Crack Cocaine Symptoms And Warning Signs
The signs that someone is using crack cocaine include appearing restless, agitated, and fidgety, having dilated eyes, and presenting with burned or cracked lips.
Signs Of Crack Cocaine Abuse
The initial effects of crack cocaine are intense and have a quick onset. When crack is smoked, the user experiences a rush of euphoria and energy, but these effects only last a few minutes. After that, the user will start to feel agitated and will likely keep taking hit after hit to try and chase the euphoria of the first high.
Chasing the initial rush of the first hit of crack cocaine is typically the start of a crack addiction developing. Eventually, users may develop a mental obsession with crack and be unable to hold a regular conversation or complete simple daily obligations due to their psychological dependence.
People who are using crack usually exhibit overconfidence and hyperactivity.
Other signs of crack abuse to look for include:
- Dilated pupils
- Aggressive behavior
- Restlessness
- Increased breathing rate
- Uncharacteristic irresponsibility
- Burned or cracked lips or fingers
The Dangers Of Crack Cocaine
One of the greatest dangers of crack is its addictive potential. Crack inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, creating excess of the neurotransmitter which helps control the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. As early as the first time you smoke crack, your brain has already started rewiring itself because it finds the resulting “high” pleasurable.
Immediate Effects Of Crack Abuse
Due in part to the unpredictability of the drug’s contents, the effects of smoking crack can vary from person to person. Crack’s effects are both physical and psychological, and the severity increases the more a person smokes. Some immediate side effects of crack abuse include:
- Aggression
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Seizures
- Pressured speech
- Dilated eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Increased body temperature
- Nausea
- Intense cravings to use more
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Potential death from respiratory failure
- “Coke bugs,” a feeling of bugs under the skin
Featured Centers Offering Treatment for Crack Cocaine Addiction
Long-Term Effects Of Crack Abuse
The long-term effects of abusing crack can be detrimental. Long-term crack abuse can cause damage to most of the body’s vital organs, such as the liver, kidneys and heart. Additionally, crack cocaine users are more susceptible to infections because the drug compromises the immune system. The dangers of long-term crack abuse include:
- Depression
- Permanent damage to blood vessels
- High blood pressure
- Liver damage
- Lung damage
- Abscesses
- Malnutrition
- Severe tooth decay
- Reproductive damage and infertility
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
- Increased frequency of risky behavior
- Psychosis
- Paranoid behavior
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Death
Recognizing A Crack Cocaine Addiction
Because of its potency and addictive quality, any amount of crack use should be cause for concern. Those addicted to crack put getting their fix above all else, including breaking the law. Knowing what to look for could save your life or the life of someone you care about. A few of the symptoms of addiction, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) include ignoring responsibilities to use, tolerance, withdrawal, and using more than initially intended.
Anyone exhibiting these symptoms may meet the clinical definition of crack cocaine addiction.
The Alarming Availability Of Crack
Considering how destructive the consequences of the drug are, the availability and widespread use of crack can be surprising.
According to a survey conducted in 2010, children as young as 13 have been exposed to the drug. In fact, 23% of eighth-graders, 32% of tenth-graders, and 45% of twelfth-graders reported that crack was “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain. Considering that one hit can spark a lifelong addiction, these numbers help illuminate the severity of the issue.
Intervention For A Crack Cocaine Problem
Once it has come to light that someone is addicted to crack, the next step is to get them help. However, when a person’s brain has been reprogrammed to compulsively abuse crack, it isn’t always easy to convince them to start treatment. This is where an intervention can come in handy.
When someone addicted to crack is surrounded by people who care, he or she is more likely to accept treatment.
Because people addicted to crack often exhibit violent or paranoid behavior, it may be beneficial to learn more about staging an intervention and hiring an intervention specialist.
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Withdrawal From Crack Cocaine, Treatment, And Next Steps
Someone seeking treatment for a crack cocaine addiction will experience symptoms of withdrawal within the first few hours after their last dose. The brain’s dependence on crack causes these symptoms because it can no longer function normally without the drug.
The symptoms of crack withdrawal are predominantly psychological. Symptoms include fatigue, unusual sleep patterns, and intense cravings.
Professional treatment can help individuals cope with the symptoms of withdrawal and make a successful, lasting recovery. Depending on the individual, treatment can range from outpatient therapy and support groups to an inpatient rehabilitation center. Treatment for crack addiction is a long road, but recovery is possible. Contact a treatment provider and take your life back today.