Smoking crack is a dangerous behavior that leaves ever-lasting lethal repercussions. When a person snorts cocaine, the drug will first travel through the blood vessels in the nose to the heart, and will then be pumped via the blood to the lungs, eventually reaching the brain. Since smoking crack bypasses much of this process, it produces an immediate and intensely euphoric high which is very short-lived. The user will feel ecstatic within seconds.
Crack got its name due to the crackling sound it makes when heated.
The most common ways of are smoking crack are:
- Smoking through a crack pipe
- Heating the drug on aluminum foil and inhaling the smoke produced
- Smoking in a “roll-up” (cigarette) by mixing with tobacco or cannabis
What is Cocaine and What is Crack?
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that’s derived from the leaf of the coca plant (erythroxylon coca), and it is available in powder and liquid form. Aside from pure extracts of the coca plant, the street form of cocaine is often cut with a variety of different cutting agents, from benign to fatal. These include talcum powder, sugar, baking soda, caffeine, or even heroin or fentanyl.
Before the development of local anesthesia, surgeons would often use cocaine as a pain-reliever. Nowadays, cocaine is still administered by doctors for some medical procedures, such as a local anesthetic for eye, ear, and throat surgeries.
Cocaine is found in two main forms: hydrochloric salt (which is the powder form) and freebase (which is the solid form). The powdered form is dissolved in water and abused by injection/IV or through inhaling. The solid cocaine freebase form, otherwise known as “crack”, is mixed with baking powder and heated in water in order to be processed into a solid. Crack is smokable, and is most often smoked via a crack pipe. Thus, the main difference between cocaine and crack is in the way they are consumed.
Crack is a highly addictive illegal substance that traps the user in a vicious cycle. After the 15 to 20 -minute high is over, users try desperately to regain the initial euphoria and avoid the ‘crash’ that is felt after coming down. This begins the cycle of addiction.
Crack Addiction
It’s been proven that smoking crack poses a greater risk of addiction than snorting cocaine. It is possible to become addicted after smoking crack only once, since the experience is extremely pleasurable and very short-lived. When the pleasant sensations diminish, the person will feel low and anxious, and crave more of the drug. Bingeing will likely follow, thus leading to addiction.
Studies have shown that crack addiction is most common in people who suffer or have suffered from past or recent trauma - such as grief, divorce, or serious financial problems. Smoking crack provides a strong yet temporary relief from negative feelings; therefore, one may begin smoking crack to numb the emotional pain. This leads to addiction, since the person becomes reliant on the drug just to get through the day.
Repeat exposure to the drug is another cause of addiction. This is because after smoking crack a repeated number of times, the brain eventually develops a tolerance to it, making the experience less rewarding. Consequently, the person will continue smoking crack in ever-increasing amounts in order to reclaim that euphoric feeling once again.
Effects of Smoking Crack: What Does Smoking Crack Make You Feel Like?
Smoking crack will make you feel euphoric and “high” but will soon after be followed by distressing and difficult sensations, which is commonly referred to as the “crash”. You may also experience some or any of the following short-term effects and symptoms after smoking crack.
Common symptoms of smoking crack:
- Increased self-assurance or chattiness
- Increased wakefulness (feeling energetic and alert)
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite or excessive appetite
- Irritability
- Exhaustion
- Agitation
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Shaking
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Tooth grinding
- High blood pressure
- Repetitive behavior, such as skin picking
- Elevated body temperature and heart rate
- Convulsions, seizures, or sudden death from high doses (even after one time)
Smoking crack can have many long-term effects on the body, which may be grave and sometimes irreversible. These include:
- Heart, kidney, and lung damage
- Permanent damage to blood vessels in the ear and brain
- High blood pressure (which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or death)
- Reproductive damage and fertility issues
- Oral issues- Severe tooth decay, infection, and discolored teeth
- ‘Crack lip,’- Painful blistering, bruised and cracked lips as a result of frequent contact with the hot crack pipe.
- ‘Crack lung,’- Injury to the lungs which results in chest pain and breathing difficulties.
Crack Street Names
Often, slang words are used in reference to crack, in an attempt to conceal drug-related talk from authorities. These ‘crack street names’ are usually based on the appearance of the drug, its use, culture around it, or other means to smoothly blend the terms into daily conversation. Some common examples of street names include:
- Black rock
- Blue
- Candy
- Cookies
- Chalk
- Dice
- Gravel
- Hard rock
- Jelly beans
- Nuggets
- Purple caps
- Rocks
- Scrabble
- Sleet
- Snow coke
- Toot
- Tornado
These names tend to change quite frequently as street dealers try to stay a step ahead of the police. It’s important to constantly be updated on the current nicknames in order to determine if a family member or friend is addicted, and thereafter seek professional help.
How To Stop Smoking Crack
The first step towards treatment for crack addiction is stopping all use of the drug. This is referred to as ‘detoxification.’ Detoxing at home is close to impossible due to the intense cravings the person will inevitably experience. Instead, the withdrawal process should be carried out in a licensed treatment facility or hospital, where the patient’s vitals and progress can be carefully monitored, and medication appropriately administered. Moreover, relapse can be more easily prevented when medical intervention is readily available.
The second step is to attend a rehabilitation program for at least three months. These programs provide the necessary resources and therapy to begin recovery, and offer a serene environment which allows the patient to escape everyday pressure and focus on their healing.
There are two phases of withdrawal:
- Acute withdrawal refers to immediate symptoms, such as: anxiety, exhaustion, concentration difficulties, mood swings, nightmares, and irritability.
- Post- acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) refers to the symptoms which can last for over three weeks after quitting, such as: depression, sleeping difficulties, cravings for more of the drug, anger, suicidal thoughts, or inability to enjoy any pleasures.
Treatment For Smoking Crack
During treatment, no medications are given to help taper down the addiction itself; simply quitting is the only solution. However, there are many medications available to ease the painful withdrawal symptoms that accompany detox.
Common drugs used during detox are:
- Clonidine- to treat high blood pressure and anxiety.
- Gabapentin- to help with seizures, restless leg syndrome, anxiety and insomnia.
- Trazodone or Seroquel- to care for insomnia.
- Propranolol, Vigabatrin or Vistaril- to treat anxiety.
Once detoxification concludes, intensive therapy and counseling will be provided to aid the recovery process. One common method for overcoming crack addiction is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Other methods include:
- Group therapy
- One -to- one therapy
- Yoga and meditation
- Art or music therapy
Some rehabs will also offer family support programs, as relationships are often severely tested and weakened when a loved one abuses crack and other drugs.
How to Know If You Should Attend Crack Rehab
If any of the following statements resonate with you, it may indicate a need for professional intervention:
- You consider crack a necessity in order to get through your day.
- You are constantly busy trying to obtain more crack.
- Your physical appearance and hygiene mean almost nothing to you since you started smoking crack.
- You’re embarrassed to use crack in public.
- You’ve neglected your daily responsibilities and job since you began using crack.
- Quitting crack seems like an impossibility.
Conclusion
If you or anyone you know suffer from crack abuse, know that you can be successfully treated. Overcoming crack addiction is difficult, but with the professional and expert help of our addiction counselors, it's definitely possible. You deserve to live a better and more fulfilling life. At Avenues Recovery we design personalized treatment plans to give every person the best chance at overcoming their addiction. Contact us today to experience high-quality and caring care. Take the first step towards recovery today, and join the thousands of Avenues graduates who have successfully battled their addictions and now live happy, healthy and drug-free lives!