Crack Cocaine Addiction And Abuse

What Is Crack Cocaine?

Crack cocaine is a hard, mineral-like substance with an off-white or dark tint. It is made by mixing water and baking soda or ammonia into the powder form of cocaine. This mixture is then heated until it hardens and crystals start to form. It is most often vaporized in a glass pipe and smoked, though some do inject it into their bloodstream.

Crack cocaine is an illegal schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has a high potential for abuse.

What Are The Differences Between Crack And Cocaine?

Both crack and cocaine are addictive, dangerous substances but differences do exist between the two. Crack is much more addictive than cocaine because it enters the bloodstream faster, and the high is more intense. However, crack’s effects are shorter, lasting between five and ten minutes, compared to the effects of powdered cocaine, which last about 20 to 30 minutes.

Other differences in crack cocaine vs. cocaine include the following:

• Cocaine is more expensive than crack
• Cocaine is snorted or injected, while crack is mainly smoked
• Harsher legal consequences are enforced on crack possession than cocaine possession

Patterns of use also exist between the two. In the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 996,000 people over the age of 12 used crack cocaine in the year before the survey. In comparison, 4.8 million people over the age of 12 used cocaine in the same year.

Signs And Symptoms Of Crack Cocaine Abuse

Recognizable signs and symptoms of crack cocaine abuse occur physically, psychologically, and behaviorally. Early recognition and treatment can prevent long-term consequences to a person’s overall well-being.

Physical Signs And Symptoms

The appearance of someone who misuses crack cocaine can drastically change; some signs and symptoms include:

The longer someone misuses crack cocaine, the more obvious their physical signs will be. People will exhibit different changes, so it’s important to consider all unhealthy changes.

Psychological Signs And Symptoms

Smoking crack cocaine gives short-lived highs followed by intense lows. To counter the ups and downs, people feel like they need to use it repeatedly. The psychological signs and symptoms include:

• Obsession with getting and using the drug
• Paranoia
• Mood swings
• Hallucinations
• Aggression

Misusing crack can lead to someone developing a mental health disorder. Crack cocaine alters how the brain functions and may lead to conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Behavioral Signs And Symptoms

Crack cocaine misuse causes people to behave in ways they wouldn’t normally act. Someone who was once laid back and calm may seem restless, edgy, and shifty. They may also be overly sensitive or easily startled.

Other behavioral signs include going on binges. The highs only last a few minutes, but people will spend days or weeks smoking crack to chase that initial feeling of euphoria.

Behavioral changes are often the first signs someone is using an illicit substance such as crack cocaine. Someone using crack cocaine can appear psychotic, and experience paranoid, delusional, aggressive, anxious, and isolative periods.

Addiction To Crack Cocaine

An addiction to crack cocaine can develop quite rapidly, and some people become addicted after their first use of crack cocaine. Because the high they experience is so pleasurable and so short, they need more of the drug to maintain it. Eventually, an addiction is born, and the person believes they need the drug to feel normal.

This happens because crack cocaine sets off excess amounts of the happiness-inducing chemical dopamine in the brain. With habitual crack cocaine use, the natural production of dopamine is diminished as the body becomes dependent upon the drug.

Intense cravings for crack cocaine, partnered with the desire to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, make it very hard to quit. People addicted to crack cocaine tend to ignore the negative consequences caused by their drug use.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th edition (DSM-5), lists eleven criteria associated with addiction to crack cocaine, including:

• Using more crack than intended and for more extended periods
• Being unable to stop using crack even after making efforts to do so
• Continuing to misuse crack even though it prevents fulfilling duties at home, work, and school
• Continuing to misuse crack even though doing so causes harm to relationships
• Continuing to misuse crack, knowing it is causing physical or mental health problems
• Avoiding activities once enjoyed due to misusing crack cocaine
• Spending much of the day seeking, smoking, or recovering from crack cocaine misuse
• Experiencing intense cravings and urges to use crack
• Misusing crack even though doing so has become dangerous
• Needing to smoke more crack to achieve the same effects
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when cutting back or stopping using the drug

Someone with one to three criteria has a mild addiction, while someone with four to five criteria has a moderate addiction. Anyone with six or more criteria has a severe addiction.

Adverse Health Effects Of Crack Cocaine

Someone using crack cocaine, even for the first time, can experience adverse health effects, including heart attack or stroke. There are many more adverse consequences, including:

An overdose can happen to someone misusing crack cocaine if they smoke so much that it causes an adverse reaction in the body. The risk of overdose also increases when someone mixes other substances with crack cocaine. This is known as polydrug use.

Featured Centers Offering Treatment For Crack Cocaine Addiction

Treatment For Crack Cocaine Addiction

Treatment for a crack cocaine addiction must include a licensed professional who can create a treatment plan based on a person’s unique needs and preferences. Depending on addiction severity, history of use, support, and co-occurring needs, recommended treatments may include:

Detox

Crack cocaine detox involves ridding the body of the substance while doctors monitor and treat any symptoms you may experience. Withdrawal symptoms of crack cocaine that can be treated with medicine include nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

Pharmacotherapy

Researchers are working to develop medication to treat crack cocaine use disorder. Currently, for those with severe dependence and withdrawal syndrome, some doctors prescribe propranolol to help a person stabilize in early withdrawal. GABAergic medicines, such as baclofen, topiramate, and modafinil, may help with crack cocaine relapse prevention.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are commonly recommended for treating crack cocaine use disorders. Participants receive services three to four days a week. In these programs, a person receives the same services offered in inpatient rehabs, except they return home at night. A person must have a supportive, sober living environment to participate in an intensive outpatient program. IOPs include individual, group, and family therapies.

Behavioral Therapies

IOPs utilize behavioral therapies to teach early recovery and relapse prevention skills to people with crack cocaine addiction. The most effective behavioral therapies for crack cocaine addiction include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Contingency management (CM)
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
• Voucher-based reinforcement therapy (VBRT)

Most programs include holistic or alternative therapies that complement traditional methods. Examples may include mindfulness, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, art or music therapy, and equine therapy.

Seeking Treatment

Any use of crack cocaine is extremely destructive and can lead to long-term consequences.

If you or someone you know is interested in exploring treatment options for crack cocaine addiction, contact a treatment provider today to get started on your recovery journey.