Crack vs. Crank — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 28, 2024
Crack is a potent form of cocaine, while crank is a slang term for methamphetamine, each with distinct effects and risks.
Difference Between Crack and Crank
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Crack cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant derived from powdered cocaine, offering an intense but short-lived high. Crank, a slang term for methamphetamine, is another potent stimulant known for its long-lasting effects and high potential for addiction. Crack is typically smoked, leading to an almost immediate and intense high, whereas crank can be ingested in various ways and is known for its prolonged stimulant effects.
While both drugs are stimulants, they have different chemical compositions and thus affect the brain and body differently. Crack cocaine primarily increases the amount of dopamine in the brain's pleasure centers, resulting in a short, intense high. Crank, or methamphetamine, also increases dopamine but has a longer-lasting effect on the user, often leading to extended periods of wakefulness and activity.
The social and health consequences of using crack and crank can be severe but differ due to the nature of the drugs. Crack cocaine use can lead to respiratory issues, heart problems, and erratic behavior. In contrast, crank use is often associated with severe dental problems ("meth mouth"), skin sores, and increased risk of infectious diseases, along with long-term psychological effects.
Both crack and crank are classified as Schedule II substances in the United States, indicating a high potential for abuse and addiction. However, the historical and cultural contexts surrounding their use and criminalization have led to significant differences in how users of each drug are treated by society and the legal system.
In terms of impact on communities, crack cocaine became widely known in the 1980s for its devastating effects on urban areas, while crank has been more associated with rural and suburban communities. Both drugs have been the focus of significant law enforcement and public health efforts due to their addictive properties and the social problems associated with their use.
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Comparison Chart
Chemical Base
Cocaine derivative
Methamphetamine
Effects
Short, intense high
Long-lasting stimulant effects
Common Usage
Smoked
Ingested (smoked, snorted, injected)
Health Risks
Respiratory issues, heart problems
Dental problems, skin sores, infections
Addiction Risk
High
Very high
Legal Status
Schedule II (US)
Schedule II (US)
Community Impact
Urban areas
Rural and suburban communities
Compare with Definitions
Crack
Associated with urban areas.
Crack's impact has been particularly devastating in inner-city neighborhoods.
Crank
Diverse methods of use.
Crank can be smoked, snorted, or injected, leading to varied effects and risks.
Crack
Highly addictive.
The addictive potential of crack cocaine leads to severe physical and psychological dependence.
Crank
Known for severe health impacts.
Long-term use of crank is associated with meth mouth and severe skin sores.
Crack
Short-lived high.
The high from crack cocaine is intense but fades quickly, often leading to repeated use.
Crank
Pervasive in various communities.
Crank has affected both rural and suburban areas significantly.
Crack
Immediate effects.
Smoking crack produces an immediate euphoric effect, often followed by a steep crash.
Crank
Extended duration of effects.
The effects of crank can last for several hours, promoting prolonged periods of wakefulness.
Crack
Potent form of cocaine.
Crack rocks offer a quick and intense high when smoked.
Crank
Slang for methamphetamine.
Crank is known for its long-lasting stimulant effects and high potential for abuse.
Crack
To break without complete separation of parts
The mirror cracked.
Crank
Turn the crankshaft of (an internal combustion engine) in order to start the engine
The starter motor struggled to crank the engine
Move the pitch lever into the normal range and crank up the engine
Crack
To break or snap apart
The branch cracked off and fell.
Crank
Give a bend to (a shaft, bar, etc.)
Paddle styles also vary—long, short, cranked, etc.
Crack
To make a sharp snapping sound
His knees cracked as he sat down.
Crank
Inject a narcotic drug
He's been cranking up on smack
Crack
To break down; fail
The defendant's composure finally began to crack.
Crank
A part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa
A long con rod which acts as a longer lever on the crank
Crack
To have a mental or physical breakdown
Cracked under the pressure.
Crank
The drug methamphetamine.
Crack
To change sharply in pitch or timbre, as from hoarseness or emotion. Used of the voice.
Crank
An eccentric person, especially one who is obsessed by a particular subject
I am used to getting crank calls from conspiracy theorists
When he first started to air his views, they labelled him a crank
Crack
To move or go rapidly
Was cracking along at 70 miles an hour.
Crank
A fanciful turn of speech.
Crack
(Chemistry) To break into simpler molecules, often by means of heat or a catalyst.
Crank
(of a sailing ship) liable to heel over.
Crack
To cause to break without complete separation of parts
The pebble cracked the car's windshield.
Crank
A device for transmitting rotary motion, consisting of a handle or arm attached at right angles to a shaft.
Crack
To cause to break with a sharp snapping sound
Crack nuts.
Crank
A clever turn of speech; a verbal conceit
Quips and cranks.
Crack
To crush (corn or wheat, for example) into small pieces.
Crank
A peculiar or eccentric idea or action.
Crack
To strike, especially with a sharp sound
Cracked the intruder over the head with a lamp.
Crank
A grouchy person.
Crack
To cause to come into forceful contact with something, especially with a sharp sound
Fell and cracked his head against the floor.
Crank
An eccentric person, especially one who is unduly zealous.
Crack
To open to a slight extent
Crack a window to let in some air.
Crank
(Slang) Methamphetamine.
Crack
To break open or into
Crack a safe.
Crank
To start or operate (an engine, for example) by or as if by turning a handle.
Crack
To open up for use or consumption
Crack a book.
Cracked a beer.
Crank
To move or operate (a window, for example) by or as if by turning a handle.
Crack
To break through (an obstacle) in order to win acceptance or acknowledgment
Finally cracked the "men-only" rule at the club.
Crank
To make into the shape of a crank; bend.
Crack
To discover the solution to, especially after considerable effort
Crack a code.
Crank
To provide with a handle that is used in turning.
Crack
To cause (the voice) to crack.
Crank
To turn a handle.
Crack
(Informal) To tell (a joke), especially on impulse or in an effective manner.
Crank
To wind in a zigzagging course.
Crack
To cause to have a mental or physical breakdown.
Crank
Of, being, or produced by an eccentric person
A crank letter.
A crank phone call.
Crack
To impair or destroy
Their rude remarks cracked his equanimity.
Crank
Liable to capsize; unstable.
Crack
To reduce (petroleum) to simpler compounds by cracking.
Crank
(slang) Strange, weird, odd.
Crack
A partial split or break; a fissure
Cracks in the basement wall.
Crank
Sick; unwell.
Crack
A slight narrow space
The window was open a crack.
Crank
Liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast.
Crack
(Informal) The fissure between the buttocks.
Crank
Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
Crack
A defect or flaw
Cracks in the argument.
A crack in his composure.
Crank
A bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other mechanical device; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion.
I grind my coffee by hand with a coffee grinder with a crank handle.
Crack
A sharp snapping sound, such as the report of a firearm.
Crank
Clipping of crankshaft
Crack
A sharp resounding blow
Gave him a crack on the head.
Crank
The act of converting power into motion, by turning a crankshaft.
Yes, a crank was all it needed to start.
Give it a forceful crank.
Crack
A breaking, harshly dissonant vocal tone or sound, as in hoarseness.
Crank
(archaic) Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
Crack
An attempt or try
Gave him a crack at the job.
Took a crack at photography.
Crank
(informal) An ill-tempered or nasty person.
Billy-Bob is a nasty old crank! He chased my cat away.
Crack
A witty or sarcastic remark.
Crank
A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim;
Crack
A moment; an instant
At the crack of dawn.
Crank
A fit of temper or passion.
Crack
(Irish) Fun had when socializing; social amusement.
Crank
A person who is considered strange or odd by others. They may behave in unconventional ways.
John is a crank because he talks to himself.
Crack
(Slang) Crack cocaine.
Crank
A baseball fan.
Crack
Excelling in skill or achievement; first-rate
A crack shot.
A crack tennis player.
Crank
(informal) An amateur in science or other technical subjects who persistently advocates flawed theories
That crank next door thinks he’s created cold fusion in his garage.
Crack
(intransitive) To form cracks.
It's been so dry, the ground is starting to crack.
Crank
Synonym of methamphetamine.
Danny got abscesses from shooting all that bathtub crank.
Crack
(intransitive) To break apart under force, stress, or pressure.
When I tried to stand on the chair, it cracked.
Crank
(rare) A twist or turn in speech; word play consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
Crack
(intransitive) To become debilitated by psychological pressure.
Anyone would crack after being hounded like that.
Crank
(obsolete) A sick person; an invalid.
Crack
(intransitive) To break down or yield, especially under interrogation or torture.
When we showed him the pictures of the murder scene, he cracked.
Crank
(slang) The penis.
Crack
(intransitive) To make a cracking sound.
The bat cracked with authority and the ball went for six.
Crank
(transitive) To turn by means of a crank.
Motorists had to crank their engine by hand.
Crack
To change rapidly in register.
His voice cracked with emotion.
Crank
(intransitive) To turn a crank.
He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank.
Crack
To alternate between high and low register in the process of eventually lowering.
His voice finally cracked when he was fourteen.
Crank
To turn.
He's been cranking all day and yet it refuses to crank.
Crack
(intransitive) To make a sharply humorous comment.
"I would too, with a face like that," she cracked.
Crank
(transitive) To cause to spin via other means, as though turned by a crank.
I turn the key and crank the engine; yet it doesn't turn over
Crank it up!
Crack
To realize that one is transgender.
She cracked at age 22 and came out to her friends and family over the next few months.
Crank
(intransitive) To act in a cranky manner; to behave unreasonably and irritably, especially through complaining.
Quit cranking about your spilt milk!
Crack
(transitive) To make a crack or cracks in.
The ball cracked the window.
Crank
(intransitive) To be running at a high level of output or effort.
By one hour into the shift, the boys were really cranking.
Crack
(transitive) To break open or crush to small pieces by impact or stress.
You'll need a hammer to crack a black walnut.
Crank
To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
Crack
(transitive) To strike forcefully.
She cracked him over the head with her handbag.
Crank
A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank.
Crack
(transitive) To open slightly.
Could you please crack the window?
Crank
Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks.
Crack
To cause to yield under interrogation or other pressure.
They managed to crack him on the third day.
Crank
A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word.
Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles.
Crack
To solve a difficult problem.
I've finally cracked it, and of course the answer is obvious in hindsight.
Crank
A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion.
Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks.
Crack
(transitive) To overcome a security system or component.
It took a minute to crack the lock, three minutes to crack the security system, and about twenty minutes to crack the safe.
They finally cracked the code.
Crank
A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter.
Crack
(transitive) To cause to make a sharp sound.
To crack a whip
Crank
A sick person; an invalid.
Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater.
Crack
(transitive) To tell (a joke).
The performance was fine until he cracked that dead baby joke.
Crank
Sick; infirm.
Crack
To break down (a complex molecule), especially with the application of heat: to pyrolyse.
Acetone is cracked to ketene and methane at 700°C.
Crank
Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail.
Crack
To circumvent software restrictions such as regional coding or time limits.
That software licence will expire tomorrow unless we can crack it.
Crank
Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated.
He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty.
If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you would not be so crank about it.
Crack
To open a canned beverage, or any packaged drink or food.
I'd love to crack open a beer.
Let's crack a tube and watch the game.
Crank
To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn.
See how this river comes me cranking in.
Crack
(obsolete) To brag; to boast.
Crank
A bad-tempered person
Crack
To be ruined or impaired; to fail.
Crank
A whimsically eccentric person
Crack
(colloquial) To barely reach, attain to (a measurement, extent).
An underground band that never cracked the Hot 100
Crank
Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
Crack
A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material.
A large crack had formed in the roadway.
Crank
A hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle
Crack
A narrow opening.
We managed to squeeze through a crack in the rock wall.
Open the door a crack.
Crank
Travel along a zigzag path;
The river zigzags through the countryside
Crack
A sharply humorous comment; a wisecrack.
I didn't appreciate that crack about my hairstyle.
Crank
Start by cranking;
Crank up the engine
Crack
(slang) Crack cocaine, a potent, relatively cheap, addictive variety of cocaine; often a rock, usually smoked through a crack-pipe.
Crack head
Crank
Rotate with a crank
Crack
Something good-tasting or habit-forming.
Crank
Fasten with a crank
Crack
(onomatopoeia) The sharp sound made when solid material breaks.
The crack of the falling branch could be heard for miles.
Crank
Bend into the shape of a crank
Crack
(onomatopoeia) Any sharp sound.
The crack of the bat hitting the ball.
Crank
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
Crack
A sharp, resounding blow.
Crack
(informal) An attempt at something.
I'd like to take a crack at that game.
Crack
(informal) The space between the buttocks.
Pull up your pants! Your crack is showing.
Crack
Conviviality; fun; good conversation, chat, gossip, or humorous storytelling; good company.
The party was great crack.
Crack
Business; events; news.
What's the crack?
What's this crack about a possible merger?
Crack
(computing) A program or procedure designed to circumvent restrictions or usage limits on software.
Has anyone got a crack for DocumentWriter 3.0?
Crack
An expanding circle of white water surrounding the site of a large explosion at shallow depth, marking the progress of the shock wave through the air above the water.A nuclear explosion in shallow water; the crack is clearly visible on the water's surface.
Crack
A meaningful chat.
Crack
(Internet slang) Extremely silly, absurd or off-the-wall ideas or prose.
Crack
The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
Crack
(archaic) A mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity.
He has a crack.
Crack
(archaic) A crazy or crack-brained person.
Crack
(obsolete) A boast; boasting.
Crack
(obsolete) Breach of chastity.
Crack
(obsolete) A boy, generally a pert, lively boy.
Crack
A brief time; an instant; a jiffy.
I'll be with you in a crack.
Crack
(obsolete) One who excels; the best.
Crack
Highly trained and competent.
Even a crack team of investigators would have trouble solving this case.
Crack
Excellent, first-rate, superior, top-notch.
She's a crack shot with that rifle.
Crack
To break or burst, with or without entire separation of the parts; as, to crack glass; to crack nuts.
Crack
To rend with grief or pain; to affect deeply with sorrow; hence, to disorder; to distract; to craze.
O, madam, my old heart is cracked.
He thought none poets till their brains were cracked.
Crack
To cause to sound suddenly and sharply; to snap; as, to crack a whip.
Crack
To utter smartly and sententiously; as, to crack a joke.
Crack
To cry up; to extol; - followed by up.
Crack
To burst or open in chinks; to break, with or without quite separating into parts.
By misfortune it cracked in the coling.
The mirror cracked from side to side.
Crack
To be ruined or impaired; to fail.
The credit . . . of exchequers cracks, when little comes in and much goes out.
Crack
To utter a loud or sharp, sudden sound.
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
Crack
To utter vain, pompous words; to brag; to boast; - with of.
Ethoipes of their sweet complexion crack.
Crack
A partial separation of parts, with or without a perceptible opening; a chink or fissure; a narrow breach; a crevice; as, a crack in timber, or in a wall, or in glass.
Crack
Rupture; flaw; breach, in a moral sense.
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.
Crack
A sharp, sudden sound or report; the sound of anything suddenly burst or broken; as, the crack of a falling house; the crack of thunder; the crack of a whip.
Will the stretch out to the crack of doom?
Crack
The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
Though now our voicesHave got the mannish crack.
Crack
Mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity; as, he has a crack.
Crack
A crazy or crack-brained person.
I . . . can not get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me as a crack and a projector.
Crack
A boast; boasting.
Crack
Breach of chastity.
Crack
A boy, generally a pert, lively boy.
Val. 'T is a noble child. Vir. A crack, madam.
Crack
A brief time; an instant; as, to be with one in a crack.
Crack
Free conversation; friendly chat.
What is crack in English? . . . A crack is . . . a chat with a good, kindly human heart in it.
Crack
A witty remark; a wisecrack.
Crack
A chance or opportunity to do something; an attempt; as, I'll take a crack at it.
Crack
A form of cocaine, highly purified and prepared as small pellets, especially suitable for smoking; - also called rock. Used in this form it appears to be more addicting than cocaine powder.
Crack
Of superior excellence; having qualities to be boasted of; as, a crack shot.
One of our crack speakers in the Commons.
Crack
A long narrow opening
Crack
A narrow opening;
He opened the window a crack
Crack
A long narrow depression in a surface
Crack
A sudden sharp noise;
The crack of a whip
He heard the cracking of the ice
He can hear the snap of a twig
Crack
A chance to do something;
He wanted a shot at the champion
Crack
Witty remark
Crack
A blemish resulting from a break without complete separation of the parts;
There was a crack in the mirror
Crack
A purified and potent form of cocaine that is smoked rather than snorted
Crack
A usually brief attempt;
He took a crack at it
I gave it a whirl
Crack
The act of cracking something
Crack
Become fractured; break or crack on the surface only;
The glass cracked when it was heated
Crack
Make a sharp sound;
His fingers snapped
Crack
Hit forcefully; deal a hard blow, making a cracking noise;
The teacher cracked him across the face with a ruler
Crack
Pass through (a barrier);
Registrations cracked through the 30,000 mark in the county
Crack
Break partially but keep its integrity;
The glass cracked
Crack
Break suddenly and abruptly, as under tension;
The rope snapped
Crack
Suffer a nervous breakdown
Crack
Tell spontaneously;
Crack a joke
Crack
Cause to become cracked;
Heat and light cracked the back of the leather chair
Crack
Reduce (petroleum) to a simpler compound by cracking
Crack
Break into simpler molecules by means of heat;
The petroleum cracked
Crack
Of the highest quality;
An ace reporter
A crack shot
A first-rate golfer
A super party
Played top-notch tennis
An athlete in tiptop condition
She is absolutely tops
Common Curiosities
How do the effects of crack and crank differ?
Crack produces a short, intense high, while crank results in prolonged stimulation.
What is crack?
Crack is a smoked form of cocaine, known for its rapid and intense high.
What health issues are associated with crank?
Crank use is associated with dental problems, skin sores, and a higher risk of infectious diseases.
Can crack and crank lead to addiction?
Yes, both drugs have a high potential for addiction and dependency.
Why did crack become associated with urban areas?
Crack's low cost and intense high made it particularly prevalent in urban settings during the 1980s.
What is crank?
Crank is a slang term for methamphetamine, noted for its long-lasting stimulant effects.
What are the long-term effects of using crank?
Chronic use of crank can lead to significant health decline, including mental health issues and physical deterioration.
What are the health risks of using crack?
Crack use can lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
How are crack and crank ingested?
Crack is typically smoked, whereas crank can be smoked, snorted, or injected.
What are the long-term effects of crack use?
Long-term crack use can result in severe physical and psychological health issues.
What is the legal status of crack and crank in the US?
Both are classified as Schedule II drugs, indicating a high potential for abuse.
What role do crack and crank play in the drug epidemic?
Both substances have contributed significantly to the broader drug epidemic, necessitating targeted public health and law enforcement responses.
Why is crank associated with rural and suburban communities?
Crank's availability and the ease of its clandestine manufacture have led to its spread in these areas.
How do society and the legal system view crack versus crank users?
Historical and cultural factors have led to differing perceptions and legal treatments of crack and crank users.
Are there treatments available for addiction to crack or crank?
Yes, there are treatment programs focused on addiction recovery for both substances.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
