Crack Addiction

Crack addiction should be taken very seriously.  Not only can a person's health deteriorate with continued use, but the user could suffer severe consequences, even death.  To make matters even worse, crack cocaine is one of the hardest drug addictions to overcome. 

Cocaine is a serious stimulant which potentially could cause addiction after one use.  While most people do not become addicted, the potential is there. The bigger story behind cocaine addiction and abuse is the devastation it causes one's family, relationships, work and the user's alienation in general.  As one uses cocaine more and more their whole life starts to evolve around it.   When is their next fix?  How will they be able to pay for it? Cocaine use becomes more important than anything including keeping one's job after while and so the dwindling spiral begins.

Do not underestimate crack cocaine cravings.  They overtake the addict and nothing will seem as important as finding another line, or shooting up their next dose.

For family members of a crack addict, it does not make sense that the drug has become their top priority.  Sometimes an intervention may be necessary to get the addict to admit to their addiction.  If you need help or advice, we can help.  Call to speak with one of our trained counselors.  All information will be kept confidential and we'll take the time to explain the best treatment options available in your specific case. Call (877) 502-1065.  Don't put it off.  There is no cost or obligation. 

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that in 2008, 5.3 million Americans age 12 and older had abused cocaine in any form and 1.1 million had abused crack at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.

Cocaine addicts can spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on cocaine weekly. The cost of cocaine varies from year to year and from dealer to dealer as the purity of the product may vary.

Crack addiction treatment

There are many different crack treatment philosophies but most will agree that short-term programs will not be beneficial. If the addict has completed some other program including a 12-step program but yet relapsed, it is usually due to the fact that the user never fully handled the cravings.  A detoxification program helps to end the cravings by eliminating the drug residues in the body.

Our counselors can go over the options available to the crack addict. Call (877) 502- 1065 and we can answer your questions and help find the proper program for the addict.

What is crack?

Crack cocaine is a concentrated form of cocaine and is very dangerous.   Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, which is to say, under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, cocaine has a high potential for abuse, but it has limited use when administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses, such as local anesthesia for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries.  Otherwise, cocaine is illegal to possess, use or distribute here in the United States.

"Crack" cocaine is a solid form of freebased cocaine. It is called "crack" because it snaps and cracks when heated and smoked.  The chemical cocaine hydrochloride is commonly known as cocaine. When chemically processed,  users can remove  the hydrochloride from cocaine.. This process is called "freebasing" and makes the drug more potent. 

How is crack used?

The same way that freebase is used, users place the substance in a glass pipe (or hash pipe) with a fine mesh screen under it, then heat it and inhale the vapors.

The vapors of the freebase are absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and transported to the brain within 10-15 seconds. One inhalation will produce a degree of intoxication usually lasting 10-15 minutes.

How does crack effect the body?

Crack cocaine is a nervous system stimulant and depending upon the method of ingestion can last from 15-30 minutes to an hour. Crack is generally smoked so the rapid absorption into the lungs moves the drug to the brain in a matter of seconds.

Crack cocaine gives the user a quick intense feeling of euphoria which is accompanied by a high risk of overdose and poisoning.  Physical dangers include risk of addiction, stroke, seizures, increased blood pressure, heart attack and death. 

Psychologically, crack cocaine can produce hallucinations - both physical and auditory, depression and suicidal thoughts, psychosis and schizophrenic-like behavior and thoughts.

Individuals who have been using crack cocaine for a long significant amount of time may suffer from a severe case of psychosis leading to a state called formication, a tactile hallucination involving the belief that something is crawling on the body or under the skin, which as you can well imagine can lead to violent behavior and/or suicide.

As with all serious drug addictions, crack cocaine users become malnourished due to the decrease in appetite and their health will start to deteriorate.

Regardless of dosage, these reactions may appear from crack use:

•Convulsions
•Increased heart rate
•Abnormal heartbeat
•Damage to the lungs
•Heart attack
•Sudden, sharp blood pressure increase
•Stroke
•Extreme depression
•Suicidal behavior

 

Call now for Immediate Drug Rehab Assistance
(877) 502-1065

CALL NOW for
Immediate Assistance Finding a
Crack Drug Treatment Program
(877) 502-1065

All calls are confidential at no cost or
obligation to you. Or, fill out the form below and tell us when you want one of our trained counselors to contact you.
 

You've been searching for a crack treatment program.  You should have plenty of questions now about treatment options, locations, cost and success rates. We're available to answer your questions at no cost to you.  Either fill out the form to the upper right and let us know what time is best to reach you or call now to speak to a counselor at (877) 502-1065. The truth is, you don't have to live your life as an addict. Get the facts now.

Crack  Common Street Names

Rock - Hard Rock - Base - Kryptonite - Sugar Block - Topo - Apple Jacks - Speed Balling - Crack

Know the terms