Crack Cocaine Addiction, Abuse and Treatment
Crack cocaine is a universal problem in most countries. Crack cocaine was very popular in US in the 80s. It was a common drug of abuse in most inner cities. Its use declined in the early 90s mainly due to the anti-drug campaigns and increasing policing. However, the last decade has seen a resurgence of the crack cocaine epidemic. The drug has again become widely available and the use has increased exponentially.
Crack use has always been associated with inner city abusers, poverty and crime, unlike powder cocaine, which is perceived to be a drug of middle class America and associated with wealth and glamour. In addition, the legal penalties for crack possession are much harsher than those for possession of powder cocaine.
The US justice department statistics indicate that about 1-2 million people regularly use crack. The crack cocaine industry is a billion dollar industry and accounts as the number one export of Columbia.
Crack Cocaine?
The chemical cocaine hydrochloride is commonly known as crack. Some users chemically process cocaine in order to remove the hydrochloride. It is called "crack" because it snaps/cracks when heated and smoked. Crack is often available in small vials and sold in small quantities, usually 300-500mg. Each of these vials can afford 2-4 inhalations. The majority of cocaine is smuggled into the US from Mexico and South America. It is brought in by air, land or sea. Seizures by law enforcement indicate that tons of cocaine is smuggled in by the Mexican and Columbian Drug Cartels.
Crack has become the drug of choice for many users and the use is especially more common in the inner city, among socially disadvantaged youths and the poor. Unlike powder cocaine, Crack's convenience, ease of concealment, wide availability, and low cost has increased its use.
How Does Crack Work?
Crack affects both the central nervous and the autonomic nervous systems. Crack mimics the neurotransmitters which controls these systems. In summary, the levels of neurotransmitters which are stimulatory are increased by using crack cocaine.
The Difference Between Crack and Cocaine?
Crack is made from cocaine in a process called freebasing, whereby the cocaine powder is mixed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate to create rocks, chips, or powder which can be snorted or smoked. Crack is usually smoked in a pipe. The smoking usually is associated with an intense high but unlike cocaine, its effects are short lived. During smoking, the degree of intoxication with crack occurs in a few seconds and last for 10-20 minutes. The immediate effects of crack include a heightened sense of pleasure, euphoria, feels of grandiosity, euphoria, social inhibitions and increased energy.
What are the side effects of crack cocaine?
Crack cocaine can affect various organ systems and the side effects are numerous. It can cause:
- Increase blood pressure and heart rate
- Increase breathing rates
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety and hyperactivity
- Convulsions
- Decrease appetite
- Decrease the need for sleep
- Damage the nasal septum and lungs
- Cause heart attacks and strokes
Because crack is rapidly absorbed in the body in high levels, the chances of overdosing are also high. Once the intense high subsides, a feeling of depression then sets in therefore making the user want to use the drug again. During the crack high, users have decreased concentration and can be irritable. Frequent use of cocaine is associated with a paranoid psychoses, hallucinations and violent behavior.
Because crack cocaine is combined with a number of impure substances, the chances of side effects and toxicity are always present. In addition, the toxicity of crack is always increased because the majority of crack users also abuse other illicit drugs.
Addiction Treatment
Crack Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Even with short term use, many individuals experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the crack. The symptoms are more pronounced in individuals who have been using crack for a long time and in high doses.
Individuals addicted to crack are unable to improve without medical treatment. The physical and psychological dependence of crack is intense and most find it difficult to get out of the addictive cycle. The withdrawal symptoms include intense cravings, irritability, hunger, anxiety and paranoia. These feelings prevent the individual from stopping use of crack.
Crack cocaine treatment is best done as an inpatient. The treatment is done with a multidisciplinary team that may require the use of behavior, drugs and improvements in the social status of the patient.
Hospital Admissions
Crack cocaine related admissions to hospitals are on an increase in most States. Most hospital data reveal that crack associated health problems are on the increase and numerous individuals are admitted via the emergency because of severe withdrawal symptoms.
Numerous medical data indicate that crack is not safe for use during pregnancy. There has been a very high incidence of still births, miscarriages, premature labor, babies born with numerous organ defects in women who consume crack during pregnancy
What are the legal consequences of crack cocaine?
Simple possession of Crack cocaine is associated with a harsh mandatory minimum sentence. Depending on the judge, “Simple possession of any quantity of any other substance by a first-time offender-including powder cocaine is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a maximum of one year in prison."
In federal court today, low-level crack dealers and first-time offenders sentenced for trafficking of crack cocaine receive an average sentence of 10 years and six months. This prison sentence is much severe and harsher then for individuals sentenced for rape, murder and even possession of weapons.
Legislation
The Harrison Act in 1914 banned the non-medical use of cocaine; prohibited its importation; imposed the same criminal penalties for cocaine users as for opium, morphine, and heroin users; and required a strict accounting of medical prescriptions for cocaine. Congress classified it as a Schedule II substance in 1970. In most states, Crack cocaine has been the primary drug involved in Federal drug arrests and drug trafficking.
References
- Baigent, Michael (2003). Physical complications of substance abuse: what the psychiatrist needs to know. Curr Opin Psychiatry 16 (3): 291-296.
- NDIC (2006). "National Drug Threat Assessment 2006".
- Jacobson, Robert. "Illegal Drugs: America's Anguish". Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006
- Macko, Steve. "Colombia's new breed of drug trafficker", Emergency Response and Research Institute, Chicago, Friday, July 17, 1998.
- Gawin. FH. (1991). “Cocaine addiction: Psychology and neurophysiology”. Science 251: 1580–1586.
my friend smoked crack cocain for over twenty years he said he just stop but I believe he is still doing it he moved out. can a person using drugs over twenty years just stop and still have the same friends and not smoke without treatment. I am trying to see if he needs help
absolutely not....your friend needs help there is no way an addict can just turn around and say they quit after 20 years. they may want to stop but they must seek professional help in order to be able to cope without and as for hanging with the same friends if you ask me will just lead to more crack use and nothing good will come out of it. He needs to trash the junkie friends and start a new chapter...maybe find some hobbies.? im just sayin My man was addicted for three years and i had to leave him because he swore he could stop on his own but it was only getting worse....to this day i do not know of his where abouts because i had to leave for my son. and for Anthony my boyfriend went in jail too and for him they simply made him wait it out they didnt really do anything i mean at least for him.
My sister in law is addicted to crack and is now in jail, what kind of treatment will they do for the withdrawal symptoms? Any advice is very helpful.
Ok so my mother has been on crack for around 13 yrs and i am affraid that if she doesnt stop she will die soon. The bad part is not only is she axdicted to the drug but also the life style. She recently got off the streets and stoped selling her body for crack and is now living in an appartment on her own. The problem is the hole appartment complex is nothing but crack users and im not sure how she has been paying her rent because she dont work. But now she is about to lose her home and go back to the streets because she wont stop smoking. I ont know what to do to get her clean she is almost 46 yrs old and looks like shes 60 and has soooo many health problems. 8 yrs ago my brother passed away from drugs and that didnt make het stop she even went to a crack house between showings. I jus had my first baby 6 months ago and that hasnt made her change. I just dont know what else to do. She has been almost beatin to death, almost died due to bleeding ulcers in her stomach due to smoking, and never knows when she will get her next meal. She been to jail to many times to count and that has no effect on her. Im affraid my mom will die soon and i just want to help her. Is there anyone that can offer me some advice? Please
Brittney,
All i can say is your mother needs help right now or she is most likely going to die....She has to be willing to do this for herself or it will never work.An intervention on the part of the family will help as it addresses her fears head on.It still has to be up to her.The statistics are not good but she has a one in four chance of recovery.You as a family need to be behind her 100% if she decides on recovery.Do not judge her on her addiction as it is the addiction talking not your mom.Try and get her into a detox for a week to get it out of her system.Their are 28 day programs that will help her get involved with NA.If she is as far along in the addiction as you say i would recommend a long term facility that will work on her and what is going on with her.They can range from 6 weeks to 52 weeks of intensive therapy.I did 20 weeks at a facility where drugs or alcohol were not talked about much.The focus was on life and where i came from and what i endured...I did a lot of inner child work.The treatment worked for me...all i can say it is not an easy fix as my addiction still lurks in the background just waiting to take over...I attend AA and NA 3 or 4 times a week.I live one day at a time...I am sober today but cannot promise about tomorrow.I just have carry on with what i did today and build on that .If i do i stand a very good chance of living a fulfilling life!!All you can do is never give up on her as she is a sick human at this point ...no different than if she had cancer or any other deadly disease.Because that is what it is a disease!!!!!!!!!
Waynw,
Thank you for sharing your story! It shows that you are on your way to recovery and its very encouraging to read. My sister who I love tremendously has been using on and off for over fifteen years crack and the drugs that come along with that lifestyle. My mother and I have always talked about finding her some sort of long term treatment but we don't have the funds to pay for a private facility. Could you please guide me as to how to find a long term facility of intensive therapy. We live in Florida..Thank you again!
I think it is a excuse to continue to do drugs. My husband has been on crack some 10+ years and I'm fed up with it and I'm tired of the excuses. Need to grow up and realize what's important in life and it's definitely not crack.
Look I am looking for something that will help my husband take this away. I know there is no easy fix or cure for this addiction but I am so desperate to have any answer to this.Nothing seems to matter to him, when I met him he was such a family man and now he has withdrawn from everyone except the drug dealers and the other drug users. I have often contemplated having the police or drug task force get involved in this. I attempted a few months ago to get him to go to a rehab and while i was doing that he admitted himself into then hospital, but that only lasted a week and he made every excuse in the book not to go into treatment.My thing is he only went into the hospital to take a little break from it all because he smoked up so much money in a 24 hr period.He just keeps going back and I love him so much and I think i am more scared to leave him because you see he has 2 sons that live here with us and If I leave they will really have no one, there mom passed away almost 6 yrs ago. I just don't know what to do anymore can someone please give me some advice on how to handle this. I am going crazy.
Dawn,
Try setting up an Intervention. Call 1-800-559-9503 and let them help set you up with an intervention specialist in your area. The specialist can provide you with the tools needed in order to have a successful intervention.
Sometimes it takes confronting the addict and making them see how much their drug use is hurting the ones they love in order for them to truly want to get help. Do not try to do an intervention by yourself. You really need a professional.
Wishing You Luck
Autumn
I believe my girlfriend's mom is going through with drawls.Both her parents have a bad drug history her and her sisters were taking away because they'd leave them alone for days at a time with no food, and they'd sit there and watch them shoot up and smoke and all that stuff and eventually DFS took them and put them in a group home were her and I met. Her parents have "been clean" for that past 3 yrs after her dad got cancer we let her parents move in but kicked her dad out after he got caught shoplifting when we got his stuff he had his medicine and new needles they said that he told them he was diabetic which was a lie so we automatically new he was apparently still doing drugs then we packed his stuff we found the burnt spoons her mom claims 2 not no anything so she gave her the benefit of the doubt and let her stay with us well going on 2 or 3 days after we kicked her husband out and she has no money and no form of transportation while my girlfriend and I are at work shes stuck at the house and she starts feeling bad and its simply gotten worse she has all of the symptoms listed above plus a few more its going on two in a half weeks now and none of this over the counter medicine that shes getting and going through like there's no tomorrow has not helped her in the least bit....prob. because its not going to but maybe I'm wrong highly doubt it but is there anything else that could poss. make her feel all of the ways above?
What is Crack Cocaine? I know crack is a drug. Cocaine is a drug too. Is “Crack Cocaine†a mixture of both?
crack is the pure rock substance of cocaine. crack is smoked and cocaine is snorted
For the past 10 months I have lived with a man in his 50s (my same age) who has been a crack addict for over 20 years. When we first met and started living together I had no idea he was using crack or any other substance. He has not been able to hold a job, is always asking for money, says he loves me and wants our relationship to work but I can see where crack gets in the way of being able to make better decisions and think clearly. He can be very kind and loving, but out of the blue he will disappear, not answer his cell when I call, stays away for 8 to 72 hours at a time (72 hours has become very rare).
Lately he has been more moody and aggressive, yells a lot, blames me for everything, will not allow me to explain myself or talk, yet he wants to talk up a storm and I'm to listen. He makes very little sense at times and it concerns me.
When he is able to get a part time job (lawn work, house painting, etc.) he will not share money with me. I have paid rent and all other bills (including food) for these past 10 months with the promise that as soon as he gets work, he will pitch in and pay his fair share. As it now looks, this will never happen. When he gets paid he takes off for up to 2 days and smokes his whole check away.
I'm not only tired from this, but I'm sick from it. I have not had a happy day over the past 10 months, the weekends are bad, I cry way too often, I feel used and continuously lied to by him. I have no trust for him. This past weekend he finished a 2 week job. He called to say he was on his way home, yet never showed up. He's been gone for over 24 hours now. I'm depressed, feel no hope, have a fear of losing my job due to the lack of sleep and depression.
It's hard for me to just "kick" him out. I have truly love this man, but I can't live like this. It's terribly painful to break away from him. I worry about him, knowing that he's not even thinking of me, and he knows the hell he puts me through when he refuses to answer my phone calls. Of all the men that I have known, he is the one that I have been able to connect with the most. We have so much in common and can get along so well, but I have never been a substance abuser and I feel so uncomfortable in his world of friends who share his addiction. From what I have seen, he seems to be getting worse and using more often. This really scares me. Why am I putting up with him? I am afraid he will harm himself and I am afraid to lose him.
hey. i just was trying to do research on this whole subject . and came across your post. and some stuff you mention are 100% true in my case with my bf too. I am not a user and know very little about it,. (that's why I'm researching it) cause i feel hes just telling me and others what they want to hear. but the behavior you mention is dead on. I'm wondering if we could discuss privately with emails and not on public forum. I love my bf so much, but I'm afraid its all a lie, its the crack that's telling me what i need to hear to stay.
I am in the same boat. Doing research because I have never been exposed in my world to all this. Been involved with this man for over a year and just found out the last six months that he uses crack cocaine on a regular basis. Need to talk to someone to help me understand when I am being an enabler. I believe that I have co-dependent behavior. Just want to hear from someone that is going through the same things.
To whom it may concern:
I am a recovering drug addict. I was hooked on cocaine for 10+ yrs..then I was clean for two..then on crack for 3..I am currently clean and sober...I have the desire to stay that way..but only for the fact that I want more out of life. There are usually emotional issues with a drug addict that needs addressed because he/she feels that they need to "escape:" life. I am not good at coping with stress, so I used. There were a couple other emotional issues too. The main thing is that I went through a lot and it has been a struggle. I gave birth to my son in rehab, luckily I could keep him with me. I fooled myself and others for a while, as a "closet smoker" I thought as long as I could keep up the charade and use every now and then I would be okay. We all know that it turned into every day. I did it when I didn't have my kids with me every chance that I got. Finally, when my mom stepped in and took my children from me(she threatened cops and CPS if I tried to take them back) My whole world came crashing down. I decided then and there I want a life for myself and my children. It pains me to talk about this because they were deprived of things that others had.. My children were well taken care of physically and for the most part financially. They had all the gadgets(the ones I didn't pawn for my drug) Emotionally, however, I was unavailable. It was devastating for my little girl who is older. It made me look at myself in the mirror, which is the point I am getting at. Most drug users avoid their emotions and contemplation of their lives. For those of you wanting to help an addict, I suggest you find a way to make this happen. Also, I want to add that "tough love" is good, but too tough can be devastating to an addict. If you are being lied to, stolen from, taken advantage of, or even physically abused it is okay to cut the user from your life. I feel that you can still be supportive from afar. LET THE ADDICT KNOW YOU STILL CARE!!! but you're done being taken for granted. Set rules, they don't follow, consequences or no contact. When you're on the receiving end of the addict I realize it can be just as bad, if not worse, than the addiction. You are probably co-dependent and angry. So instead of focusing your anger on the addict and calling them names like "crack-head" and so on let them know you care and love them, but you cannot be part of their lives if crack is in it. I just wanted to give you some suggestions because I am doing well now that my co-dependent mother is supporting me instead of slamming me. Please think about my point of view as an addict even if you don't agree. Although I am not using I still have the mind of an addict. I know that any day could be a relapse, so like the other post, I have to take one day at a time. Good luck on your endeavors! God Bless!! :)
wow! first of all i would like to thank u for sharing. your story is so similar to my fiance. she is a good woman other than the crack. if there's anything else u can share with me, i'd owe u my life. all i want is to be happy with her but she keeps going back to the drugs. please help me understand this because i am trying to support her because i love her so much. she's now in a 1 yr god base drug treatment. this is the last draw for me. if she break my heart one more time, i'm done. i just don't have anything left to give her. thank u in advance for your insight.
the problem is my husband know i care that is why he keeps hurting us over and over.... i really do not know what to do ... i kicked him out a couple of days a go i just can not take it any more he is on heroin when do have Suboxone and he binges out on crack... he is 45 years old been clean for a while but he always crashes and when he crashes he crashes hard.
I have known this guy for almost 15years my first love. He started using dope, crack shortly after we broke then and he has relapsed several times and now he has been clean for 11months and i know they aren't suppose to have serious relationship while they go thru recovery. Me and him ended up have feelings for each other but he end it because he wants to fix himself while In recovery. So we don't talk to each other. Is it possible for us to even to get together again. I know everyone is different. I really care for him and I think he cared for me that he pushed me away so he can recover he didn't want to interfere.
I just recently found out from my daughter that she is addicted to meth, cocaine, and pills. I had thought it but up until the other day she had always denied it. She comes to me wanting help, so she says but everything I offer shes not willing to do. She tells me if she doesn't stop she is going to end up in jail or dead and she is scared but she don't know how to fix this. When I tell her she needs o go in rehab she says she don't have insurance, she can't afford to lose her job, she can't afford to lose her house, she blew what little bit of money she had saved. She tells me how embarrassed she is and how she don't know if she can deal with it if people find out that she has these problems. I know that she is still lying to me on some of the stuff she is telling but I how far can I push to make her get help without pushing her so faraway that she feels that she can't come to me for help. Please post any advice, thanks.
hi my name is john and I'm a crack user i feel as though i have two people living in me one part is happy go lucky give you the shirt off my back the other is a crack smoking demon that don't care about anyone or thing unless I'm smoking it i procrastinate on help I'm lost.
I was addicted to crack for 2 years ... I got involved due to stupidity and loneliness ..... then about 4 years ago my dad had a stroke so i moved back near home I was still involved with the drug for 2 more years then I stopped feeling sorry for myself and focused myself entirely on making sure my parents looked after i have now been clean for almost 3 years ... I still think about the dark days at times but i will not give in ... I have a full time decent paying job now . I guess i am one of the lucky few
This articles sorta stupid. While Crack is and most definitely was a problem, there's no point targeting crack on it's own now. Crack statistics are so low, the government doesn't even release it individually, instead focusing on "cocaine" (in reality, HCl is just as addictive chemically). 15% of people who've used crack are addicted (do some number crunching), and numbers are falling anyways (it's a pointless drug, people are realizing). Anyways, that said in 2004 (UK) 148 people died of cocaine inc crack. This was within the 14million users. Meanwhile, 6544 alcohol deaths in the same year (40 million users). So 1/95000 cocaine users died, while 1/6000 alcohol users died.