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Written by Brandon Okey. Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy.
Crack is a highly addictive and potent form of cocaine. Since it emerged in the 1980s, crack addiction has had devastating consequences.
A 2008 Deseret News article reported a 220% increase in crack seizures by Salt Lake County narcotics detectives from 2006 to 2007, indicating a surge in crack availability. This highlights the extensive damage caused by crack addiction across the U.S.
Addiction to crack is often difficult to kick. If you find yourself struggling to overcome this challenge, our crack addiction treatment center provides the support and guidance you need.
Crack cocaine, or simply crack, is a highly addictive and potent stimulant drug. It is made by mixing baking soda or ammonia with powdered cocaine and water, then heating the mixture to create a solid “rock” that can be smoked.
Crack goes by many street names. Some of these slang terms reflect crack’s potent and addictive nature:
All the ways crack is used involve heating the rock-like form of the drug and inhaling the vapors to produce an intense high. There are several ways you can do this:
Regardless of the method, crack has a rapid onset of effects, produces an intense high, and causes even more intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It’s an extremely addictive and destructive substance that causes rapid deterioration of the user’s physical and mental health.
Crack cocaine is one of the most instantly addictive substances known to man. Here are some of the risk factors for developing crack addiction:
Ardu’s rehab center provides an evidence-based approach to crack addiction treatment that helps people overcome their dependency and build a foundation for lasting recovery. With the right support, it is possible to break free from the grip of crack addiction and lead a healthy, fulfilling life.
No single symptom definitively indicates addiction, but certain behavioral, physical, and psychological changes are common red flags that someone is addicted to crack.
Physical signs of crack addiction include:
Psychological changes in a person who’s addicted to crack may include:
If you suspect someone you care about is exhibiting these signs, urge them to seek professional help. Ardu Recovery Center offers medical assistance and addresses the root of crack use disorder. We will guide you through your rehab journey to overcome crack addiction in the safest way possible.
A 2016 The Conversation article ranked crack cocaine as the third most damaging drug in the world. Crack hijacks the brain’s natural reward system, reprograms reward pathways, and depletes critical neurotransmitters to create intense drug cravings and compulsive addictive behaviors. Here’s how that works:
Because of the way crack and other stimulants impact the brain, addiction is viewed as a brain disease. If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, Ardu has your back. Our compassionate care and effective drug and alcohol rehab center help you reclaim your life.
When someone becomes physically dependent on crack cocaine and stops using it, they experience uncomfortable and potentially dangerous withdrawal effects. They occur because the brain has become chemically reliant on the drug’s dopamine-flooding effects. As crack is metabolized out of the body, depleted dopamine triggers a range of psychological and physical symptoms.
Physical symptoms include:
Psychological symptoms of crack cocaine withdrawal include:
The onset of withdrawal for crack can begin just 90 minutes after the last dose, with peak symptoms typically between 2–4 days. Effects can last up to several weeks, with persistent cravings and psychological dependence lasting much longer.
The intensity of crack withdrawal is one of the biggest hurdles preventing many from getting and staying clean. Our crack detox center focuses on providing a safe, medically supervised environment to get you through withdrawal as comfortably as possible. With round-the-clock care, medication assistance, and counseling during detox, we give you the support needed to successfully break crack’s physical hold.
Crack cocaine addiction can utterly devastate nearly every aspect of physical and mental health. Here are some of the most common ways crack damages health:
The list of negative health effects of crack use is too long. The most dangerous and devastating effect is the risk of overdose and death.
An overdose occurs when there is a toxic, life-threatening amount of crack in the body. This can happen if you binge on too large a quantity, use impure products containing contaminants, or from crack’s effects on heart rate and body temperature.
You can recognize a crack overdose by:
If you notice someone exhibiting these signs after using crack, call 911 right away.
To overcome the powerful grip of crack addiction, the first step is to seek professional help. Crack addiction is a serious medical condition and requires a reputable crack cocaine treatment program such as Ardu’s evidence-based recovery programs.
I’ve been to many other treatment centers but none of them feel like Ardu. Ardu is such a loving, compassionate, and spiritual place! The staff truly cared about me and taught me so much about myself. They’ve made such a positive impact on my life. Ardu will always be my family and I’m eternally grateful For the safe place they create in order for me and others to heal.
At Ardu, we understand the challenges and complexities of crack cocaine addiction, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our treatment approach is personalized to your specific needs, providing the focused care necessary to address the root causes and powerfully addictive nature of your addiction.
Some of the therapies and programs we offer include:
The first step in your journey to a crack-free life is detox.
Our specialized crack detox program provides around-the-clock medical supervision and care to ensure your safety and comfort as your body goes through withdrawal. Our experienced clinical team develops individualized treatment plans tailored specifically to your needs in overcoming crack addiction.
We use effective medication-assisted treatments when necessary to alleviate the often excruciating physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. We want to make this difficult process as smooth and comfortable as possible.
In addition to traditional medical detox protocols, we incorporate holistic therapies such as nutritional therapy, yoga, amino acid therapy, and massage. These complementary approaches help relax the nervous system, restore balance, and ease your transition as your body readjusts to life without crack.
After successfully completing detox, you’ll transition into our intensive inpatient or outpatient rehab where you’ll engage in proven behavioral therapies, counseling, and peer support to build the skills for lifelong recovery.
At our crack rehab center, we provide compassionate care to help you reclaim your health, happiness, and purpose. We offer comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatments tailored to your unique needs.
Inpatient treatment provides round-the-clock structured support and intensive therapy daily. The benefits of our residential addiction treatment program are:
Outpatient treatment options allow you to maintain your personal life while getting help every week, on a bi-weekly basis, and even daily if needed. You can choose our intensive outpatient programs or partial hospitalization programs, and work with us to find an outpatient program that works best for you.
The advantages of our outpatient treatment include:
Our team will thoughtfully assess your needs and insurance coverage to determine if residential care or outpatient care will give you the best chance of success given your current situation.
Successful recovery is possible—we’re here to guide you. Contact Ardu Recovery Center today.
Brandon Okey is the co-founder of Ardu Recovery Center and is dedicated to empowering people on their journey to sobriety.
Crack cocaine is one of the most addictive forms of cocaine and a major drug of abuse in the United States. According to a 2007 article, crack cocaine was the primary drug of abuse in 2006 in 178,475 admissions to treatment, representing 71% of all primary cocaine admissions that year in the United States.
While overall cocaine use disorder rates have declined in recent years, crack remains a persistent public health concern, particularly in urban areas impacted by the crack epidemic of the 1980s-90s. The intense euphoric effects and relatively low cost of crack contribute to continued abuse and addiction.
The effects of cocaine use can be extremely dangerous and potentially lethal. Some of the major risks include heart failure, heart attack, stroke, seizures, sudden death, abdominal pain, nausea, and erratic violent behavior. Long-term use can cause:
If someone is struggling with cocaine or crack addiction, the most important things to do are:
Our reliable inpatient treatment facility employs medical detox, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and other evidence-based approaches to treat cocaine use disorder.
Addiction, including cocaine addiction, is classified as a brain disease by leading health organizations such as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Substance use disorders (SUDs) are considered medical diseases because they involve physiological impairment and changes in brain circuitry related to reward, motivation, memory, judgment, and behavior control. These long-lasting brain changes brought on by prolonged drug abuse make relapses common and underscore the chronic nature of the disease.
There is no definitive “lethal” amount of cocaine that applies to all users because toxicity can depend on their body size, brain chemistry, overall health, and tolerance levels. Anecdotal evidence suggests that amounts of just 500–1,000 milligrams have proven fatal in some people with low to no tolerance. For frequent users, lethal amounts tend to involve multiple-gram quantities due to built-up physical dependence. Purity levels also play a major role—crack and freebase forms are much more potent than powdered cocaine hydrochloride.
Alcohol is considered a psychoactive drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant. While legally regulated, alcohol meets all criteria as an addictive drug capable of inducing physical and psychological dependence. Alcohol intoxication can cause motor impairment, lowered inhibitions, slurred speech, memory lapses, and in severe cases, respiratory depression and death.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism involving heavy, prolonged drinking can lead to liver disease, cancer, brain damage, and other devastating health effects. Like other drugs, alcohol alters the brain’s neurotransmitter levels and reward pathways.
Crack, cocaine found in S.L. smoke shop search. (2024, January 7). Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/2008/12/7/20289990/crack-cocaine-found-in-s-l-smoke-shop-search/
Bowman, E. (n.d.). The five most addictive substances on Earth – and what they do to your brain. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-five-most-addictive-substances-on-earth-and-what-they-do-to-your-brain-54862
Martinez, D., Greene, K., Broft, A., Kumar, D., Liu, F., Narendran, R., Slifstein, M., Heertum, R. V., & Kleber, H. D. (2009). Lower Level of Endogenous Dopamine in Patients With Cocaine Dependence: Findings From PET Imaging of D2/D3 Receptors Following Acute Dopamine Depletion. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 166(10), 1170. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08121801
What Smoking Cocaine Does to Your Lungs. (n.d.). https://rehabsuk.com/blog/what-smoking-cocaine-does-to-your-lungs/
Antoniazzi RP, Palmeira RV, Schöffer C, Dos Santos BZ, Zanatta FB, Feldens CA. Use of crack cocaine increases tooth loss. Am J Dent. 2021 Dec;34(6):317-321. PMID: 35051319.
Treadwell, S. D., & Robinson, T. G. (2007). Cocaine use and stroke. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 83(980), 389-394. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2006.055970
Dackis CA, O’Brien CP. Cocaine dependence: a disease of the brain’s reward centers. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2001 Oct;21(3):111-7. doi: 10.1016/s0740-5472(01)00192-1. PMID: 11728784.
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