Crack Cocaine Addiction
Crack cocaine, a form of cocaine, is an illicit substance that can be highly addictive. Regularly abusing crack cocaine can quickly lead to physical dependence on the drug.
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Crack cocaine, a form of cocaine, is an illicit substance that can be highly addictive. Regularly abusing crack cocaine can quickly lead to physical dependence on the drug.
Drug addiction can be difficult to beat alone, which is why so many people that are addicted to crack seek treatment and attend rehab.
But what exactly is crack addiction rehab? How do you find the right rehab treatment for addictive substances such as crack cocaine?
That’s what we’re going to be exploring on this page. Read on to learn all about crack cocaine, crack addiction, and what to expect from crack cocaine rehab.
Crack Cocaine: What Is It?
Crack cocaine is a form of cocaine, often referred to as crack. Some other ‘street’ names for crack cocaine include nuggets, rocks, base, and ball. The drug’s appearance can be described as similar to small, smashed, non-transparent pieces of soap.
You can also find solid blocks of crack cocaine, which can either be rose pink, white, or yellow. The drug is named ‘crack’ as when it is heated and smoked, it makes a cracking noise.
Many people start taking crack cocaine as it is one of the fastest-working forms of cocaine. It can take around ten seconds for the drug to reach your brain and for you to start feeling the effects of crack cocaine.
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Crack Cocaine vs Powder Cocaine
Crack cocaine and powder cocaine have no pharmacological differences – they are essentially the same drug chemically, and produce very similar effects. However, the difference lies in the method of consumption.
Powder cocaine is often taken nasally (snorted/ sniffed), but can also be taken orally (swallowed), and even injected. Crack cocaine, however, is smoked.
Generally speaking, crack cocaine is a cheaper drug and is faster-acting due to the method of consumption. The high is fast-acting, which also means that it lasts for a shorter period of time.
What Is Crack Cocaine Addiction?
Drug addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain disorder, ultimately characterised by the lack of control over drug use. People with drug addiction will continue to take drugs despite the negative consequences they can have on their lives.
The reason that drug addiction is considered a brain disorder is because drug addiction affects the brain circuits – the areas of the brain responsible for stress, reward, and self-control. Once you stop taking the drug, these changes can take a while to revert.
Crack cocaine addiction can have numerous long-term effects. Not only can it impact your relationships and finances, but your mental health and physical health too.
Cocaine has been linked to a range of health issues – for example, it can lead to a lack of appetite, extreme weight loss and malnourishment. Likewise, crack use can increase the risk of having a stroke, and lead to inflammation of the heart as well as aortic ruptures.
Cocaine also impacts the functioning of your brain – specifically in the orbitofrontal cortex. This affects decision-making and can lead to a lack of self-insight. Over time, crack cocaine use can affect your ability to deal with stress.
Crack is a particularly addictive substance. Crack abuse can quickly lead to physical dependence, which can be difficult to break without the right support. A person with an addiction to crack cocaine may be aware of the negative consequences, but still, feel unable to stop taking crack – or try to stop, but end up relapsing.
Crack Cocaine Withdrawal
If you have a physical dependence on crack cocaine, you’ll more than likely experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can vary in severity and length.
The length of time that withdrawal symptoms last can depend on a few factors – for example, your addiction history, medical history, and how long you’ve been addicted to the substance.
One of the main withdrawal symptoms is cravings – when you stop taking crack, you’ll experience crack cocaine cravings that can persist for a long time after detoxing from the substance.
Depending on the severity of your addiction, symptoms can begin from just one hour up to two days after your last ‘hit’. Withdrawal can continue for ten days, with milder symptoms sometimes persisting for longer.
Withdrawal symptoms can be difficult – but detoxification is an integral aspect of crack addiction recovery. Read on to learn more about the rehab process.
What To Expect From Crack Cocaine Addiction Treatment
At Help4Addiction, we can find the right crack cocaine rehab for you. There are many rehab options for crack cocaine addiction – whether you’re looking for inpatient rehab, luxury rehab, outpatient rehab, NHS rehab, or private residential rehab, there’s something for you.
Call us today to discuss your rehab treatment options and take the first step towards crack addiction treatment – including detox and rehab treatment.
We can also find the best local rehab centre to treat cocaine addiction, addiction to prescription drugs, alcohol addiction, and addiction to other substances.
Although different rehab clinics will offer different rehab facilities and resources, the general structure remains the same. Crack addiction treatment begins with detox, moves on to therapy, and finishes with secondary treatment or tertiary treatment.
A full rehab treatment plan will generally last between 30 and 90 days. However, it’s possible to extend your stay if needed. Read on to learn more about the key stages of crack rehab.
Crack Cocaine Detox
The first stage of crack cocaine treatment is drug detoxification. Crack cocaine detoxification aims at breaking the physical dependence – this stage doesn’t address the social, behavioural or psychological aspects of addiction.
During this stage of crack cocaine rehab, you’ll likely experience withdrawal symptoms. Many people receiving treatment for crack cocaine addiction will undergo a medical detox – whether they detox from the substance under medical supervision with medical professionals.
There are currently no medications that can stop crack cocaine withdrawal symptoms – however, you may be prescribed Buspirone to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Drug Addiction Therapy
Therapy is an integral part of drug addiction treatment. Different rehab clinics will offer different therapies – however, most centres will offer at least two of the following:
- CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)
- Counselling
- Interpersonal therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy)
- Holistic therapies (e.g art therapy or sports therapy)
Many rehab patients benefit from group therapy sessions – according to the Social Learning Theory, spending time with others in recovery that are making positive changes can help patients learn new, positive behaviours.
The aim of therapy in rehab is to build strength, and confidence, and improve your general well-being.
Therapy can teach you effective coping mechanisms that can ultimately lead to relapse prevention. Therapy can also be effective in treating dual-diagnosis – when you have an existing mental health condition as well as addiction.
Aftercare/ Secondary Treatment
Transitioning from rehab back to your everyday life can be tough – especially without the right support. Secondary treatment aims at providing you with ongoing support throughout the crack addiction recovery process.
Some forms of secondary treatment/ aftercare include support groups (e.g Narcotics Anonymous), helplines, online support, and ongoing counselling sessions. Recovering addicts may also benefit from tertiary support – also known as sober living.
If you want to begin your recovery journey, reach out to our friendly team of addiction experts at Help4Addiction today. Nobody should have to deal with crack addiction alone.
About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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