Crack: Information You Should Know

How Crack Works

According to additional information from the NDIC, crack cocaine is primarily ingested through smoking or snorting. Upon ingestion, the drug produces an immediate euphoric sensation, leaving the individual feeling “high,” which is what encourages continued use even after harm to an individual’s body, mind, and relationships has been done.

Addiction to crack happens as pathways in the brain begin to rewire themselves to become dependent on crack use as the only way to experience pleasure and elevated moods. Those who use this drug end up needing greater quantities of crack cocaine to experience the same “high” that led them to addiction in the first place.

Without both continued use and higher doses when using, individuals abusing crack begin experiencing symptoms of withdrawal until treatment is started and they are supported as they begin their journey toward sobriety and recovery.

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Short-Term Side Effects of Using Crack

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), crack has several immediate short-term effects on the body that are quickly experienced, but short-lived. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

Feelings of euphoria

Increase in energy

Mental alertness

Hypersensitivity to sound, light, and touch

Decreased need for sleep

Constricted blood vessels

Dilated pupils

Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure

Erratic and violent behavior

Feelings of restlessness, irritability, anxiety, panic, and paranoia

Muscle tremors, vertigo, and muscle twitches

Short-term side effects always lead to long-term physiological, neurological, and cognitive symptoms that can be fatal without appropriate care, treatment, and support.

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Long-Term Side Effects of Using Crack

In addition to short-term effects on the body, crack leaves both the body and mind with many harmful long-term impacts on the body leading to physiological, cognitive, and mental impairment. These side effects include, but are not limited to:

Constant irritability, anxiety, and paranoia

Psychosis and/or hallucinations

Loss of sense of smell and nosebleeds

Difficulty swallowing

Hoarseness of the voice

Nasal septum impairment

Tears and ulcerations in the digestive tract

Loss of appetite, leading to weight loss and malnourishment

Toxic effects on the heart and cardiovascular system

Increased risk of stroke

Movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease

Cognitive deficits, such as difficulty paying attention, impulse inhibition, and memory loss

It’s important to remember that, although recovery is possible with appropriate treatment, many of the long-term effects of crack use may stay with the individual.

Signs of Crack Addiction

There are many telltale signs, similar to symptoms of drug abuse and addiction to other substances, that you or a loved one may be struggling with crack addiction. Symptoms of drug addiction include, but are not limited to:

Dependence on crack use in order to function

Increased tolerance to amounts of crack used

Depression and anxiety

Increased fatigue

Increased appetite

Unpleasant dreams and insomnia

Slower thinking

Social withdrawal and isolation

Conflict in relationships

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is vital to enter treatment to begin mitigating the short and long-term effects the use of crack has on the body and to experience healing. At Hawaii Island Recovery, our drug and alcohol inpatient treatment centers offer a variety of holistic, evidence-based, and customized treatment programs to help you do just that.

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Treatment for Crack Addiction

Treatment for any type of substance abuse and addiction begins with a medically supervised detox period, where individuals are in the care of trained professionals as they clear their body from the substance so they can begin further treatment to heal the root of what is causing drug addiction in the first place.

Continued treatment often includes a stay in a residential treatment facility that specializes in drug addiction recovery. At Hawaii Island Recovery, we meet with individuals to map out their treatment plan in a way that makes sense for them and includes a combination of psychotherapies, group therapies, and experiential programming to ensure we treat the whole person, mind, body, and spirit.

After residential treatment, many individuals begin aftercare programs, such as outpatient and continuing care programs, where they are supported as they reintegrate into their home, community, and life.

Recovery from crack addiction is challenging, but also possible with the appropriate care, treatment, and support to guide you in accessing your innate ability to heal from the inside out.

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Crack cocaine is a highly addictive substance that can lead to fatality without proper treatment. Hawaii Island Recovery recognizes how difficult it is to take the first step toward healing in reaching out to begin treatment, which is essential to finding sobriety and recovery from addiction. In coming to our center for alcohol and drug treatment, you will be among a team of professionals and peers that support your success and goals in recovery. To learn more about Hawaii Island Recovery and our big island substance abuse center, call us today at (808) 319-4807.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does treatment cost?

Your insurer may cover some or all of the cost of treatment. Depending on your carrier and policy, you may be responsible for the deductible and there may also be a co-pay. The cost of treatment is dependent on the length of stay and the level of care that is deemed medically necessary to support your recovery.

How can I verify my insurance?

Hawaii Island Recovery is able to accept most insurance plans. Depending on your carrier and your individual plan, the extent of coverage will vary. To determine whether your insurance will cover some or all of the cost of treatment, you are urged to contact Hawaii Island Recovery today and speak with one of our Intake Coordinators or to fill out the “Verification of Benefits” form on our website. We will work quickly to ascertain your eligibility for insurance coverage for treatment with Hawaii Island Recovery.

What is detoxification, or “DETOX”?

Alcohol and most drugs are potentially toxic substances, particularly when used in excess. With chronic abuse, the human body adapts to the presence of these substances in an effort to counter their lethal effects. When alcohol or drugs are stopped, extreme care must be taken to ensure a safe withdrawal. Detoxification or “detox” refers to the acute phase of the withdrawal process that can be both uncomfortable and dangerous and may require medical intervention. For some patients, a “detox” protocol of prescribed medication may be required to ensure the client is safely “detoxed” with minimal discomfort.
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What are the benefits of flying away from home for treatment?

Removing yourself from the stressors and triggers of daily life is essential in early recovery. Most of our clients have tried to get sober in their home communities and have failed to achieve lasting sobriety. A change in environment is not only conducive to breaking old patterns and habits, it also reduces exposure to the external triggers that most likely perpetuated the cycle of addiction.

What is the length of stay?

How can I deal with trauma / PTSD?

The majority of our clients who enter treatment for substance abuse have a co-occurring mental health disorder. Most commonly, our clients also suffer with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. In the majority of cases, we have found that underlying all of these conditions is a history of trauma that may include childhood abuse and neglect, sexual abuse and domestic violence. In our experience, it is imperative to aggressively treat the underlying trauma to reduce the risk of relapse after treatment. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based technique that has been demonstrated to effectively treat trauma at its source. Hawaii Island Recovery offers EMDR provided by a highly trained clinical staff in addition to CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) another effective therapeutic modality for the treatment of trauma.

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