Crack Addiction Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

About Crack Addiction

While prescription opiate addiction continues to be on the rise, it’s equally important not to forget the other very hazardous and common addictions. One specifically is the addiction to crack and its highly dangerous side effects. Like many other illicit substances, crack lacks regulation, making it extremely dangerous, as well as illegal to purchase and possess. Once an addiction to crack has formed, feelings of restraint and common sense are overridden, driving the individual to act in ways they otherwise would not in order to satisfy their cravings.

Do you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from crack addiction? If you are, it is important to know, that while substance abuse is certainly challenging to overcome, it is not impossible. With the proper help from professionals, you can break free from the bonds of addiction and discover your life…recovered.

What You Need to Know About Crack Addiction

Crack is derived from cocaine and carries many of the same effects, however unlike cocaine, it comes as a solid rather than a powder and is cheaper to produce. This decreases the price for buyers without lowering the addictive properties. As a result, more people are likely to try crack and in turn fall victim to the clutches of addiction, a detail that will alter their entire life.

Crack is an illegal street drug that is a form of the infamous drug cocaine, which is produced from ingredients in the South American coca plant. From cocaine, crack is created by adding a mixture of water and ammonia or baking soda. This process alters its form and appearance and makes it more potent. Whereas cocaine is recognizable as a white powder, crack comes in the form of a large opaque solid that may be described as a rock or a large crystal. These rocks are then smoked in glass crack pipes to feel its effects. The colors of the rocks may be tan, yellow, light pink, or white.

Because crack is smoked rather than snorted, it delivers a quicker and more intense high than its counterpart. This can make it more dangerous since it is difficult to judge how much will cause an overdose. The process is further complicated by the fact that to make more money with less cocaine, many drug dealers will cut crack with other substances that alter and sometimes dilute its effect. As a result, one batch may be more potent than another and abusers have no way to know before trying it.

Given the nature of crack as a solid substance, abusers use special glass pipes that are designed with the drug in mind. These crack pipes are usually 5 or 6 inches long and hold the crack either with a small round bulb on the end or a cup on top. A standard identifiable trait of these pipes is the area of the glass where the crack is held, will usually be a dark brown or black color. The reason for this is because majority of smokers will use a standard lighter to heat the crack, which discolors the glass where it has been applied.

Common Nicknames for Crack

To avoid drawing too much attention since the possession and sale of crack is illegal, drug dealers and abusers often use different street names to refer to it. Most of these names stem from its appearance, but not all of them do. As trade evolves, new names are constantly appearing to try and operate without detection.

Some of the most common street names for crack include:

Another reason the alternate names exist is that drug dealers may lie about the product they are selling by using these nicknames and denying it is crack. The reason they do this is because a name like “candy” seems more innocent and can boost sales by leaving more users addicted to crack without even knowing what they are addicted to.

How Addictive is Crack?

The most dangerous factors that make crack a hazard to society is its cheap pricing, high availability, and its potential for abuse. Because of how powerful it is, a crack addiction is particularly difficult to recover from and if handled improperly, is extremely dangerous to the addict.

Crack addictions occur because of the large amount of pleasure chemicals released inside the body when a person uses the drug. The most recognized of these is a natural chemical called dopamine, which is normally released during periods of excitement or achievement to reward the body and then removed by a dopamine transporter afterward. When crack is smoked, the brain is prompted to release a rush of dopamine at the same time, that its dopamine transporters are blocked by the components in the drug. This floods the brain and body with the chemical and retrains the brain to believe that crack is good for the body. As it is used repeatedly and regularly, the brain changes significantly, and smoking crack can become an act that is as second nature as breathing.

At this point the individual has developed a dependence on the drug, and without it will experience symptoms of withdrawal that range from strong discomfort to a sense of desperation until the next dose is taken.

Because of how powerful crack is, an addiction can start after only a single use, and the longer it continues, the more dangerous it will become.

Symptoms of Crack Addiction

When a person smokes crack, their initial reason for doing so is because of the euphoric high that comes with it. While that symptom may seem positive, crack comes with a host of negative ones that will worsen as the individual continues to use the drug.

A few of the common early use symptoms are:

The chemicals in crack and the ones that are released while using it will have physical effects on the body as an addiction progresses. Often in this category, damage will be irreparable even after usage has stopped.

Long term physical symptoms include:

Since crack changes the way that the brain functions, long term users can expect a range of mental effects, some of which may be permanent.

Long term psychological symptoms include:

More About Crack

Given its impact on an individual’s life and its growing prominence in society since the 1980s, more scientists and researchers have begun tracking crack usage. Being familiar with these statistics can help people better understand the dangers of crack. A few notable statistics include:

• A batch of crack contains about 75-90% pure cocaine

• The effects of crack are felt within 10-15 seconds after being smoked

• Men are more likely to overdose than women, and their death rate is nearly double the amount for women

• Crack will stay in a person’s system for 2-3 days

• The 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that roughly 913,000 Americans had had abused or currently had a dependence on crack

Additionally, some factors can boost a person’s chance of a developing a crack addiction. The most influential of these include:

• Personal and family history with substance abuse

• Age

• Gender

• Weight

• Dosage

• Current drug or alcohol abuse

Therapy and Treatment for Crack Addiction

Treatment for a crack addiction should always be handled by a team of professionals, in order to properly supervise and mitigate potentially harmful side effects, while providing the necessary therapeutic care for an addiction-free life.

When a person decides to enter treatment, typically they will begin with a process called detoxification. During this phase of care, a medical team will work closely with the patient to remove all traces of the drug from their body. When this happens, it is likely the individual will undergo symptoms of withdrawal that can present as painful and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, the physician and nursing staff will use various medical interventions, including medication when necessary, to aid in this process.

Once a person has completed the detox portion of treatment, they will transition into residential care, where they will participate in a variety of therapeutic practices. This phase of treatment is essential, as it allows the patient to begin addressing the underlying causes of their addiction and learn various coping mechanisms to begin life without drugs or alcohol. During residential treatment, patients can also look forward to many specialty programs that aid in the recovery process, such as family therapy, recreational therapy, relapse prevention, aftercare programming, co-occurring disorder treatment, holistic treatment, and so much more.

Getting Help for Crack Addiction Today

If you suspect yourself or a loved one of an addiction, do not wait to seek the help of a qualified drug and alcohol rehab center.  Brookdale Recovery specializes in the treatment of various addictions, utilizing best practices in every aspect of our programming. Our trusted team of professionals will meet you with the compassion, respect, and understanding you deserve, showing you that addiction can be treated and a life…recovered is possible.

Get the help you need today by calling Brookdale at 855-575-1292.