What Is a Crack Addiction?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Crack Cocaine?Signs and SymptomsCausesEffectsHealth RisksDiagnosisTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Crack Cocaine?

Signs and Symptoms

Causes

Effects

Health Risks

Diagnosis

Treatment

Crack addiction refers to a substance use disorder where an individual is physiologically dependent on the substance; they lose control over their use and continue to use the substance despite negative consequences, saysJeanette Tetrault, MD, an addiction medicine specialist at Yale Medicine.

Substance useis recognized as a brain disorder.People who are addicted to crack have a chronic medical condition that requires treatment. It’s often not as simple as expecting a person to stop using it on their own, or thinking they’ll be better if they stop using it for a few days.

Approximately 1.3 million people in the United States over the age of 12 have a cocaine use disorder, which means they use cocaine or crack.

At a Glance

Crack cocaine has serious health risks, which is why treatment is so important. Detoxing the body of the substance and attending psychotherapy can help people with their long-term recovery from crack addiction.

Cocaineis a stimulant drug that is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. The purified form of the extract, which looks like fine, white, powdered crystals, was initially used for medicinal purposes.

Cocaine is currently classified as a Schedule II drug. It can be legally used for certain medical purposes, including local anesthesia for some ear, throat, and eye surgeries. However, it has high potential for abuse.People rub cocaine in their gums, snort it through their nose, or dissolve it and inject it into their veins.

Crack is a form of cocaine that people smoke. The term ‘crack’ refers to the crackling sound the crystal makes when it is being heated to smoke.—JEANETTE TETRAULT, MD

Crack is a form of cocaine that people smoke. The term ‘crack’ refers to the crackling sound the crystal makes when it is being heated to smoke.

—JEANETTE TETRAULT, MD

Signs and Symptoms of a Crack Addiction

These are some of the signs and symptoms of a crack cocaine addiction, according to Dr. Tetrault:

Additionally, people who are addicted to crack cocaine may also experience the following:

What Causes Crack Addiction?

Cocaine and crack are powerfulstimulantsthat give users a euphoric feeling and increased energy, says Dr. Tetrault. Using these substances floods the brain withdopamine, a natural chemical that is part of the brain’s reward system; it stimulates the brain, numbs pain, and helps us feel pleasure.

Crack is, therefore, associated with stronger cravings and a greater risk of addiction than inhaled cocaine.

Dr. Tetrault explains that repeatedly using crack or cocaine can cause changes in the brain’s reward circuitry, which can make people use it compulsively, despite the harm it causes. This is becauserepeated use of the drugcauses the reward circuit of the brain to adapt and become less sensitive to its effects.

As a result, people need to take more of the drug more frequently in order to achieve the same high and prevent withdrawal symptoms. This is known as developing a tolerance.

Effects of Crack Addiction

Crack Addiction Has Serious Risks

However, using crack cocaine can damage the person’s heart, brain, or other vital organs, says Dr. Tetrault. She says it is particularly harmful for people with heart problems.These are some of the side effects of frequent crack cocaine use:

A person may alsooverdose on crack cocaine, especially if they mix it with alcohol or heroin. Dr. Tetrault explains that cocaine is sometimes adulterated with other drugs, such as amphetamines or syntheticopioidslike fentanyl, which can make it particularly dangerous. A person can overdose the first time they use crack cocaine, or any time thereafter.

Using crack cocaine can cause an overdose or other serious or life-threatening side effects. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Using crack cocaine can cause an overdose or other serious or life-threatening side effects. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

How Is Crack Addiction Diagnosed?

Treating a Crack Addiction

Treating a crack addiction may involve detoxification and therapy. Treatment may occur in hospitals, in therapeutic communities, or in clinical settings.

Detoxification

The treatment process often begins with detox, where the person is not allowed to consume crack and may experience severe withdrawal symptoms as a result.

The physical symptoms of withdrawal can start shortly after the person’s last use of the drug and continue for up to a week. Working through the emotional challenges that accompany addiction can take a lot longer.

Therapy

Several evidence-based counseling options have been shown to treat crack addictions, says Dr. Tetrault. These can include:

Medication

There are no medications currently available to treat cocaine use disorder or cravings associated with crack cocaine, says Dr. Tetrault.

What This Means For YouA crack addiction can put a person at risk for serious health consequences, including death. Preventing the use of this drug is critical because even a single instance of use can lead to addiction or death in some people.If someone in your life has a crack addiction, it’s important to support them and help them find evidence-based treatment that works for them, Dr. Tetrault says.

What This Means For You

A crack addiction can put a person at risk for serious health consequences, including death. Preventing the use of this drug is critical because even a single instance of use can lead to addiction or death in some people.If someone in your life has a crack addiction, it’s important to support them and help them find evidence-based treatment that works for them, Dr. Tetrault says.

A crack addiction can put a person at risk for serious health consequences, including death. Preventing the use of this drug is critical because even a single instance of use can lead to addiction or death in some people.

If someone in your life has a crack addiction, it’s important to support them and help them find evidence-based treatment that works for them, Dr. Tetrault says.

How to Overcome an Addiction

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Substance abuse.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States?National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.Schwartz EKC, Wolkowicz NR, De Aquino JP, MacLean RR, Sofuoglu M.Cocaine use disorder (CUD): Current clinical perspectives.Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2022;13:25-46. doi:10.2147/SAR.S337338Harvard Medical School.Dopamine: the pathway to pleasure.Harvard Health Publishing.Garza-Villarreal EA, Chakravarty M, Hansen B, et al.The effect of crack cocaine addiction and age on the microstructure and morphology of the human striatum and thalamus using shape analysis and fast diffusion kurtosis imaging.Transl Psychiatry.2017;7(5):e1122. doi:10.1038/tp.2017.92National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the short-term effects of cocaine use?Havakuk O, Rezkalla S, Kloner R.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Substance abuse.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States?National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.Schwartz EKC, Wolkowicz NR, De Aquino JP, MacLean RR, Sofuoglu M.Cocaine use disorder (CUD): Current clinical perspectives.Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2022;13:25-46. doi:10.2147/SAR.S337338Harvard Medical School.Dopamine: the pathway to pleasure.Harvard Health Publishing.Garza-Villarreal EA, Chakravarty M, Hansen B, et al.The effect of crack cocaine addiction and age on the microstructure and morphology of the human striatum and thalamus using shape analysis and fast diffusion kurtosis imaging.Transl Psychiatry.2017;7(5):e1122. doi:10.1038/tp.2017.92National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the short-term effects of cocaine use?Havakuk O, Rezkalla S, Kloner R.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Substance abuse.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States?National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.Schwartz EKC, Wolkowicz NR, De Aquino JP, MacLean RR, Sofuoglu M.Cocaine use disorder (CUD): Current clinical perspectives.Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2022;13:25-46. doi:10.2147/SAR.S337338Harvard Medical School.Dopamine: the pathway to pleasure.Harvard Health Publishing.Garza-Villarreal EA, Chakravarty M, Hansen B, et al.The effect of crack cocaine addiction and age on the microstructure and morphology of the human striatum and thalamus using shape analysis and fast diffusion kurtosis imaging.Transl Psychiatry.2017;7(5):e1122. doi:10.1038/tp.2017.92National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the short-term effects of cocaine use?Havakuk O, Rezkalla S, Kloner R.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Substance abuse.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States?

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?

United States Drug Enforcement Administration.Drug scheduling.

Schwartz EKC, Wolkowicz NR, De Aquino JP, MacLean RR, Sofuoglu M.Cocaine use disorder (CUD): Current clinical perspectives.Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2022;13:25-46. doi:10.2147/SAR.S337338

Harvard Medical School.Dopamine: the pathway to pleasure.Harvard Health Publishing.

Garza-Villarreal EA, Chakravarty M, Hansen B, et al.The effect of crack cocaine addiction and age on the microstructure and morphology of the human striatum and thalamus using shape analysis and fast diffusion kurtosis imaging.Transl Psychiatry.2017;7(5):e1122. doi:10.1038/tp.2017.92

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the short-term effects of cocaine use?

Havakuk O, Rezkalla S, Kloner R.The cardiovascular effects of cocaine.Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017;70(1):101-113. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2017.05.014

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

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