You Wake Up And Want To Smoke Crack
When the first thing that you think about is your desire to get high, it is a sign of addiction. When you are sleeping, your body depletes dopamine. Since crack floods your system with dopamine, you start to crave it first thing in the morning. This can range from just wanting it to immediately getting high to showing withdrawal symptoms when you wake up.
Crack Cocaine Abuse Long
In the long-term, abuse of crack can lead to bouts of aggression, unpredictable behaviors, and violence, states that can be even more severe when high doses of this drug are used.
Other psychological problems can result, such as delirium, paranoia, psychosis, and hallucinations. If a person develops tactile hallucinations, they may feel things that dont exist, such as bugs crawling beneath their skin. This sensation is commonly referred to as coke bugs.
Chronic appetite suppression due to crack can cause extreme weight loss and malnourishment as well.
Though crack cocaine abuse is harmful at any point, the longer the drug is abused, the greater the risks and dangers.
Stages Of Crack Cocaine Addiction
There is no universal roadmap for addiction, and every addicts experience is unique. Nevertheless, certain key stages may be identified through which an addict may pass during their addiction journey.
Initial exposure
Familiarisation: becoming familiar with crack as a drug, including recognising its effects and aspects such as taste and smell, as further instances of consumption follow beginning to develop a desire to consume the drug regularly.
Habituation
Addiction: being unable to stop smoking crack and experiencing significant symptoms of withdrawal when unable to procure it prioritising crack consumption at the expense of all other aspects of life continuing to smoke crack regardless of the negative effects it may have upon health and life circumstances.
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You Dont Enjoy The Things That You Used To
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a loss of interest in activities that you once loved is a sign that there is a serious problem. Although this is indicative a quite a few other conditions, if you are using crack on a regular basis, it is a very big symptom of addiction. Crack deadens your ability to feel pleasure in anything but using the drug. Each time you use it this damage gets worse.
Signs And Symptoms Of A Crack Cocaine Addiction
It is often difficult to recognise an addiction, even someone very close to you, because addicts often go to great lengths to keep their condition secret. The stigma associated with addiction can be extreme. Significant reputational damage can result from the revelation that an individual is addicted to crack. They may engage in deceitful and/or furtive behaviour in order to conceal their activities, and some addicts are able to compartmentalise their lives to the extent that little or no evidence of their condition spills over into other aspects of their existence.
Nevertheless, a number of signs may indicate the presence of addiction .
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Injecting Crack Cocaine To Get High
Smoking may be the most common route to consuming Crack Cocaine however, it is not the only one. There have been reports of individuals injecting diluted Crack Cocaine directly into the bloodstream. Injecting Crack Cocaine creates an almost instantaneous high, just like smoking the drug. Consequently, people who inject the drug are not immune to its potent addictive property. Additional risks are also created by the solvent used in dissolving Crack Cocaine and the possibility of becoming exposed to chronic infectious diseases from sharing syringes.
Can A Person Die From An Overdose Of Cocaine
Yes. Serious side effects, including seizures, stroke, heart attacks and irregular heartbeats, can happen even with a single use of cocaine. If enough cocaine is taken or if the cocaine is combined with heroin, fentanyl, or other stimulants or opioids, someone could have life-threatening side effects or even die.
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Is Crack Cocaine Physically Or Mentally Addictive
Like other forms of cocaine, crack is not considered to be particularly physically addictive. That is, it has a low physical dependence liability the symptoms of withdrawal are very psychological in nature. However, it is possible that physical dependence may have developed in certain cases.
The debate is ongoing in medical and psychiatric circles as to whether or not crack is fundamentally more addictive than traditional forms of cocaine. Some experts believe that there is a basic difference between crack and cocaine powder in terms of its addiction liability. Others assert that it is merely the short-lived nature of cracks effects, and the rapid compulsion to use again is what gives crack the appearance of being more addictive. According to the latter, when not experiencing the effects of crack, users are no more compelled to engage in substance abuse than are users of powdered cocaine.
Why Do People Use Crack Cocaine
There is an infinite number of possible reasons why someone may engage in recreational crack use. Each individual is unique and hugely psychologically complex the circumstances in which they find themselves are also unique to them.Some reasons why people may use crack cocaine either initially or on a regular basis include:
- simple pleasure seeking
- rebellion against familial or social structures and norms
- as a means of self-medicating or escaping from mental health issues
- dealing with trauma
- as a means of escaping feelings of shame, despair or other negative emotions
- as an aphrodisiac
- as a means of fitting in with a peer group
- because other more familiar forms of substance abuse are not available
- because they are intoxicated by other substances and are experiencing disinhibition
- because they are forced to by controlling partners or other individuals with power over them
- because crack abuse may be the norm in their household
- because they have been given it unawares in other smokable drugs
- because they are addicted to crack
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Crack Cocaine Abuse And Addiction
Crack cocaine is an intensely powerful stimulant drug that can cause addiction or fatal overdose after only one use. Comprehensive treatment can help protect a persons life and guide them towards sobriety.
Recovery from crack cocaine addiction is best treated in an evidence-based drug rehab program. This research-based approach uses science-backed therapies to help a person develop positive habits that support sobriety.
The best drug rehab programs for crack cocaine focus on treating both the psychological and physical components of addiction.
How Do People Become Addicted To Cocaine
Cocaine causes an intense flood of chemicals in the brains pleasure or reward pathwayessentially short-circuiting what would normally only be stimulated, or roused, by pleasurable life events. Repeated overloading of this brain circuit by cocaine causes changes in the brain in which nothing seems pleasurable without the drug.
The chemicals released in the brain by cocaine also play a role in maintaining normal feelings of happiness. Reduced levels of these chemicals can cause intense feelings of depression. The addict will try to avoid these negative feelings by using more of the drug as soon as these symptoms arise.
These actions can ultimately lead to changes in other parts of the brain that result in drug use becoming an obsession and compulsionlike an itch that must be scratched no matter what the outcome. This is why addicts will continue to use the drug despite all of the negative consequences. The obsession with the drug is also referred to as a craving.
In the case of cocaine, addicts also report an intense motivation to try to obtain the high that they experienced the first time they ever used, but the intensity of that first experience is impossible to ever achieve through repeated use.
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How Can A Cocaine Overdose Be Treated
There is no specific medication that can reverse a cocaine overdose. Management involves supportive care and depends on the symptoms present. For instance, because cocaine overdose often leads to a heart attack, stroke, or seizure, first responders and emergency room doctors try to treat the overdose by treating these conditions, with the intent of:
- restoring blood flow to the heart
- restoring oxygen-rich blood supply to the affected part of the brain
- stopping the seizure
You Experience Rapid Mood Changes
The constant desire for crack is a sign of addiction.
Most crack addicts exhibit mood changes. You might be happy and euphoric one minute and depressed and anxious the next. Many users describe having issues controlling their anger or irritability, many even become abusive to their friends or loved ones when they do not have access to crack.
Paranoia is also common in addicts. Many stimulants cause paranoia when you are actively using them and when you are coming down. It is not unusual for an addict to think that someone even someone they trust is after them or out to get them.
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The Only Thing That You Think About Is Smoking
Since crack damages the pleasure center of the brain, the only way you get pleasure is through the drug. After using it, the only thing you think about is how to use again. You forget about everything else in your life except for the endless cycle of using crack to get high and then finding ways to obtain more so you can get high.
Helping A Friend With Addiction
If you’re worried about a friend who has an addiction, you can use these tips to help him or her. For example, let your friend know that you are available to talk or offer your support. If you notice a friend backsliding, talk about it openly and ask what you can do to help.
If your friend is going back to drugs or drinking and won’t accept your help, don’t be afraid to talk to a nonthreatening, understanding adult, like your parent or school counselor. It may seem like you’re ratting your friend out, but it’s the best support you can offer.
Above all, offer a friend who’s battling an addiction lots of encouragement and praise. It may seem corny, but hearing that you care is just the kind of motivation your friend needs.
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Crack Addicts: Life Of A Crack Addict
The life of a crack addict is often one filled with danger, fear, and violence. Many crack addicts have lost their homes due to crack addiction and are commonly found living on the street or in transient housing. Crack addicts typically have problems getting or staying employed and so have no legal way of financing their crack addiction. As an alternative, crack addicts are often working as prostitutes or committing crimes in order to pay for their crack addiction. Crack addicts commonly lose their family, friends and all social contacts due to their crack addiction. Crack addiction is the only thing a crack addict cares about and the rest of their life simply falls away every moment is used getting high or figuring out how, when and where to get high.
What Happens The First Time Trying Crack
Crack delivers faster, more intense effects than snorted powdered cocaine. First, smoking cocaine allows for more rapid absorption of the drug into the body than snorting it, producing a quick and more potent high. Additionally, though, the drug is more bioavailable when smoked than snorted. Snorting cocaine results in 57% bioavailability, while smoking it ramps up the bioavailability to 70%. This means simply that the drug becomes more active in the bloodstream to a greater extent and at a faster rate when smoked, resulting in a more potent high. This is a major factor in its significant addictive potential.
The crack high comes on faster but lasts for approximately 10-15 minutes, whereas the cocaine high can last up to 45 minutes. As a result, crack users seek highs with greater intensity and frequency.
While its impossible to say that crack causes addiction after one hit, many people describe themselves as being hooked and wanting more after the first time. How quickly someone becomes addicted to crack depends on a number of factors including use of other substances, genetic influences, and other environmental and psychological factors. If you are worried you or someone you love might be developing an addiction to crack, you can get help. If you need assistance finding a program, call Who Answers? today. We are available 24 hours a day and all calls are confidential.
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Why Is Crack Dangerous
Aside from its ability to quickly result in physical dependence, crack use especially in binge fashion can cause a deadly overdose. Overdosing on cocaine is indicated by the following symptoms:
- Sweating.
- Rhabdomyolysis .
- Kidney damage.
Several mental health issues may also arise with continued crack use. Depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are all fairly common crack-induced mental health issues, but will usually recede upon crack cessation. However, prolonged, heavy crack use can lead to more persistent psychological changes.
How To Get Someone Off Crack
Crack addicts tend to be in serious denial. If you recognize the signs of crack addict behavior in a loved one, it is time to get help from a professional drug addiction specialist. When someone is heavily addicted to crack, they need the services of a drug rehab treatment center in order to break their addiction. An addiction specialist can help you with intervention strategies to get someone to admit they have a problem with crack, so they will be willing to enter rehab and start the recovery journey.
Treatment for crack addiction can occur on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Inpatient treatment is considered the best option for heavily addicted to crack cocaine, because quitting the drug causes intense withdrawal symptoms. Currently, there are no medications approved by the FDA to treat crack cocaine addiction. Researchers are working on some promising leads, but for now medication can only help individuals feel a little less uncomfortable while going through detox.
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Can You Get Addicted To Crack After Only One Hit
Can You Get Addicted to Crack After Only One Hit?
Though most people know that crack cocaine is dangerous and highly addictive, lots of people have questions about exactly how much of the drug you need to do to order to be addicted. Crack cocaine, called on the streets by the nicknames rock, rock candy, work, hard, iron, base, or crack, is a freebased form of cocaine that gives an intense but short-lived high to people who smoke it. People who use crack cocaine have an extreme tendency to binge on it because of its short high.
Crack cocaine works on the brain by effecting the users brain chemistry, causing increased energy, alertness, extreme confidence, euphoria, and craving for more crack cocaine. The effects last for only 5-10 minutes after each hit. And most users report feeling a craving for more crack cocaine as soon as their high subsides. This leads users to take hit after hit, sometimes stretching their usage out over days-long binges. And the longer they binge, the less effective the crack gets, because their bodies began adapting to it and tolerating its effect.
The bad news is that crack is widely considered to be the most addictive form of cocaine there is. The high is much more intense, and reached quicker, than powdered coke. And not only that, but the use of crack is accompanied by a chemical craving for more crack cocaine-which means that many users are hooked after the very first use.
Which Treatments Work For Cocaine Addiction
Treatments that are known to be effective for cocaine addiction include:
- Talking therapies therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy help you to understand your addiction and to change your thoughts and behaviour. This will either be as part of a group or one to one with a specialist drugs counsellor or therapist.
- Couples therapy you may be offered this if you have a partner who does not use cocaine.
- Incentives you may be offered rewards, such as vouchers, for sticking with your treatment and for staying off cocaine when it finishes.
Unlike treatment for heroin, there are no medicines that work as substitutes for powder cocaine, crack cocaine and other stimulants.
However, you may be offered medicines to help with related symptoms, such as sleep problems. These are often used on a short-term basis because long-term use of medicines that can help you sleep can also be addictive in itself.
If you’re addicted to alcohol as well as cocaine, you may be prescribed Antabuse .
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How Addictive Is Crack
Crack is a highly addictive stimulant made from cocaine. Users usually smoke the drug as doing so allows a large amount of it to reach the lungs and bloodstream quickly. As a result, crack cocaine produces an instant high with intense effects. It typically looks like small white or off-white rocks.
The drug got its name because of the cracking sound heard when the rocks heat up. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, crack is made by mixing dissolved powdered cocaine in a solution of water and ammonia or baking soda, and boiling the mixture. A solid substance is produced during this process. It is then separated from the liquid and dried. Once it is broken down into smaller chunks, the drug is sold on the street.
Treating Crack Cocaine Addiction
When an individual becomes addicted to crack cocaine, drug rehab is the best chance they have to break the dependency cycle.
During drug rehab, the individual will learn how to overcome the physical addiction to the drug as well as the strong psychological hold it places on the user.
The detox process for crack addiction is shorter than that found in opiate-based problems such as heroin addiction because the real pull of the drug lies in the psychological realm. Extensive counseling during addiction treatment helps the individual reshape their mind as well as learn the triggers that lead to crack abuse. Through group and individual counseling, the recovering addict learns how to replace the crack cocaine experience with other, more productive pursuits, as well as how to avoid temptation and make better decisions concerning the drug.
Michaels House treats individuals with a crack addiction through the most forward-thinking treatment methods available. Located in Palm Springs, California, Michaels House is a residential drug rehab facility that offers a whole body approach to treatment that enriches the mind, body and soul of the individual.
Contact Michaels House today for more information.
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