Cocaine and crack are powerful stimulants that give users a euphoric feeling and increased energy, says Dr. Tetrault. Crack creates a quick high to develop in a user’s body when smoked, but this high that a crack user gets from the drug is short-lived. So when crack withdrawal a user gets high from the drug they may feel extremely happy and have a surplus of energy, but when the high wears off they will be extremely fatigued and sad. This willl results in a user have extreme highs and lows, which results in rapid mood swings.
The brain’s dependence on Crack causes these symptoms because it can no longer function normally without the drug. If someone in your life has a crack addiction, it’s important to support them and help them find evidence-based treatment that works for them, Dr. Tetrault says. People who are addicted to crack have a chronic medical condition that requires treatment. It’s often not as simple as expecting a person to stop using it on their own, or thinking they’ll be better if they stop using it for a few days. Cocaine smugglers and drug dealers sometimes swallow large amounts of cocaine in condoms or balloons to hide it from law enforcement. The packets can easily break open inside the body and cause a fatal cocaine overdose.
How do I find help for cocaine use disorder?
It’s essential to be aware of these signs, symptoms, and health effects of cocaine use to break the habit and get treatment if needed. Crack cocaine is a highly potent and addictive stimulant processed from powdered cocaine and made to look like a rock crystal. Crack produces effects similar to that of powdered cocaine but comes with a higher number of health risks including lung trauma and bleeding. People who use crack are often more talkative, can stay awake for long periods of time, and complete tasks more quickly.
A crack addiction can put a person at risk for serious health consequences, including death. Preventing the use of this drug is critical because even a single instance of use can lead to addiction or death in some people. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications to treat crack cocaine addictions. But there are a few treatment options that can cater to your needs. Aside from the severe long-term side effects of crack addiction, you can fatally overdose on crack. Another serious concern is that crack can be contaminated with other drugs.
A person abusing crack can have blood shot eyes, or they may experience swollen eyes. If a person’s eyes are red and their pupils are dilated, along with increased activity, they are most likely abusing crack. Since alcohol and aging effects crack is a stimulant, a person on the drug will be more hyper and will have surplus of energy. This can cause a person to become extremely fidgety, and it will cause a person to have a difficult time sitting still.
The first way to identify whether someone is on crack is to know what it looks like. Typically, pure crack will appear as off-white “rocks,” which aren’t very dense and may seem crystalline. In many cases, however, crack isn’t pure when sold on the street, and it’s often cut with many other substances to increase how much it seems like a person is buying. Some of the substances crack is cut with can be incredibly dangerous.
Programs can range anywhere from 30 days to 90 days, with longer stays recommended for more severe addictions. Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug that can change lives and be life-threatening. Using cocaine may change how people’s brains work and increase their risk for many serious medical issues. Finding the next high may seem like the most important thing in their lives.
What is cocaine (crack)?
The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. The short-term effects of crack cocaine often appeal to users who enjoy feeling more energetic, confident, and social.
- Crack addiction is often marked by changes in behavior as the user becomes preoccupied with obtaining and using crack.
- Injecting cocaine with unclean needles increases one’s risk of contracting hepatitis, AIDS, and other infections.
- Certain items and equipment are also red flags for cocaine use or cocaine addiction.
- Thousands of people nationwide struggle with an addiction to this powerful drug.
- Listed below are some of the physical, behavioral, and psychological signs of cocaine use.
It is characterized by a cycle of cravings and withdrawal, as well as other severe physical and mental symptoms. Certain items and equipment are also red flags for cocaine use or cocaine addiction. Typical items used for snorting cocaine include mirrors, small spoons, short plastic straws and rolled-up paper tubes. A crack user will likely have a pipe and lighters, whereas IV cocaine users will possess needles. Recreational use of cocaine is illegal because it is dangerous and can lead to severe health consequences, including stroke, heart attack, and overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 24,000 people died from cocaine overdose in 2021.
Inhaling cocaine can lead to infections of the nasal and oral cavities. Much of the internal damage cocaine causes, however, is invisible. In addition to increasing the risk of heart attack, cocaine can trigger irregular heartbeats and cause a thickening of the heart muscle that can lead to heart failure.
Physical Signs
Approximately 5 percent of people who snort the drug will eventually develop a hole in their nasal septum, the wall of tissue that divides the two sides of the nose. People who use the drug regularly are likely to experience a number of serious health problems. Crack is created by combining cocaine with baking soda and water (often with other fillers).
Addiction Treatment Options for Crack Cocaine
Potential short-term side effects include overdose, addiction (cocaine use disorder) and withdrawal. Long-term side effects may include serious and potentially life-threatening medical issues like heart failure, stroke or infections. Smoking crack can cause the drug to reach the brain faster than snorting powdered cocaine. As a result, the person experiences an intense rush, followed by a hard crash that can feel depressing and lead to intense cravings for more of the drug.
Immediate Signs of Crack Use
While some people experience few withdrawal effects from cocaine, others experience debilitating symptoms. If you or someone you know is experiencing a cocaine overdose, call 911 and seek emergency medical treatment. The drug can also cause dangerous alcohol and bipolar disorder spikes in blood pressure that can rupture blood vessels in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) or tear the aorta (aortic dissection). We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses.
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