")
The “edit” clock, cut me off!:smack: Just wanted to acknowledge that Yookeroo makes some excellent points, concerning the choice of “paper or plastic”.😛 Or so he has heard… LOL 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/34 "2011-05-16T03:25:14Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > … > Smoking crack produces a “high” similar to snorting, the main difference being in the rapidity or onset, and intensity of the “high”/sensation. Given this, why do you think there is such social stratification in their respective use? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/35 "2011-05-16T03:29:56Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Given this, why do you think there is such social stratification in their respective use? I believe crack is cheaper. Also, I’ve never done crack, but cocaine gives a somewhat level easily controlled high. After a bit of experimenting it doesn’t take much work to figure out where you personally like to be and what it’ll take to keep you there for however long you want to be there for (does that make sense). It’s my understanding that you can’t really accomplish that with crack. It’s more of a straight up and then straight back down a few minutes later type thing. Also, you can’t do crack in your office or the executive bathroom at work. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/36 "2011-05-16T13:34:30Z")
I’ve only seen people use rolled up money, never a ballpoint pen tube. But that would work I’m sure. I’ve seen straws used before also. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/37 "2011-05-16T13:47:56Z")
The thing about coke on bills, not only are you getting rid of whatever residual evidence may exist as soon as you spend it, as public currency who’s to say the coke wasn’t already on it before you got it in change. Also, dollar bills aren’t used as often as say 20s or 100s because the larger denominations tend to be newer, thus less wrinkled or dirty. Coke would vacuum cleaner through a new, slick bill than an old, rough surfaced one. Plus, big bills kinda go with the culture, that of extravagant, conspicuous consumption. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/38 "2011-05-16T14:24:02Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > Do you mean passed through thousands of hands each one touching each grain of coke? I can’t picture that. is this true? Or, passing through the intestines of some mule. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/39 "2011-05-16T16:04:47Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I believe crack is cheaper. Cheaper? Mmmmm… I’m not sure that’s entirely true. Granted, where you live can certainly have an effect on how much it costs. (The closer you are to the “border” or main distribution points, the cheaper it gets.) > [@](#): > > Also, I’ve never done crack, but cocaine gives a somewhat level easily controlled high. After a bit of experimenting it doesn’t take much work to figure out where you personally like to be and what it’ll take to keep you there for however long you want to be there for (does that make sense). It’s my understanding that you can’t really accomplish that with crack. It’s more of a straight up and then straight back down a few minutes later type thing. Not quite… Although it **is** a fairly rapid “up”, the “down” is a lot more gradual/slower. Also, depending upon the “potency” and the amount smoked, the initial “high” can last upwards of 30-45 minutes. > [@](#): > > Also, you can’t do crack in your office or the executive bathroom at work. I beg to differ, it is _ **too easy** _, to do exactly that!:eek: The amount of smoke exhaled from one big hit, is no more than you would produce from one drag from a cigarette or cigar. Besides the fact, that there is **no** distinctly noticeable odor. (As compared to say, marijuana.) Or, so I’ve been told… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880/40 "2011-05-16T16:09:27Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > I mean, shove something into your nose that’s been handled by maybe thousands of people… pu-leeze Wait…are we still talking about the stripper’s chest? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dollar-bills-and-cocaine/581880.md?page=3)