Epidemic Freebase Cocaine Abuse: A Case Study from the Bahamas

Beginning in 1983, a sharp increase was noted in the number of new admissions for cocaine abuse to the only psychiatric hospital and to the primary outpatient clinic in the Bahamas. For the two facilities combined, the new admissions for cocaine abuse increased from none in 1982 to 69 in 1983, then to 523 in 1984. Although there was some evidence for a rise in cocaine use during this time, due to increased availability and a drop in price, a primary cause of this medical epidemic appeared to be a switch by pushers from selling cocaine hydrochloride, which has a relatively low addicting potential, to almost exclusive vending of the freebase form, which has a very high addicting potential and produces severe problems quickly. Although the rate of freebase cocaine use is rising around the world, this is the first reported medical epidemic due almost exclusively to freebase cocaine use.