Smoking Crack Addiction: From Warning Signs To Recovery

Smoking crack produces immediate euphoric effects that last for only five to ten minutes. Even a single use gives people the hit they need to alter their mood, making the drug highly addictive. Considering how addictive this drug is, it’s surprising to know that even a 13-year-old finds it easier to access crack, as compared to the other drugs. Moreover, 10.1 million people in the United States have used crack at least once in their lifetime, according to a 2022 report. 

Once addicted to crack, it is very difficult to quit without professional supervision. That’s why it’s important to recognize its warning signs so that you can start your recovery journey sooner rather than later.

Whether you are addicted to crack or powder cocaine, seeking immediate support can help you quit it before it’s too late.  Reach out to ChoicePoint for a free consultation 844.445.2565.

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What is Smoking Crack? The Lowdown on Crack Addiction

Crack is the solid form of cocaine, made by mixing cocaine, baking powder, and water. Heating this mixture gives an off-white, rock-like stimulant that alters the brain reward center, energizing the user. It is called crack because of the crackling sound it makes when it is heated. 

Crack is called by various names. Here are a few of these street names:

1. Badrock
2. Beat
3. Candy
4. Ice Cube
5. Jelly Beans
6. Nuggets

The half-life of crack is just 15 minutes. Smoking crack gives an instant rush that is intense yet short-lived. It is the onset of this quick high that makes crack highly addictive. 

4 Common Signs You Are Dependent on Crack

Some of the signs you’re addicted to crack include:

1. You always think about the next dose 
2. You don’t get the same rush you used to get 
3. You keep crack above everything: your family, work, school, etc
4. You do not stop smoking even after having health problems due to it

If you have developed a tolerance for crack, then you must know its complications as well. 

Free Addiction Assessment

Please note this assessment is an initial self-screening, and it is not meant to be a medical assessment or clinical diagnosis of addiction. For proper diagnosis and treatment, schedule an appointment with ChoicePoint.

The Multifaceted Consequences of Abusing Crack

Smoked crack increases the levels of dopamine- the pleasure-producing chemical,  in your system. When smoked:

1. Crack immediately enters your bloodstream
2. It hinders the uptake of dopamine back to the brain nerves 
3. This increases the crack’s amount in the bloodstream. 
4. As a result, pleasure and high kicks in, making users do things that they might not do if not on crack. 

Even a single use can make you addicted to the drug, leaving side effects on your physical and mental health. 

Symptoms of Smoking Crack on Physical Health 

Here are some of the signs of smoking crack on physical health that you need to be cautious of:

• Fever
• Extreme tiredness
• Malnutrition
• Tooth decay
• Weak kidney and liver
• Trouble in breathing
• Damage to the blood vessel
• Reproductive issues
• Increased blood pressure
• Stroke and heart attack in severe cases

If these symptoms are not managed on time, then you can overdose from crack. A single crack use can lead to cocaine overdose, resulting in deaths.

Crack Lung: Effects of Crack Smoke On Lungs 

An important physical symptom of smoking crack is the ‘crack lung.’ Crack lung refers to the damage to the lungs due to crack smoke. The problem starts with crack cocaine irritating the respiratory system. It further grows into damaging the cells and tissue, deteriorating the lungs of a crack smoker,  causing:

1. Chest Pain
2. Short of breath
3. Bleeding during coughing
4. Pigmented spit
5. Pneumonia

Neglecting to address these issues of the lungs of a crack smoker and continuing smoking can result in respiratory collapse. 

Symptoms of Smoking Crack on Mental Health

Crack addiction and mental health issues go hand in hand. Sometimes, it is the underlying co-occurring conditions that trigger the addiction, and other times, it is the addiction that deteriorates the mental health. As a result, cocaine users experience self-sabotaging and suicidal thoughts. Some of the other effects that crack has on mental health are:

• Psychosis
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Paranoid behavior
• Irritability
• Nervousness
• Anxiety and depression
• Eating food in huge quantities or not eating all
• Abrupt changes in mood

Impact of Crack on Finances

Crack implication goes beyond physical and mental health. Since users keep their crack over everything, they don’t mind stealing money or engaging in prostitution to afford crack cocaine.

Read what one of ChoicePoint’s alumna has to share about their crack addiction:

“My crack addiction was so intense. I was fifteen years old when I started smoking it. Initially, I spent my pocket money on crack, and when I wasn’t left with any pocket money, I started stealing my dad’s money. I took loans from my friends, cousins, and neighbors. One day, when I was trying to steal his money, daddy caught me redhanded”.

Does your loved one need help quitting crack addiction? Call ChoicePoint to avail of our crack detox program to help your loved one attain sobriety 844.445.2565. 

Key Differences Between Crack and Cocaine

What Are Treatment Options For Crack Addiction?

Although crack is one of the most addictive substances, reaching out to a rehab near you can help come out of the crack cocaine’s influence. A rehab can provide you with the resources and support needed to manage the symptoms of smoking crack. 

Medical Detox to Manage Crack Withdrawal

Quitting crack cocaine at a rehab begins with eliminating crack from your system through a medical detox. Since crack detox involves coming off the drug, it can bring you crack withdrawal symptoms, including:

• Problem in focus
• Shaking
• Emotional outburst
• Fever, nausea, and vomiting
• Cocaine/crack craving
• Sleeping difficulty

However, you will have the close attention of doctors and medical staff in a rehab. So, you don’t have to worry about crack detox withdrawal symptoms. 

Inpatient Treatment Program 

Another option available to treat your symptoms of smoking crack is choosing an inpatient treatment program. This treatment plan requires you to stay in rehab 24/7. During this time, you receive care for everything, from managing withdrawal symptoms to minimizing drug cravings. Depending on the severity of your addiction, an inpatient program may last a few weeks to several months.

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Since crack also affects your mental health, it’s important to seek addiction therapies along with detox, such as cognitive behavior therapy. CBT is a highly structured therapy program that utilizes practical strategies to help you:

• Understand the cause of addiction
• Identify the triggers and stressors that lead you to smoking
• Curb crack cravings
• Cope with changes in mood
• Minimize hallucinations

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Considering the existence of suicidal thoughts and violent behavior, sometimes dialectical behavior therapy is used as an extension of CBT or alone. Several randomized clinical trials concluded that DBT is very effective in reducing the use of drugs. It balances the painful experiences of the patient with an effort to accept pain as an essential part of life. For smoking cocaine addiction, DBT helps:

• Providing skills to come out of negative thoughts
• Introducing new positive behavior
• Embracing change
• Decreasing the chance of relapse

The next step to understanding the various treatment options is choosing the right rehab for your crack addiction. ChoicePoint is one rehab example that can provide you with an effective crack addiction treatment. 

Recovering Safely From Crack Cocaine Addiction At ChoicePoint

We understand that addiction treatment is not straightforward. That’s why ChoicePoint offers a combination of approaches to treat all aspects of crack addiction. This includes:

Medical-assisted Detox Treatment Program

Detox helps remove all residues of cocaine from your system under the close attention of our DEA-certified doctors. Treating with FDA-approved medications to treat polydrug abuse. Some of these medicines include Subutex, methadone, naltrexone, suboxone, and buprenorphine.

Addiction Therapies

Since everyone has a different crack use history, there is no one option available when it comes to treating mental issues associated with addiction. That’s why we have individual, group, and family therapy programs that can help you recover effectively. 

You can avail of our services as part of an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, according to your needs.  With an inpatient program, you can stay at our facility in New Jersey until you completely recover. However, if commute distance and work-life commitments do not allow you to stay at our rehab, then an outpatient treatment program might suit you.

Smoking Crack: Answering The Popular Queries

Some of the common questions people are asking about crack, its abuse, and potential treatment options:

Why Do People Smoke Crack?

There are two common reasons people smoke crack:

• Smoking allows quicker transport of the drug to the brain, causing instant pleasure. 
• Crack is the cheaper form of cocaine, which makes it a convenient drug for teenagers and lower-income groups. 

What Does Smoking Crack Do To You?

Smoking crack has many short-term and long-term adverse effects on health. Some of the signs of crack cocaine use are:

• Nausea and fever
• Constricted blood vessels
• Increased blood Pressure
• Rapid Heart Rate
• Loss of appetite leading to weight loss
• Kidney, Lungs, and Liver Damage
• Convulsions and seizures
• Respiratory and heart failure

What’s The Difference Between Cocaine And Crack?

Although both cocaine and crack have the same origin – the coca plant, there are prominent differences between the two types. The particular ones are:

• Chemical composition
• The method of use
• The potential to result in addiction

Can You Get Second-Hand High From Crack?

Yes, crack is quite potent, and even secondhand smoke can lead to symptoms of smoking crack. Adults, infants, and children all exposed to the smoke can inhale crack, which often results in death for infants. 

References

1. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse. 2010. Crack and Cocaine Use among Adolescents in Psychiatric Treatment: Associations with HIV Risk
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3250516/
2. Statista. 2023. Number of people in the U.S. who used crack in the past month from 2009 to 2022
   https://www.statista.com/statistics/612137/crack-use-during-past-month-in-the-us/
3. Wiley Online Library. 2013. Measuring Crack Cocaine And Its Impact
   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2012.00506.x
4. Lung India 2019. Crack lung: A case of acute pulmonary cocaine toxicity
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6625241/
5. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Substance Abusers
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797106/