Crack Addiction

Different means of taking Cocaine can produce different adverse effects. Regularly snorting Cocaine, for example, can lead to loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and a chronically runny nose. Ingesting Cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene due to reduced blood flow. People who inject Cocaine can experience severe allergic reactions and, as with all injecting drug users, are at increased risk for contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases. Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that interferes with the reabsorption process of dopamine, a chemical messenger associated with pleasure and movement. The buildup of dopamine causes continuous stimulation of receiving neurons, which is associated with the euphoria commonly reported by Cocaine abusers.

Physical effects of Crack Crack Cocaine use include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. The duration of Crack Crack Cocaine's immediate euphoric effects, which include hyperstimulation, reduced fatigue, and mental alertness, depends on the route of administration. The faster the absorption, the more intense the high. On the other hand, the faster the absorption, the shorter the duration of action. The high from snorting may last 15 to 30 minutes, while that from smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Increased use can reduce the period of time a user feels high and increases the risk of addiction.

Some users of Cocaine report feelings of restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. A tolerance to the "high" may develop many addicts report that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure. Some users will increase their doses to intensify and prolong the euphoric effects. While tolerance to the high can occur, users can also become more sensitive to Crack Cocaine's anesthetic and convulsant effects without increasing the dose taken. This increased sensitivity may explain some deaths occurring after apparently low doses of Crack Cocaine.

Other complications associated with Crack Cocaine use include disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks, chest pain and respiratory failure, strokes, seizures and headaches, and gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea. Because Crack Cocaine has a tendency to decrease appetite, many chronic users can become malnourished.

Different means of taking Crack Cocaine can produce different adverse effects. Regularly snorting Crack Cocaine, for example, can lead to loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, problems with swallowing, hoarseness, and a chronically runny nose. Ingesting Crack Cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene due to reduced blood flow. People who inject Crack Cocaine can experience severe allergic reactions and, as with all injecting drug users, are at increased risk for contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases.

Added Danger: Cocaethylene

When people mix Crack Cocaine and alcohol consumption, they are compounding the danger each drug poses and unknowingly forming a complex chemical experiment within their bodies. NIDA-funded researchers have found that the human liver combines Crack Cocaine and alcohol and manufactures a third substance, cocaethylene, that intensifies Crack Cocaine's euphoric effects, while potentially increasing the risk of sudden death.

Treatment

The widespread abuse of Crack Cocaine has stimulated extensive efforts to develop treatment programs for this type of drug abuse.

In addition to treatment medications, behavioral interventions particularly cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective in decreasing drug use by patients in treatment for Crack Cocaine abuse. Providing the optimal combination of treatment and services for each individual is critical to successful outcomes.

Source: National Institute On Drug Abuse