Crack Addiction and Rehab Program

What Is Crack?

Crack is a highly addictive form of cocaine. Crack’s popularity exploded because of its appeal to drug users seeking a cheap, powerful, fast acting high.

Crack is a very powerful stimulant, causing a rapid stimulant effect and feeling of euphoria. As a stimulant, it will speed up mental and physical processes, increasing the user’s energy, focus, and attention. Because crack is a smoked form of cocaine, the user will experience near immediate effects.  Crack is readily absorbed by the lungs into the bloodstream, where it rapidly travels throughout the rest of the body eventually reaching the brain. The effects are rapid, peak quickly, and then end quickly after 5 or 10 minutes. Because of this rapid cycle users are at a high risk of tolerance, dependency, and addiction.

Why Do People Use Crack?

Those who use crack do so to achieve a “high” that includes:

• Intense burst of energy
• Inflated sense of confidence/self-importance
• Sense of escaping reality
• Experience of euphoria
• Increased mental focus

The desired effects quickly become replaced with negatives.

Following the development of tolerance, the phenomenon of withdrawal is another sign of crack abuse. Withdrawal occurs when unwanted symptoms arise after not using the substance for a period of time. During withdrawal from crack one may experience:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Being highly irritable
• Intense cravings for more crack

Dangerous Effects of Crack Abuse

Crack abuse can give rise to a number of damaging side effects.

• Cardiovascular damage
• Paranoia
• Nausea
• Bizarre behaviors
• Damage to teeth
• Hallucinations
• Delusional thinking
• Panic and anxiety
• Seizures
• Damage to lips and mouth
• Severe decline in cognitive ability