Smelled crack cocaine (I think) on accident.

[imacomputer]

While I went hiking with my dad, I took the lead, so I didn't see him for a minute.  Then I smelled something, taking a deep breath.  I looked back, and there he was, about 3 feet away with some tinfoil in his hand.

I figured it was an illegal drug, so I immediately exhaled and got far away from him.  I tried breathing in clean air over and over, in order to make sure the drug had no effect on me, but again, some tiny amounts were in the air, even far away.

Could the amount that I breathed have caused me to experience ANY effects of this drug?  I felt a little bit light-headed but I'm not sure if that was due to my intense fear of having inhaled it on accident.  Mentally, I never want to be exposed to a drug even once.  My question is basically, then, what is the minimum ppm that crack cocaine requires to induce the bare minimum amount of psychological effect, and what would the ppm be at 3 ft from a smoker outdoors (with the wind blowing toward me in the worst case)?

Thanks.

[concerned19782008]

A related discussion, Personal was started.

[monica527]

hi, how long does it take to get crack out of your system after smoking it?

[JTClark]

I agree with the others about any harm to you.  However I would add if you love your father you need to get him to seek help to get away from that drug.  I have seen many good people go down to worthless because of that drug.  People first start out trying this drug some stop others don't.  For those who don't they will first start out doing the drug in private but then they soon find themselves getting caught.  I would expect this was not the first time you have seen your father doing this.  As your fathers habit is not only progressive he is now with out care to his risk of being jailed.  This is a sure sign of the drug taking control.  After your father is broke he will do one of 3 things.  #1 start selling himself to support the habit or #2 start stealing to support the habit or #3 start doing sexual favors to support the habit.  Sure this sounds harsh and mean but it is not either it is just the facts that come with the habit of being a Base Head.  There is many places your father can go for help I would suggest you help him to do that.  Good Luck
JT Clark

[National Jewish]

In a word -- the amount of crack cocaine you might have breathed is inconsequential.  This substance can damage the lung in a variety of ways but it would take repeated exposure of much more intensity than yours.  There is no way to answer the question about ppm at a distance of 3 feet.  In an outdoor setting, the drug would be quickly diluted by the ambient air.  So the amount actually reaching your lungs would probably be too small to measure, in any way.  Do not waste one more moment worrying about this.

[Digitalis]

I don't think you have anything to worry about, other than your father's habit. Such a small amount in the air would be greatly disperesed, and you wouldn't breathe in enough of the substance for it to have any effect. I think you were probably light-headed because you were surprised that your father was doing this. I would suggest getting your father to see a counsellor to get over his habit.