Maybe Norm needs to make more jokes about crack.

McGregor read books about crack and heroin to prepare for the role.

Many of the initial conceptions about crack, which has come into widespread use only within the last four years, have thus far held up.

John Miller, deputy commissioner for public information, said the 31-year-old victim met two men on a subway train and they talked about crack.

"How academic can you get when you're talking about 'crack'?"

You're talking about housing and crack and physical disabilities, sometimes all in one case.

Such observations about crack and the poor are echoed by other drug treatment experts around the nation.

But after spending 10 hours here, listening to grim predictions about crack in Europe, she was alarmed.

All this talk about crack, and heroin goes on eating people up.

"When I say what about crack, there is silence," he said.