Crack Abuse: Know About Crack Cocaine

by Clifford Joseph Kozak

Crack cocaine, often called as ‘Crack’, is a smokable form of Cocaine and processed by mixing Cocaine powder with baking soda or ammonia and water and then heating the mixture till crystals or rocks are formed. Crack cocaine is abused as a person experiences a sudden high or euphoria in a short span. It is strongly addictive substance and causes harmful effects like paranoia, depression, lethargy, mood swings etc. Crack is affordable at low prices as it is inexpensive to manufacture.

Psychological Effects

Crack cocaine abuse has harmful psychological effects on the health of person abusing it. Its intake releases large amount of dopamine that causes a feeling of euphoria or high that lasts for 5-10 minutes. Crack abuse alters the brain chemistry of the person and causes loss of appetite, insomnia, alertness, intense craving for drug, grandiosity, paranoia etc. As the effect of crack in body begins to deplete, the person may slip into depression or feel lethargic. When injected into body, crack cocaine gets absorbed at the same rate when it is smoked. As the body develops tolerance after each intake of drug, a person feels desire to take high doses next time to attain same level of high or euphoria. Intake of high doses every time leads to irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. Prolonged exposure to crack results in hallucinations, depressions, formication, and delirium.

Physiological Effects

Physiological effects of crack cocaine abuse include dilated pupils, constricted blood vessels, increased blood pressure and heart rate etc. Intake of large amount of crack can cause tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches etc. As a person gets a sudden high, it may lead to violent behavior, aggression etc. Long term physiological effects of crack cocaine abuse include liver and lung damage, respiratory problems, tooth decay, weight loss, excessive sweating, sexual dysfunction, slowed digestion etc. Addiction to crack also causes heart attack and severe respiratory problems like congestion of lungs, wheezing, and formation of black phlegm. Smoking crack can also result in severe chest pain and bleeding.

Addiction

Crack cocaine is abused for its addictive properties. It is a potent and addictive form of cocaine. A person abusing ‘crack’ becomes addicted as higher doses are taken every time to achieve the same high or euphoria. Also, high doses of crack are taken each time to avoid the depression that occurs after the effect of drug recedes. Those addicted can not even feel normal without being intoxicated. They need to take cocaine regularly just to feel normal. Also, those addicted to crack may find it hard to get rid of it due to strong withdrawal symptoms that are witnessed. The withdrawal symptoms are marked by intense craving for drug, hunger, irritability, paranoia, anxiety, angry outbursts, shaking etc.

Consuming crack cocaine after mixing with alcohol can cause a deadly mixture that imbalance the body chemistry increasing the risk of sudden death. Addiction to crack is also associated with high crime rates as the person can perform illegal activities, crimes, thefts to fund his addiction. Various effective treatment programs at rehabilitation centers can help crack addicts to overcome their addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

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