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Crack is cocaine that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt. This form of cocaine comes in a rock crystal that can be heated and its vapors smoked. The term "crack" refers to the crackling sound heard when it is heated.
- Street names: rocks, wash, stones, pebbles, base, freebase
- Legal Status: Illegal. Class A
Effects of crack cocaine use
The effects of crack smoking are virtually immediate, peaking for about two minutes and lasting for only about 10 minutes.
Cocaine is a powerful though short-acting central nervous system stimulant and local anaesthetic. Cocaine brings about immediate euphoric effects, the user will feel stimulated, full of energy, talkative and overly confident. Appetite is suppressed and fatigue is reduced. Physical effects of cocaine use include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, and increased temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Risks of crack cocaine use
Regardless of how cocaine is used or how frequently, a user can experience acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, which could result in sudden death. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizure followed by respiratory arrest. 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 cocaine's anesthetic and convulsant effects without increasing the dose taken. This increased sensitivity may explain some deaths occurring after apparently low doses of cocaine.
Use of cocaine in a binge, during which the drug is taken repeatedly and at increasingly high doses, may lead to a state of increasing irritability, restlessness, and paranoia. This can result in a period of full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the user loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations.
Other complications associated with 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 cocaine has a tendency to decrease appetite, many chronic users can become malnourished.
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.
Smoking crack will damage the lungs and can specifically cause “crack lung”.
Cocaethylene
When people mix cocaine and alcohol consumption, they are compounding the danger each drug poses and unknowingly forming a complex chemical experiment within their bodies. Researchers have found that the human liver combines cocaine and alcohol and manufactures a third substance, cocaethylene, that intensifies cocaine's euphoric effects, while potentially increasing the risk of sudden death.
Cocaine addiction and dependency
Cocaine is extremely psychologically addictive. It can be difficult to resist the craving and strong psychological dependence due to changes in the brain. Recent evidence suggests possible long-term changes to the nervous system.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms
Although psychological dependence is more of a problem than physical withdrawal symptoms, low moods, feeling physically unwell, disturbed sleep, increased agitation, strong cravings and increased appetite have been reported.
Treatment for crack cocaine addiction
Symptomatic control, ongoing physical and mental state assessments by the clinical nurse specialist and health education surrounding drug abuse will be incorporated within the home treatment.
Careful attention will be placed upon good nutrition, sleep hygiene, stress and anxiety management
Aftercare
During the home detox process, the clinical nurse specialist, the consultant psychiatrist, and the care co-cordinator will plan a bespoke home detox aftercare package in conjunction with the client and, if appropriate, the client’s family.
We have developed an extensive network of aftercare resources throughout the world, including Europe’s top exclusive therapeutic retreat - The Causeway
1-1 detox offers 12 months post detox addiction aftercare, support and advice.
Examples of post detox aftercare have been referrals to prominent drug and alcohol counsellors, structured day programmes, personal training, complimentary therapists, nutritional specialists and rehabilitation at The Causeway.
Aftercare is planned during the home detox episode with the client and will reflect your specific needs.
Although 1-1 detox does not endorse one philosophy of aftercare we recognize the importance of CA (Cocaine Anonymous) and the role it can play in relapse prevention and long term sobriety.
For confidential help or advice
 Contact 1-1 detox
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