Drugs can often have effects. Many times, these effects are intended. For example, people who use stimulant drugs can get a burst of energy. However, that burst of energy may be accompanied by increased heart rate and a spike in blood pressure.
These effects may not be immediately dangerous, but long-term use can affect health. Crack cocaine is a drug that can have adverse side effects. But what are the crack cocaine effects that users may struggle with? And how can someone repair the damage caused by these effects?
Luxe Recovery is a world-class rehab facility in Los Angeles. We offer addiction treatment for people who use crack, as well as other substance use disorders.
What is Crack Cocaine?
Cocaine is a drug that comes in the form of a white powder. Derived from the coca plant, cocaine has had numerous uses over the years. However, the drug is incredibly addictive, and many people use the drug for recreational purposes.
The white powder variant of the drug is what most people picture when they think of the drug, and it’s associated with money due to its relatively high street price.
Another form of cocaine is crack cocaine. It comes in white or off-white rocks. While the powder variant is typically snorted, crack cocaine is almost always smoked.
While crack cocaine use can be prevalent, between 2019 and 2023, the number of crack cocaine traffickers decreased dramatically.
Short-Term Side Effects of Crack Cocaine
One of the most immediate effects of smoking crack is that it gives users a sense of euphoria. This high is generally more intense and faster than what snorting it would produce, and some users may smoke it with marijuana or tobacco.
The high is also rather fleeting, lasting as little as 15 minutes. Because of this, many users will be compelled to smoke more to get high again once they come back down.
Using crack cocaine can cause a person’s heart rate and blood pressure to spike.
Long-Term Effects of Crack Cocaine Use
While the immediate effects of crack can be unpleasant, the real dangers of drug use generally come with long-term addiction. One long-term effect is dependence. When a person regularly uses crack cocaine, their minds and bodies become dependent on it, so they have to keep smoking it to continue functioning.
Cocaine can also make the blood vessels thicker and cause them to constrict. Coupled with its stimulant effects, this can increase the risk of a person suffering a heart attack or a stroke, even if they are otherwise healthy.
Because crack cocaine is often smoked, it can lead to lung damage. Some may even develop a ‘crack lung.’ This can lead to difficulty breathing, a fever, and a cough that may be bloody.
Furthermore, because crack cocaine use weakens the immune system, users are at increased risk for infections such as pneumonia. Smoking crack cocaine may also cause fluid to build up in the lungs, which can lead to pulmonary edema.
Another effect of long-term crack addiction is tolerance. When a person first smokes crack, it’s a novel thing. Over time, they get used to it; as they get used to it, the effects start to dull as they build tolerance. They don’t get as high as they did at the beginning.
Because of this, many users are compelled to smoke more crack and do so more frequently, hoping to get the high they want through sheer volume. However, some people may use more than their bodies can handle, and they may suffer an overdose as a result.
Treatment for Crack Cocaine Addiction
While crack cocaine addiction can cause a variety of long-term side effects, people can recover. Some of the treatments for crack use include:
Detox
The first stage of professional treatment is drug detox. During this phase, a person will purge their bodies of all illicit substances. However, people who are addicted to crack are dependent on it, and its presence is their new baseline. Because of this, they may struggle with withdrawal symptoms due to its absence.
Withdrawal symptoms for crack can include anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. Because crack is a stimulant, withdrawing from it can also cause a person to become profoundly exhausted.
Protracted crack withdrawal can lead to depression, apathy, difficulty sleeping, strong cravings, emotional instability, and an inability to feel pleasure.
Inpatient Care
Inpatient or residential treatment can be vital for those who are struggling with addiction, especially in cases of severe addiction. In a residential treatment facility, people who have become dependent on crack can receive personalized treatment for their addiction.
This treatment can include a mix of behavioral therapies and holistic treatments to help people develop coping skills that can help them deal with their cravings as well as manage their triggers without resorting to drug use.
Sober Living
Drug use doesn’t just affect a person’s brain and body. It can make it difficult for people to function independently. A residential treatment facility is a controlled environment that allows a person to focus on treatment. However, after treatment is completed, it can be a challenging time.
A sober living home, a halfway house, can help ease a person’s transition from inpatient care to their normal lives. While in a sober living home, they’ll have to follow house rules and participate in therapeutic activities, but they’ll be able to live with a measure of independence.
Outpatient Care
Not everyone needs the level of care that is found in residential care. Some people may need less intensive but still structured treatment. This can be found in an intensive outpatient program.
In this type of program, a patient will continue to live at home, and they will schedule multiple individual and group therapy sessions into their normal lives. This can help people receive the care that they need for cocaine use without disrupting their lives by having to check into a treatment center.
Close the Chapter on Crack Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine and crack can be dangerous, and many people can feel as if the rest of their lives are going to be dominated by drug use. You can overcome drug abuse and live the rest of your life on your terms. You can take back the rest of your life with a phone call.
