An 8 ball of cocaine refers to one-eighth of an ounce, or approximately 3.5 grams, of cocaine. The term is commonly used in illicit drug markets and popular culture to describe this quantity. This article explains what an 8 ball of cocaine is, where the term originated, how much it may cost, and why cocaine is commonly sold in this amount.
- An 8 ball is a street term for one-eighth of an ounce (approximately 3.5 grams) of cocaine.
- Anecdotal reports suggest that an 8 ball of cocaine typically costs between $300 and $380, although prices vary by location and purity.
- Cocaine sold as an 8 ball is often packaged in larger plastic bags or wrapped in cling film and may be purchased for repeated use or shared among multiple people.
What is an 8 ball of cocaine?
The term "8 ball" refers to one-eighth of an ounce, or approximately 3.5 grams, of a substance. It is most commonly associated with cocaine, hence the phrase "8 ball of coke." For reference, one ounce of cocaine is equal to 28 grams.
"8 Ball" became a popular slang term in the mid-1980s and remains widely used today to describe this quantity of cocaine. Understanding what an 8 ball is can help people recognize common drug terminology, how cocaine is sold, and the potential risks associated with its use. [1]
Why use the slang term “8-ball”?
Because cocaine is an illicit drug, dealers and users often use street names to disguise conversations about buying and selling it. Over time, many of these terms have entered common usage.
Other slang terms associated with an 8 ball include a ball, game, and bozer. The term teenth generally refers to half an 8 ball, or approximately 1.75 grams. Another term, 9-piece, is also sometimes used in drug slang, although it more commonly refers to 9 ounces (approximately 255 grams) rather than an 8 ball. [2]
How much does an 8 ball of coke cost?
An 8 ball contains 3.5 grams of cocaine. Based on an average price of around $120 per gram in the U.S., the estimated cost would be approximately $420. However, anecdotal reports suggest that an 8 ball often sells for between $300 and $380.
Purchasing larger quantities can sometimes lower the price per gram, which may make an 8 ball appear more cost-effective to people who use cocaine regularly.
What does an 8 ball of cocaine look like?
Powder cocaine is usually a fine white powder, although it may have a yellowish tint if it contains impurities. Crack cocaine typically appears as small, off-white to yellowish rocks with a slight sheen.
Cocaine may be sold in a variety of packaging, including:
- Small sealable plastic bags ("baggies")
- Folded paper packets ("tickets" or "zips")
- Small plastic bags rolled into tight balls
- Plastic wrap or cling film
When sold as an 8 ball, cocaine is often packaged in a larger baggie or wrapped in cling film.
What types of cocaine are sold in an 8 ball?
An 8 ball refers to the quantity rather than the type of cocaine. Any form of cocaine can be sold in this amount, although powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and so-called "fish scale" cocaine are among the forms most commonly sold in 3.5-gram quantities.
Where does cocaine come from?
Cocaine is derived from the coca plant, which is primarily grown in Colombia and other parts of South America. The leaves are harvested and processed into cocaine paste before undergoing further refinement to produce cocaine.
Before reaching the end user, cocaine often travels through multiple distribution channels and may be diluted or mixed with other substances along the way.
Why is cocaine sold in 8 balls?
Cocaine is commonly sold in 8-ball quantities because it offers a balance of price, quantity, and convenience for both buyers and sellers.
Lower price per gram
Although the price of cocaine varies considerably by location, purchasing larger quantities may reduce the cost per gram compared with buying smaller amounts individually. As a result, some people who use cocaine regularly may choose to purchase an 8 ball.
Ease of distribution
Selling cocaine in higher quantities is often the preferred method of business for drug dealers. Selling cocaine by the eighth allows the dealers to offload their product more quickly, which may be perceived as reducing their legal risk.
Appealing quantity
Cocaine produces intense but short-lived euphoric effects by increasing dopamine activity in the brain's reward pathways. Because these effects wear off relatively quickly, some people use cocaine repeatedly over short periods of time. An 8 ball may be viewed as providing enough quantity for extended use or for sharing among multiple people in social settings, such as parties, festivals, or other gatherings.
Other drugs sold as 8 balls
While 8 balls are a commonly sold weight of cocaine owing to consumer demand and ease of distribution for the dealer, many other substances are also sold as 8 balls for the same reason.
Some common drugs sold as 8 balls include:
What drug is being referred to when talking about 8 balls can often vary depending on your location. For instance, in areas where cocaine and heroin abuse are low but meth addiction is high, an 8 ball will typically be referring to meth.
Is an 8 ball of cocaine enough to cause an overdose?
Yes, an 8 ball of cocaine is enough to cause an overdose.
However, individual users respond differently to the same quantity, depending on:
- Purity: Taking cocaine with other dangerous substances increases the risk of overdosing.
- Method of ingestion: How cocaine is taken affects overdose risk. Smoking and injecting are the most dangerous because the drug reaches the brain fastest. Snorting is slower but still risky. Swallowing cocaine has the slowest effects, which can cause people to take more than intended, increasing the chance of accidental overdose.
- Type of cocaine: Smoking crack cocaine is more likely to cause an overdose than snorting powder because the drug hits the brain almost instantly, making it easier to take too much too fast. Both forms may also be cut with dangerous substances like fentanyl, which further increases the risk.
- Tolerance: A person who has consumed a substance before, such as cocaine, will typically have built a higher tolerance. As such, people who have never consumed drugs are more likely to overdose on an 8 ball of coke.
- Individual factors: Ethnicity, age, and pre-existing medical conditions influence toxicity symptoms.[5]
Signs of cocaine overdose
The first signs of cocaine overdose include raised blood pressure, shallow breathing, warm skin, elevated heart rate, nausea, and headaches. Seizures, incontinence, hypertension, and a heart attack indicate a higher level of cocaine toxicity.[7]
Remember: Call for medical assistance immediately after noticing these symptoms or if you or anyone you know is struggling with cocaine addiction.
The cost of cocaine abuse
The cost of cocaine abuse transcends the matter of how much an 8 ball of coke costs. The consequences include:
- Physical health issues, such as an increased risk of heart condition, stroke, palatal and nasal perforation, impaired vision, and skin ulcerations. [6]
- Mental health problems like anxiety, paranoia, and cognitive difficulties. [6]
- Financial difficulties.
- Long-term addiction, that may interfere with interpersonal relationships and professional obligations.
However, specialized cocaine addiction treatments are proven to help people overcome addiction and begin the road to recovery.
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