Crack Cocaine Treatment
Crack cocaine is one of the most strong and potent illegal drugs available today, mainly because of its ability to create almost immediate psychological dependence. For this reason, drug rehab centers are seeing record numbers of people that are seeking crack cocaine treatment. Family members connected to individuals with a crack addiction live in chaos and confusion, not understanding the underlying mechanics of crack addiction. Crack cocaine addiction statistics show that there are many more people who are voluntarily checking themselves into crack cocaine treatment centers in order to be free of this potentially deadly addiction. It is much better for an individual addicted to crack to voluntarily enter a drug treatment program. In doing so they are taking the responsibility for their substance abuse problem, and admitting that they need crack cocaine drug treatment.
The chemical cocaine hydrochloride is commonly known as crack. Of all drugs, cocaine creates the greatest psychological dependence. It stimulates key pleasure centers within the brain and causes extremely heightened euphoria. The high experienced from using crack is as short-lived as it is intense, only lasting for up to 10 minutes. However, an individual quickly develops a tolerance to the drug, requiring higher dosages and more frequent use in order to get the same effect. Crack cocaine cravings can be so strong that just the memory of the euphoria associated with use of the drug can trigger the desire to use the highly addictive drug again, even after long periods of abstinence. Coming down off of crack cocaine causes an individual to be severely depressed. In this condition, a person will do almost anything to get it, including committing criminal acts. And if one cannot get cocaine, the depression can deepen to such a degree that he or she may become suicidal. For these very serious reasons, it is imperative for users of crack cocaine to receive drug treatment without delay.
Some users chemically process cocaine in order to remove the hydrochloride. This process is called "freebasing" and makes the drug more potent. "Crack" is a solid form of freebased cocaine. It is called "crack" because it snaps and cracks when heated and smoked. Crack creates a feeling of euphoria and confidence in users. Using crack "24-7" causes the user's brain to release large amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine. After the user comes down from using the crack, they feel depressed. The person doesn't like feeling depressed and looks to use crack to make them feel good again. They continue using crack in a vain attempt to recreate the intensity of the initial high or may go into a crack binge where they use repeatedly over several days.
On a physical level, crack cocaine becomes addictive largely because of the effects it creates in brain chemistry. Crack sharply increases the levels of dopamine-a chemical messenger that initiates feelings of calm, contentedness and euphoria-in the user's brain. While this creates a sense of disoriented pleasure while the crack high lasts, dopamine levels become depleted after use. Additionally, continued crack cocaine use can cause the brain to lower dopamine levels over the long run, sensing excess dopamine present. When users attempt to cease crack cocaine use, they experience this cocaine-initiated chemical imbalance, causing depression, withdrawal symptoms and anxiety. In order to eliminate the experience of this chemical imbalance, users return to crack use. However, over time, tolerance builds up, requiring increasing amounts of crack in order to achieve the same effects.
Crack cocaine will also experience harmful physical side effects from crack addiction, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as intense sweating and dilation of their pupils. Other physical effects from crack addiction can include stroke, extreme weight loss, heart attack and even death, either from overdose or from prolonged stress on the body from the constant use of the drug to feed the crack addiction. The long term effects of crack abuse begin with the very first dose and steadily worsen from there. Some effects of crack can be subtle or extreme, and while some, like weight loss or feelings of power, may appeal to some in the beginning, it quickly becomes apparent that these effects are not positive at all. Weight loss due to crack addictions, for example, can quickly spiral out of control, leading to malnutrition, and dehydration. Digestion of food slows significantly, leading to possible intestinal and bowel problems, and a burning sensation on the lips and throat from using crack is not uncommon.
Crack withdrawal can occur quickly after the very first use of the drug. As the crack drug addiction grows, the withdrawal symptoms will get worse and worse, and that is why it is almost impossible for long term users of crack to recover without crack cocaine drug treatment .Those who are addicted to crack cocaine will experience withdrawal symptoms if they do not take crack on a regular basis, and fear of these symptoms is often enough to drive people to ramp up their use of crack. Some crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, pain in the bones and muscles and anger or violence. Addicts develop a physical and psychological dependence upon the drug and feel that they are unable to function normally without it. These addicts are in need of crack cocaine treatment. Long-term cocaine effects also include various types of hallucinations, delirium, constant or compulsive restlessness, and severe depression.
A crack overdose can cause serious problems, and because death is not an uncommon outcome, individuals suffering from addiction to this drug should have crack cocaine treatment without delay. Depending on the severity of the crack addiction, the amount of cocaine required to cause an overdose varies from person to person. The length of time the symptoms of overdose from crack will last can vary as well. Due to the fact that cocaine is often combined with other drugs to make crack, a deadly overdose can easily happen even to an experienced user. Some of the major dangers of a crack overdose include cardiac arrest (heart attack), rise in body temperature, stroke, kidney failure and even death .Over time crack cocaine use can result in heart and respiratory problems, heart attacks, and ultimately, death. Addiction or abuse of crack cocaine is a serious issue and serious action must be taken to help a person to receive crack cocaine treatment before it is too late.
When you admit that crack addiction is affecting your family, your financial status, and your health, you take a big step to living a much happier and healthier life, and a step closer to recovery from crack addiction.
