Which method of cocaine ingestion results in the fastest experience of its effects?

Smoking cocaine, often in the form of crack cocaine, results in the fastest experience of its effects because the substance enters the bloodstream almost immediately through the lungs. When cocaine is smoked, the vaporized drug is absorbed into the alveoli of the lungs and then quickly transported to the heart and brain. This rapid absorption leads to an intense and immediate high.

In contrast, other methods like snorting or oral ingestion involve processes that take longer for the drug to reach the bloodstream. Snorting cocaine allows it to enter the bloodstream through the nasal membranes, which is faster than oral ingestion; however, it is still slower than the inhalation method. Oral ingestion typically involves metabolizing the drug through the digestive system, which significantly delays the onset of effects compared to the rapid absorption achieved through smoking. Thus, smoking stands out as the method that produces the fastest and most intense effects.