 Crack
Cocaine Addiction
Many people suffer from crack cocaine
addiction and while they would like to find a solution
to their drug abuse problem, crack cocaine addiction
has taken over their lives. Crack cocaine, a derivative
of cocaine, is a smokeable, freebase form of the drug.
Because crack cocaine gives people an immediate high
and because it is inexpensive to buy and produce, it
has remained a popular drug of choice over in the years.
In the past two decades there has
been no significant decrease in the number of people
involved with crack cocaine or crack cocaine addiction.
People ages 18-25 have the highest rate of crack cocaine
among all the age groups. Because crack cocaine is an
upper, or a stimulant, young people get addicted quickly
to escape their problems. Even though most people do
not "try" to become involved in crack cocaine
addiction, once they start doing the drug they no longer
have a choice in the matter; they have to do drugs to
survive.
Crack cocaine has a variety of negative
mental and physical effects on the user. The drug can
cause hostile, angry and violent behavior and blurs
mental clarity and decision-making skills. Many crack
cocaine addicts begin to talk to themselves and exhibit
behavior that closely resembles schizophrenia. Crack
cocaine can cause major mental damage over multiple
years of use, both because of the effects of the drug
and also because the drug abuser takes such poor care
of his/her physical body. Mental and physical deterioration
are consequences that the user has come to accept as
part of addiction.
Physical symptoms include sleeplessness,
increased heart rate, convulsions and tremors, chest
pain, eating disorders and permanent damage to blood
vessels which can lead to strokes and long term physical
disorders. Long term crack cocaine users find that it
is almost impossible to "get off" the drug"
even when they have a desire to stop for good. The addiction
is too strong for them to take care of themselves.
Crack cocaine addiction became instantly
popular because when a person smokes crack the high
is almost instant; the user feels "high" in
about 10 seconds after use. With regular cocaine, which
is more often snorted, the user has to wait about 10-15
minutes for the "high" to take place.
Crack cocaine addiction also leads
to higher chances of being involved in dangerous behavior
such as unsafe sex leading to sexually transmitted diseases
and violence leading to rape and murder. Although the
consequences of crack cocaine addiction can be fatal,
there are places to go that can help a drug addict combat
his/her addiction.
At Treatment Referral we specialize
in helping the substance abuser find treatment. If you
or someone you love has crack cocaine addiction or a
problem with drugs and alcohol we are here to help.
Please contact us at 1-800-886-4986;
we offer a second chance at life.
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