In 1986 a special aired on American TV called 48 Hours on Crack Street. A few weeks later, in October, Aaron Spelling Productions approached writer-producer Peter Lefcourt to make a crack-related projected. "They wanted it to be the first crack movie on," Lefcourt said. "Crack is hot."[1]
The first draft was delivered in January 1987. Filming started on 9 March and the show aired in May.[1]
"I didn't want to make another 48 Hours on Crack Street," said Lefcourt. "Movies have been made about cocaine, and they are so predictable. After a while, the audience's eyes glaze over. They know the kids are going to get screwed up and their parents are going to tear their hair out."[1]
"We hope we've addressed this realistically," said director Karen Arthur. "We want to appeal to the youth audience and hope that through this film, kids who are contemplating putting this stuff in their throats, or have, will gain some courage not to, or to stop."[1]
